Park rangers from the Mountain Home Project Office braved 20 mph winds and 30 degree temperatures on Jan. 4 to ensure 10 youth hunters from around the state could participate in the 2013 Ozark Isle Youth Hunt.
Park Rangers set up 10 sites with nylon hunting blinds, assisted hunters and guides to and from the blinds, tracked and recovered deer, transported, and checked the harvested deer for the youth hunters.
Cold temperature and strong winds made the conditions a bit raw, but the deer moved well for the young hunters. The 10 hunters spotted 60 deer with seven of them taking a shot. Two deer were harvested during the hunt.
The 2013 Ozark Isle Youth hunt was originally scheduled for Dec. 14-15, 2013, but because of winter weather and poor road conditions the hunt was postponed to Jan. 4 and 5. Unfortunately another wave of winter precipitation and frigid temperatures occurred on Jan. 5, shortening the hunt by a day.