An After School Program with a Bang - The Scholastic Clay Target Program

By Steve Felgenhauer

In 1785, Peter Carr wrote to his uncle, Thomas Jefferson, to ask for his advice on which sport to pursue. The father of the U.S. Constitution replied in a letter dated August 19, 1785, “A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.”

Jefferson’s sage advice is as solid today as it was more than 200 years ago, but mainstream media has given firearms and the shooting sports a bad rap. Just look back to the lack of coverage of the shooting sports during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games held in Beijing. The USA Shooting team brought home six medals, including two gold medals, but these achievements were hardly mentioned and received no network television coverage. However, one organization’s mission is to change that.

by Patricia Strutz

At first glance, one would consider this human resources manager to be just another young professional who balances a career and a family. Ah, but Sue Boettcher has a passion, too: fishing the big water of Lake Michigan. This passion consumes her free time as the licensed charter captain guides clients to trout and salmon.

Brought up fishing for panfish on a variety of Wisconsin lakes with her grandfather, Sue began fishing Lake Michigan in the early 1990's. “I started fishing Lake Michigan with my brother. Then I met Jamie, now my husband, and we fished a lot together. We had a little 14-foot boat. Now we've been married 13 years, have three children and two boats, a 32-foot Carver Montego called the 5-B's and a 22-foot Crestliner Sportfish called Lady Luck.

June is a month when many dads take to nearby lakes and streams to fish or boat. Some decide to hit the open road with a camper in tow for those weekend getaways, while other dads choose to head to nearby shooting ranges to prepare for the upcoming hunting season. Sadly, some fathers choose to partake in these activities all alone, as they simply may not be aware that these activities can provide the perfect opportunity to create some great memories with their daughters. So after you have enjoyed your special Father’s Day celebration consider taking one day in the month of June for the Father’s Day Challenge.

Anna Jarvis is probably not a name that anyone would immediately recognize. Her picture has never appeared on any promotional posters that hang in the Hallmark stores. There are no cute collector figurines of her for sale. There is not a flower named in her honor. There is nothing that signifies that Jarvis is the one credited for creating one of the most popular holidays celebrated in America. Anna Jarvis is the woman behind the modern day holiday known as Mother’s Day. Regardless of how it was started or who started it, we all know now that Mother’s Day it is a day to celebrate and honor moms.

In honor of this special holiday, Family Fish and Game and Women Afield® wanted to focus on a mother that has a deep appreciation for nature and eagerly shares her hunting heritage with future generations.

Text and Photos by Mike Roux

I have three boys who had waited all winter for spring turkey season. Their enthusiastic expectations of this event were overwhelming. My son Caleb drew a second season Illinois permit. When I harvested a mature tom in the first season, his excitement and anticipation grew to new heights.

You may think you need to board a plane to get to the best waterparks the world has to offer, but the truth is that the biggest concentration of indoor AND outdoor waterparks is right here in the Midwest - at Wisconsin Dells. The area boasts over 20 indoor and outdoor waterparks with every kind of water slide you’ve ever seen (and probably a couple you haven’t), plus lazy rivers and wave pools.

Want a shot at a nice deer this fall? Follow these tips to help maximize your food plot

We want to help you fill your tag, but more importantly we want you turkey hunters to stay safe. Here's how:

Text and Photos by Jim Wooley, Director of Field Operations for Quail Forever

There’s a reason why you don’t hunt old Mr. Curlyspurs in the woods. He (and the Missus) don’t like it there…. and that logic applies most any season of the year. Instead, pheasants like to be in open landscapes where grasses and broadleaved plants dominate. This kind of habitat is used by pheasants for roosting, nesting, brood-rearing, feeding, loafing and escape cover; and is the cornerstone of any pheasant management program. In fact, there’s a 90% probability that no matter where you are, grassland habitat is the most important limiting factor for pheasants and other game birds. That’s a problem with some magnitude, if you look at the landscape today. However, it’s not all bad, because we can improve conditions mightily by planting the right covers and managing them well.