Sharon Space-Bamberger | Democrat Herb De Witt began his lecture about turkey calling by informing the kids, “A turkey is a magnificent bird”. De Witt gave each camper a hand crafted turkey call.

Archery camp targets local youth

Story by Sharon Space-Bamberger
BETHEL — July 16, 2013 — Sharon Goetschius of Claryville has been a bowhunter for twenty years and wants her daughter Liamae Zeininger, 13, to join her in the woods and fields of Sullivan and Ulster counties.
To purchase her NYS Archery License, Liamae needed a bowhunter’s safety certificate.
Goetschius found the perfect learning experience for her daughter at the recent Sullivan County Archer Bowhunters Youth Camp.
“I wanted my daughter to love bow hunting as much as I do and I knew these guys would really teach her,” said Goetschius. “They are so patient with kids and give them individual attention. Yesterday they even had a DEC officer give the kids a lecture.”
“These guys” are all experienced bowhunters and several are NYS DEC certified Bowhunter Education Safety instructors. The mentors and instructors for the three-day Bowhunter’s Youth Camp included Sullivan County Archers’ President Harry Walker, turkey caller and hunter Herb De Witt of Grahamsville, Sullivan County Conservation Club (SCCC) Vice President Kenneth Hunderland, Aaron Finley of the SCCC and Sullivan County Archers, Elmo Groom of Sullivan County Archers and Ryan Mendels of the SCCC. All are experienced bowhunters and most belong to the NYS Bowhunters Federation.
Walker isn’t sure how many annual Bowhunters Youth Camps the Sullivan County Archers have held, but believes it is around 18.
During the sleepover camp, held at the Sullivan County Conservation Club clubhouse, 21 youth received their Bowhunters Education Certificate of Qualification. The certificate will allow them to bow hunt in NYS when they are age 14 or over while accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The new bow hunters are: Andrew Casano, Robert Casano, Michael DeVito, William De Vito, Connor Dice, Audrey Elwyn, Camryn Elwyn, Gage Festevez, Gabrielle Friedman, Braedon Halpin, Loaquin Juan, Tristan Jusan, Henry Liba, Dan Lynch, Joshua Pitt, Keira Rifflard, Ryan Ruyack, Trinity Steiner, Elijah Tavarez, Canaan Wood and Liamae Zeininger.
By the end of the three-day camp, they were hitting the targets more often.