Attention California Juniors: Win a Free Guided Hunt for Deer or Hogs

We've written many times before on the importance of getting young people out into the woods. It instills a love of conservation, an understanding of the outdoors, and even helps keep young people healthier. Nobody understands that better than the California Deer Association (CDA). For 11 consecutive years, they're offering free guided hunts to juniors. This twelfth year is no exception: Fifteen lucky junior hunters will be selected in a free, random drawing for either one of five guided antlerless deer hunts or one of 10 guided hog hunts at the famous 270,000-acre Tejon Ranch for the 2015 season. They call it their "Sharing the Tradition" event, and it's clear they understand what it takes to get and keep kids interested in our hunting traditions. The juniors will be paired with an experienced guide for one-on-one coaching, to instill confidence. Even better, the 11 previous hunts have yielded a 98 percent success rate on deer, and a 90 percent success rate on hogs...which means that the winning kids have a very high chance of succeeding in their hunt...and as well know, nothing succeeds like success.

Thanks to the generous sponsorships of Tejon Ranch, Barnes Bullets LLC, Alpen Optics, Hunter's Specialties and Birchwood Casey, this will be no ordinary hunt. First-class lodging on the ranch is included. Each junior hunter will receive ammunition from Barnes Bullets, a pair of high-quality binoculars from Alpen Optics, plus hunting and shooting equipment from Hunter's Specialties and Birchwood Casey.

According to CDA Director Jerry Springer, "These hunts are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for juniors to experience a free guided hunt on the famous Tejon Ranch and to receive great hunting products."

The deadline to apply for this year's drawing is October 24, 2015. Hunts will take place during the week of December 14th. Entry forms can be found on the CDA website at caldeer.org/california-deer-associations-2015-junior-hunt-drawing/ or requested by e-mailing Jerry Springer at [email protected].