Four years ago, Wilderness Unlimited and The Wilderness Unlimited Foundation (WUF) started a Junior Deer Hunt that since has been held on the Clarke Ranch in Laytonville, CA. During the last four years, 21 junior hunters have participated in the Clarke Ranch Junior Deer Hunt. Last year, 2008, two of those hunters found success and harvested their first deer.

This year’s Clarke junior hunters were Ryan Wiegman, 16, Sabrina Dotto, 15, Hunter Lemke, 15, Chris Howard, 14 and Morgan Benedetti, 13. The WUF Mentors were, Ken Wiegman, Robert Moore, Steve Pate, Rick Cooper, and Wane Cooper. Each hunter received a pair of Alpen Optics binoculars, hat from WU and other goodies. Thank you to the Clarke Ranch, Alpen Optics, the NRA Foundation, and W.U. and thank you to WUF and Bubba Parker for serving up a fantastic meal!

Although, this years junior hunters were unsuccessful bringing home a deer. They gained a great deal of knowledge from their mentors and are ready for the seasons to come.

Junior Update!

Two years ago, 13-year old Brittany Lovato participated in the WUF Clarke Junior Deer Hunt. Although she was unsuccessful at taking a buck during the hunt, she had a great time learning from her mentor Robert Moore. The hunt was Brittany’s introduction to the WUF.

Over the last couple years she stayed focused on hunting and the outdoors, taking time from volleyball, school and other activities to go hunting with her dad and brother and to volunteer her time at various WUF and W.U. youth events, such as a fishing mentor for Lucy’s Pond during the Sportsmen’s Expo. She was also a WUF Summer Youth Camp junior counselor along with her brother and parents who volunteered as camp staff.

Now 17 and a senior in high school, Brittany has these experiences to look back upon. It is because of programs like the WUF Youth Programs and others she has participated in, like working in a South African orphanage, that has helped her narrow down her passion in life, working with children.

This deer season Brittany’s drive paid off. She harvested her first deer, a forked horn buck off of a northern W.U. A-Zone property. A great achievement for her, not just for the successful hunt, but also because of what hunting and the outdoors have given her and what she has in turn given back to WUF and the coming generations.

Another Update!

As this article was being written there was news of another former junior hunter! Justin Bohner, grandson to Lucy’s Pond creator and Sac Valley R.V. Park Mayor Gene Bohner, found success on the last weekend of the A Zone general season on a northern W.U. “archery only” property.

Justin has grown up in W.U., participating in junior pheasant hunts, youth waterfowl hunts and taking his first turkey on a WUF Junior Turkey Hunt. Along with Brittany, he was a junior counselor at the WUF summer camp. He also volunteered at WUF Youth Summer Days events and as a fishing mentor for Lucy’s Pond. Justin is a competitive waterfowl caller and serious outdoorsmen. At 17 and a senior in high school, he has his sights on Humboldt State University to study forest and wildlife management and zoology.

Both Justin and Brittany are prime examples of how much hunting and the outdoors can bring to a child’s life. Thank you to parents, grandparents, family and friends that give the gift of the outdoors to children. Thank you to supporters of the Wilderness Unlimited Foundation and to Wilderness Unlimited. Justin and Brittany thank you too!