Hunter safety competitors will wear pink this spring

Breast Cancer Awareness will be promoted

RALEIGH – Participants at this year’s nine district Youth Hunter Safety Tournaments across North Carolina have been asked to wear something pink during competition to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

“This is another way to salute the late Coach Kay Yow and bring more attention and support for battling this disease,” said Travis Casper, the state’s assistant hunter- education coordinator. “Considering the involvement we get across the state with these tournaments, it seems fitting.”

Yow, beloved coach of N.C. State University women’s basketball team, died Jan. 24. Since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, Yow had been active in efforts to raise breast cancer awareness.

Presented by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission as an opportunity to showcase outdoor skills and demonstrate safety, the district tournaments test teams and individuals in rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and archery marksmanship, as well as an orienteering challenge and wildlife knowledge and hunter safety skills. The 2008 district tournaments had 217 teams with around 1,700 competitors.

Coaches, competitors, and event volunteers this year will receive a commemorative pink and white pin for participating.

The 2009 District Tournament schedule:

• District 1 (north coastal) – Saturday, March 28 at Eastern 4-H Center, Columbia
• District 2 (mid-coastal) – Thursday, March 12 at Pitt County Wildlife Club, Falkland
• District 3 (eastern Piedmont) – Saturday, March 14 at Camp Tuscarora near Bentonville
• District 4 (south coastal) – Wednesday, March 4 at Coharie Shooting Range near Clinton
• District 5 (central Piedmont) – Saturday, March 21 at Alamance Wildlife Club, Graham
• District 6 (western Piedmont) – Saturday, March 28 at Camp John J. Barnhardt near Badin
• District 7 (northwest mountain) – Saturday, March 28 at Hunting Creek Preserve, Harmony
• District 8 (central mountain) –  Saturday, March 21 at Catawba Valley Wildlife Club, Vale
• District 9 (western mountain) –  Saturday, March 21 at Polk County Gun Club, Columbus

A component of the Hunter Education Program of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, competition is open to teams from middle and high schools, both public and private. Home-schooled students and teams representing organizations such as 4-H or FFA also can compete, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

Competitors and coaches will also be asked to wear pink at the finals tournament in April, which serves as the state championship.