Field Skills Seminars

Friday:

Field Skills Seminars will take place in the Home Arts Building

The Summer of 1,000 River Miles and Thirty Years of Lessons Learned Float Hunting in Alaska with Barry Whitehill - Growing up in eastern Washington Barry was fortunate to have public lands close at hand. Starting with my first elk at age 14, it became obvious to me that deep, dark holes on public lands were places to be consistently successful as a hunter. Also they were a place where I could rejuvenate my soul. That has been repeatedly validated when I lived in Idaho, northern Nevada, and, since 1992, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Barry will be discussing his epic float trips in Alaska in the summer of 2022 along with some how to’s on float tripping.

Travelling for upland birds With Durrell Smith - Durrell Smith is a 29 year old Georgia native, visual artist, outdoor writer and dog handler. He is an established artist and also runs an established podcast, The Sporting Life Notebook, which can be found on most major podcasting platforms, along with writing for Project Upland and Co-Founder of The Minority Outdoor Alliance. Based in the South, chases game with his Pointer, Vegas and Labrador retriever, Ruger. As a first generation hunter, Durrell seeks to learn and contribute to the community by connecting with visionaries, veterans, and legendary dog men within the bird dog community who are willing to share stories and knowledge about the various breeds, creating a bridge to welcome new dog handlers to the bird dog community. Durrell’s seminars on dog training are sure to be exceptional.

21st Century Maps and Tools for Fly Fishing with Trout Routes - TroutRoutes mission is to inspire you to explore confidently with insights and knowledge on where you stand. We strive to empower trout anglers with information to help you go further and discover new waters, new places and new faces. TroutRoutes is proud to be able to connect you to local resources and experts, such as fly shops, guides, local brands and non-profits. We are even more proud to do so while helping protect the limited natural resources we all enjoy through value driven initiatives

Mentoring a new hunter: Tips and Strategies with Jimmy Flat -

Understanding your mentee's background and experience level
Establishing clear communication and setting expectations
Creating a safe and supportive learning environment
Teaching basic hunting skills, such as tracking, scouting, and shooting
Fostering a love and respect for the natural world
Addressing common challenges and pitfalls in the mentor-mentee relationship
Whether you are an experienced hunter looking to give back to your community, or a new mentor just starting out, this seminar will provide valuable insights and practical advice for mentoring a new hunter. Join us to learn how to pass on your knowledge and skills, and help the next generation of hunters become responsible and ethical stewards of the outdoors.

Jimmy Flatt - FOUNDER / PROGRAM COORDINATOR for Hunters of Color- Jimmy is originally from Sonoma Valley, California. He grew up fishing, hunting, and playing baseball. He moved to Oregon to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering and for more outdoor opportunities. He has a background in conservation, working with groups like Ducks Unlimited for over 8 years. He is very proud of his Afro-Indigenous heritage from his Venezuelan mother, and his Pacific Islander/Filipino heritage from his dad’s side. Jimmy founded HOC because he loves hunting and the outdoors, but found it a shame that only 3% of all licensed hunters are BIPOC. Jimmy will be speaking on his experience and how to’s on being a mentor in the outdoors and teaching others to hunt and fish.

Saturday:

How to Plan a Waterfowl Hunt Away From Home with Ben Haff of G&H Decoys - Ben Haff is currently the Director of Sales with G&H Decoys, Inc. and the owner of On The Water Marine. He is a Wildlife Ecology graduate of Oklahoma State University and spent a couple decades in conservation as a Game Warden in Oklahoma. Since about 2005, he has volunteered with or been employed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, The National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, the Oklahoma State Game Wardens Association, and is currently a Backcountry Hunters and Anglers State Board Member. Throughout his career, he has taught hundreds of programs for the public related to Hunter Education, Archery in the Schools, Shotgun Training, and several dozen other topics related to Officer Education.
He enjoys hunting and fishing for most critters but is particularly interested in ducks and duck hunting. For many years, he has enjoyed the unique perspective of being an avid waterfowler personally and a motivated conservationist working professionally with other hunters. This exposure to the field setting on both ends of the spectrum has provided wealth of knowledge related to common do’s and don’ts among successful Waterfowlers.
In his last years as an Oklahoma Game Warden, he conducted an education program to train new-hires and other law enforcement professionals tactics for working Waterfowl Hunters. These efforts continue to benefit other professionals in the field.
He will be presenting on “How to Plan for a Waterfowl Hunt, Away from Home”. Traveling to a new destination can be an exciting adventure for any species but this undertaking is not without risk. This seminar will help the Novice traveling hunter avoid some of the more classic mistakes. We’ll also talk about some tips for how to select a destination.

Fly Casting Instruction with Simon Gawesworth of FarBank - Renowned the world over for his ability to teach the art of fly fishing and fly casting and make it fun, Simon is regarded as one of the top ambassadors of the sport. He has been with Sage and Far Bank Fly Fishing for over 20 years as their director education and engagement. There isn't a fish he doesn't love to chase.

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