The Fifth Annual Family Outdoor Festival and Youth Pheasant Clinic is scheduled for Nov. 4 at Smith’s Trout Haven in Lava Hot Springs.
From 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., this special day will be filled with numerous activities and experiences that promise to create outdoor memories for the whole family. And the entire event is free.
Hands-on learning stations will be set-up for participants, including duck calling and decoy set-up, elk calling, bird cleaning and cooking, outdoor survival school, a Grit League obstacle course, tomahawk throwing and black powder shooting. In addition, there will be air rifle and archery ranges, a trap shoot and an opportunity to do some trout fishing with Idaho Fish and Game’s Take Me Fishing Trailer. Fishing gear and supplies will be provided, and no fishing license is required.
One of the most exciting parts of the whole outdoor festival is the mentored pheasant hunts for youth (ages 10 to 17). Mentors and dog handlers with experienced hunting dogs will be on hand to provide instruction and guidance to hunt participants.
All hunters must have completed a Hunter Education course prior to participating in a mentored hunt, and all hunters must have a valid Idaho hunting license.
Though anyone can stop by and enjoy the booths and activities at the event, reservations for participating in the youth pheasant hunt are required by Nov. 1. Spots are limited. Contact the Idaho Fish and Game office in Pocatello at 208-232-4703 for registration information.
New to the Family Outdoors Festival this year is the Sportsman’s Challenge, sponsored by Sportsman’s Warehouse and Spartan SGX. This competition includes a Grit League obstacle course, shotgun and BB gun shooting, tomahawk and knife throwing, archery, and fishing. The competition is open to both individuals and teams, and divisions are broken out by age and gender.
All guns and necessary equipment will be provided unless competitors wish to bring their own. Sportsman’s Warehouse is awarding a $10 coupon to each competitor and a $50 gift card to each division winner. There is no entry fee for this competition. For more information, contact Jason Beck at 208-251-7438.
All activities in the Family Outdoor Festival, including the pheasant hunt and the Sportsman’s Challenge, are free to the public. This is possible because of these wonderful partners: Smith’s Trout Haven, Pheasants Forever, Shooting Top Gun Kennels, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Spartan SGX, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Pocatello Field Archers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Portneuf Muzzleloaders, Safari Club International, Boy Scouts of America, Dutchboy Farms, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Trout Unlimited and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
This annual event could not happen without the wonderful landowners who are allowing access to their properties for the mentored hunts. Idaho Fish and Game is also excited to be a part of this incredibly important event that helps connect youth and families to the great outdoors and to the traditions of hunting and fishing.
The success of this outdoor festival is also dependent on our incredible volunteers and sponsors. If you, your organization or your business would like to be a part of this Family Outdoor Festival through volunteering at the event or making a donation, contact Beck at 208-251-7438 or Tessa Atwood at 208-251-6510.
Jennifer Jackson is the Regional Conservation Educator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, southeast region.
