Photo courtesy of N.C. WRC The Forbush High School Red Team practiced diligently for the shotgun competition at the National Youth Hunter Education Challenge.

Once again, the Youth Hunter Education Challenge national champions in junior and senior divisions are from Yadkin County, North Carolina.

Teams from Forbush High School and Forbush Elementary School successfully defended their titles in the annual competition, held this year at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania.

“This accomplishment is an outstanding reflection on them and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s hunter education program,” said Capt. Chris Huebner, who coordinates hunter safety programs for the Commission. “All North Carolina competitors are hunter education graduates and participate in our Youth Hunter Safety Tournaments.”

The Youth Hunter Education Challenge is a demanding week-long series of events, featuring shooting competition of .22-caliber rifle at swinging metal targets, muzzleloader at knock-down targets, shotgun on sporting clays course and archery at three dimensional game targets. The non-shooting competition tests orienteering skills, wildlife identification, a written hunter responsibility and ethics exam, and a hunter safety trail test.

“The knowledge and decision-making abilities they have learned have a lasting value,” Huebner said. “Hunter Education Courses are available, free to anyone in any county. It’s required for all first-time hunting license buyers in North Carolina.”

On their way to becoming perennial favorites in district, state and national competition, Forbush teams are willing to share their methods for success.

“We practice,” said David Moxley, senior division coach. “We were practicing right up until we left for Pennsylvania. We practiced shootings skills until dark, and then we’d practice non-shooting skills. I think that’s our secret, we gain an edge by working just as hard on the non-shooting aspects.”

Garrett Wishon fired his parting shot at this year’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge: He’s entering college and will no longer participate as a competitor, though he hopes to help as a volunteer as time allows.

“It’s a team sport,” said his mom, Lisa Wishon. “He matured through his participation and really worked to encourage the younger guys.