Youth Waterfowl Hunt

[Fisher Dave]

Good luck to you guys tomorrow getting your kids out on the youth waterfowl hunt.

Post your results .. let us know how the kids did.

Take a Kid Hunting,

Fisher Dave

[Flick]

My brother and his friend went out in the cambridge area and did terrible, only got a couple teal and not much more shooting. There just weren't birds around. There couldn't have been better weather. Doesn't look good for opener in that area.

[Fisher Dave]

Flick...

Only a couple birds but I'm sure the kids still had fun.

I was out scouting that day and seen tons of birds on small potholes. Maybe there werent enough hunters to keep the birds moving?

[mwktrapper]

Was hunting in Fosston for geese on Saturday and my buddy took his nephew out for his first duck hunt. He came back to camp with a huge smile and a limit of ducks--mallards, teal, and gaddies. I will never get over how awesome it is to see little kids shooting their first birds and just falling in love with the sport. Geese all over the place, go get em.

good fishin

[HUNTER2]

Why is a youth hunt needed now and it wasn't needed years ago? Is it because the grownups wont put there guns down and let the kids shoot? Or what?

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Hunt&Fish tell you drop!

[Fisher Dave]

What does it matter ?

Let the kids have a day to themselves. I dont see too many kids on the water throughout the season ... I'm glad young, generally inexperienced hunters have a chance to get out without having to compete with the adults.

Why is it some people have to complain about everything ??

The kids ARE the future of the sport. With any luck their kids will be the next.

Im sure theres another state around that doesnt have the youth hunt .. if it bothers you that much ... call a realator.

[HUNTER2]

Each person is entitled to there own opinion. You sound like one of those people who thinks that their opinion is always the right one. If you cant respond with a little intelligence DONT RESPOND AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!

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Hunt&Fish tell you drop!

[Fisher Dave]

When it comes to kids I will stand up in their defense.

I could be wrong but you seemed to be upset that kids could get out hunting for 1 day before adults could waterfowl hunt. Im sorry .. sounds a little greedy *if* <--(Key word) this the case.

Hunters in general are losing rights and places to hunt all the time. The kids go through alot just to be able to hunt before they become a legal adult. Most kids are also very limited on the time they can spend in the field during the season in comparisons to most adults... cant exactly set school aside, and its a little hard to borrow moms car when your 13 because you have an urge to hunt.

Is it you just have a hatred for kids ?

I see no point in going any further.

On the last note i can care less if you dont like my opinions. I'm not always right, nor am I always wrong, but I am entitled to express my opinion weather I would be a genious or an one-who-thinks-I-am-silly. You have obviously made your own judgements on behalf of who you think I am. At the same time, I'm not sure what ground you think you are standing on to judge anyone. To each their own.

By The Way ... I am not going anywhere. I apologize for not being able to fill this request.

[Flipnripem]

Personally my opinion on the youth hunt is to give the kids a opportunity to hunt when the weather is generally mild. When there are still plenty of ducks around. Teal, and woodies that usually decoy in tight. Simply put, let the kids hunt because without them all we as sportsman will have accomplished nothing if the sport, pasttime, ducken life does not continue after we are gone! Flip

[kelly-p]

It is my feeling that the children are our future. They are what we will leave behind when we pass on.
Nothing is more rewarding to me than seeing a child learn of the outdoors and enjoy it. The outdoors is a place where you can learn values and respect of the world around you.
I feel that as adults it is our duty to step aside at times and let the children have the chance to do the things we already have done. To withhold that from the children would be greedy and selfish on our part.

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Waskish Minnow Station
218-647-8652

[Guest]

If any of you guys have an extra day every month or so. We could sure use you to teach single parent kids about hunting ( mainly waterfowl) and fishing. If you're intersted at all, contact me at [email protected] .There is just a fewof us who think exactly the way you do about the kids being our future, and alot of the kids we are reaching are not going to get exposed to the traditions we love because they don't have a guy to show them. We are a Christian (non-denaminational) group, but we aren't going to cram it down your throaght. We,No, the kids need you contact me if you have any interest at all. Thanks, Jim

[The Chemist]

I think Hunter2 has been misunderstood. If I may I believe that his statement questioned more of the reason why there is a youth day now but when we were young there wasn't one. And I do believe that I have a good reason for that: Today's children have other things on their minds- and the outdoors isn't generally one of them. Personally I feel the youth hunting day is too early. Make it opener let the child experience the thrill of the hunt w/ a grown up hunting along side. I would have loved to have my father hunt w/ me. But that never happened. I was only allowed to walk the fields for phesants.

