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GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska – Take ’em Hunting Challenge grand prize winner Adam Paitz of Grand Island is ready to make memories with his family riding his new John Deere utility terrain vehicle, donated by AKRS Equipment for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission contest.
Paitz was selected at random June 1 from the more than 2,175 who participated in the challenge to take along someone new or just beginning hunting and submit their photos online. Paitz, a police officer for the City of Grand Island, took his children, Avery, 6, and James, 5, deer hunting in late November, and while they weren’t successful in their hunt, they had a good time watching other wildlife.
He was awarded the UTV during a ceremony on Wednesday, June 10, at AKRS Equipment in Grand Island, also attended by Game and Parks representatives.
“I am extremely thankful to AKRS for their donation as well as others who have donated prizes,” Paitz said. He added that he’s enjoyed seeing other people share their hunting photos and memories with Game and Parks; more than 2,916 photos were submitted, with hundreds being featured on the agency’s social media during the seven-month-long challenge.
“The family bonds and friendships that are created through hunting experiences result in etched memories that strengthen our communities and our state,” said Kent Kirchoff, vice president of sales and marketing with AKRS Equipment. “It has been an honor and privilege to partner with Nebraska Game and Parks to promote the sport of hunting. John Deere products, such as our gators and tractors, are used every day around the state to maintain our great resources both privately and publicly, and we are proud to be a part of that!”
The Paitz family have plans to use their UTV on the extended-family farm, as well as for hanging tree stands and other recreation. The family, which includes Adam, 35; wife, Stacy; and soon-to-be four children – Avery, James, Harper and one on the way – love fishing, camping, boating, and playing on the beaches at Calamus State Recreation Area. They now anticipate hitting the all-terrain vehicle trails near Halsey, too.
Adam Paitz first fell in love with hunting as a child when his dad took him raccoon hunting with hounds. He grew into hunting other species, including deer, waterfowl and upland game, as he got older and met more friends who could mentor him. He’s now paying it forward, teaching his children the joys of the sport.
“Hunting and fishing can be a lifelong sport people can enjoy at any age,” he said. “Hunting is quiet and peaceful for me. It's a stress relief and a bonus if I can put food on the table.”
On the morning of their deer hunt, the Paitz children got out of bed right away, excited to go, and despite the cold and lack of success, they had fun, the family said.
Jim Douglas, Game and Parks director, said it’s these types of experiences that help inspire the next generation of hunters, who directly fund the conservation of Nebraska’s wildlife and wild places with the purchase of their permits or habitat stamps.
“Everyone had someone teach them, and those are great memories to share,” Douglas said. “We thank and congratulate all of our Take ’em Hunting participants for sharing their passion with others, and we thank our contest partners, too.”
In addition to AKRS Equipment, partners included Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and Scheels, all which provided prizes, such as gift cards or outdoor gear. Prizes were awarded throughout the challenge to participants drawn randomly.
For more information on the challenge, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/TakeEmHunting.
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Group photo available for download; cutline: From left, Robert Allen, Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioner; Kevin Clark, of AKRS Equipment; James, Harper, Stacy, Avery and Adam Paitz, grand prize winner of the Take 'em Hunting challenge; and John Hoggatt, NGPC commissioner, during a ceremony at AKRS Equipment on June 10, 2020, in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Family UTV photo available for download; cutline: From left, Stacy, Harper, Avery, James and Adam Paitz, the grand prize winner of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Take 'em Hunting challenge pose in their new UTV donated by AKRS Equipment on June 10, 2020, in Grand Island, Nebraska.
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LINCOLN, Neb. – Summer is here, and people all across Nebraska are fishing. Why not introduce someone new to fishing, snap a photo of the adventure and register in the Take ’em Fishing Challenge for a chance to win a prize?
This is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s second year offering the challenge, which encourages experienced anglers to take a pledge to go fishing with a beginner or someone who hasn’t fished in several years. Anglers who take a photo of themselves taking someone fishing can enter an online drawing for dozens of prizes, including two $500 Scheels gift cards, a fishing kayak, or a two-night stay in a Nebraska state park. All participants will be featured on the agency’s Facebook page and will receive a Take ’em Fishing decal.
Last year, more than 4,710 entered the challenge.
“Everyone remembers that time someone took them fishing for first time,” Game and Parks Director Jim Douglas said. “It is important for anglers to pay it forward and teach someone else. The result can be lifelong memories and friendships built around fishing.”
Fishing allows groups of friends or family to spend time together while engaged in the same activity, no matter the fitness or skill levels of the various participants. It requires only basic, inexpensive equipment that can be found at any sporting goods store. Game and Parks stocks ponds and lakes across the state with sport fish, which means that just about everyone can find a good fishing spot close by.
Fishing is also crucial to the conservation of our natural resources. Money generated through the sale of fishing permits and aquatic habitat stamps is used to maintain healthy fisheries in Nebraska water bodies, and to improve access for anglers. We need more anglers to ensure the health and vitality of Nebraska’s aquatic resources for generations to come.
The benefits of fishing are numerous. Anglers report feeling more satisfied with their mental health, more inspired at work and closer to their families than non-anglers, according to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.
Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/takeemfishing to take the pledge (encouraged but not required), register, view rules or get more information. The Take ’em Fishing Challenge will run through Oct. 31, 2020.