Contributed by Janelle Beamer


Students from the John de la Howe School Wilderness Program took aim at mastering deer hunting this fall. The students, with the help of community volunteers, participated in the Department of Natural Resources “Take One Make One” program, designed to teach safe hunting to students with no previous hunting experience. “ Take One Make One” emphasizes teaching safe and ethical hunting, the conservation and responsible use of natural resources and character education.

With volunteers from Clemson 4- H and the Savannah Lakes Village Rod & Gun Club, students learned to shoot rifles, to work with deer stands, and to master other hunting skills. In order to take part in the program, these students had to display good behavior, successfully complete the S.C. Hunter Education course, and pass a firearm safety course. This season’s hunts consisted of five off-campus hunts and several other hunts on the campus of John de la Howe School in McCormick. John de la Howe School is a residential school that serves middle and high school children from across South Carolina on its 1,200-acre campus.

The students were each paired with a volunteer mentor for each hunt, which gave them the opportunity to meet someone new and learn positive socialization skills. Most of the students had the opportunity to see deer and other wildlife throughout the season, and several students were successful at harvesting a deer.

Aside from learning a new positive activity that they can become involved in when they return home, these young men learned how to handle the game once it was harvested and even how to prepare it in the kitchen.

“This program is a great way for the students to form lasting memories,” said Brantley Caldwell, director of Wilderness Programs and Land Operations. “The wilderness program staff and students would like to thank all of the volunteers who make this program so successful year after year!”

Volunteers spent more than 200 hours working with the students. Ten volunteers were Rod & Gun Club members, and two were from the Clemson Extension Service. In addition to volunteer hours, Rod & Gun Club members donated a meat grinder and 10 swivel chairs for deer stands.

In total, the John de la Howe students participated in 11 hunts. The students took 11 deer last season and donated three of these to local food banks.

The “Take One Make One” program provides guns and ammunition for the program at John de la Howe School, and also provided six tower stands for hunting.

For details about John de la Howe School, go to http:// www.delahowe. k12.sc.us or call 864- 391-2131.