[JAR JAR]

YES our children are our future.
My oldest duaghter turns fourteen on monday and she is in to all the "cool" fads and likes to dress funny and all that crazy stuff,but when it comes to hunting ducks or just walking the trails for groucho's she's right there by my side ready. I feel fortunate that my daughter loves to go out into the woods or blind no matter how cold it is. Most of her friends think that she is crazy to go hunting rather than go to a movie or go shopping at the mall. Now if most teenager or younger got involved with outdoor activities there wouldn't be half of the problems on the streets, most children just need a mentor for alittle guidance.I try to help any child whenever I can.
just my two cents
HAPPY HUNTING
JAR JAR

[JAR JAR]

YES our children are our future.
My oldest duaghter turns fourteen on monday and she is in to all the "cool" fads and likes to dress funny and all that crazy stuff,but when it comes to hunting ducks or just walking the trails for groucho's she's right there by my side ready. I feel fortunate that my daughter loves to go out into the woods or blind no matter how cold it is. Most of her friends think that she is crazy to go hunting rather than go to a movie or go shopping at the mall. Now if most teenager or younger got involved with outdoor activities there wouldn't be half of the problems on the streets, most children just need a mentor for alittle guidance.I try to help any child whenever I can.
just my two cents
HAPPY HUNTING
JAR JAR

[Fisher Dave]

Thanks all for standing up for the kids and expressing your opinions.

Chemist .. You are right when I read back through the post. I misinterpited a post and an excessive conflict of interest obviously was the outcome.

I apologize to Hunter2 for jumping the gun.

[doubleUcubed]

Not a duck hunter myself but I had the opportunity to see my buddy bring his girlfriends young boy to my cousins place to "show off" his 3 ducks! That young guy was smiles from ear to ear! Better yet was that my 80 year old cousin took the time to take more pictures of him and the young springer spaniel so he could show his friends. Following the pictures my cousin brought out a knife, water and bags and told him that he needed to learn how to clean the ducks and prepare them for a meal. He then went on to explain why he should only take what game he would clean and eat. What an impression on one of our "future" hunters!! That's one reason why I feel it's a great thing for the youth hunt. Thanks.

[NateEboy-1]

I know it's long past the youth opener but I felt I should reply. ( My son and I have been coming to fishing minnesota for 3 years now and we never thought to go to the hunting forums until today.) I have been taking my son hunting with me since he was old enough to keep up, and he has hunted along side of me on all of our upland game and deer hunts since he was twelve. When he turned twelve he asked me "why don't you hunt ducks and geese pop?" My reply: I don't have a duck boat or decoys, I don't know how to call, and I can't stand the taste of duck and I won't shoot anything that I won't eat!Before he turned 13 he bought a 14'boat. Within the next year he bought a motor.When he had birthday parties he asked his friends for decoys.While shopping at Galyan's he discovered the Minn. duck and goose callers assoc. and became a member. For the last three years he has been hunting the youth opener with his best friend and his father. This year was his last year to be eligable for the youth opener and he convinced my to take the day off from work and follow along with his friends, using all of my sons equipment.We had a riot! We took home 7 ducks and 1 goose between the 2 boys. They said that this was the first year that they didn't limit out by 8:00am. After my son soaked the duck breast in milk for 24 hours he injected them with garlic and herb marinade and seasoned them with a waterfowl seasoning before throwing them on the grill.It was a meal fit for a king! I never started hunting until I was in my 20's. My father NEVER took me hunting because he felt kids, adults and guns on any opener was not safe and he only hunted openers (for social reasons.) Well I am now 42 and it took a 15 year old boy to show me what I have been missing! Without a youth opener,good friends and a determined son,I may never have duck hunted.Teach a kid to fish and hunt or open the door and let them teach you! Ken. Fisher Dave, We would like to hook up with you next spring and share some of your trout fishing knowledge if it's possible.Ken and Nate. Kelly-p, this march we won't be draging up the portables to red lake, we would like to rent one of your sleepers.We will get in touch soon.Ken

[Finlander]

NateEboy-1, next sping go to South Dakota and try some spring snow goose hunting.
It's a blast (no pun intended!)!!!!
You will see about 500 Bajillion of them and
you can shoot from the road side ditches there when they are moving from one field to another.
Bring the biggest shell you can (3.5" T's and Hevi-Shot 2's or Tungston BB's) to bring them down.
Last spring we drilled them just south of Aberdeen in early April. They follow the melting snow line. Bring your son and have a BLAST!!!

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F-STOP

[duckbuster]

I know that this a couple of weeks late, but can someone please tell me the true reason we have a youth WATERFOWL day? Thanks and GOOD HUNTING

[Fisher Dave]

duckbuster,

I honestly dont know the exact reason why they have the youth hunting day, but I'm glad they do. For kids it makes it aweful easy to bag a few ducks .. they're not pressured and decoy easily. And the kids dont have to compete with countless hunters and learn to hunt properly under close observation from the adults. What a child can learn is limitless, the adult has the ability to teach more when they're observing and not shooting themselves. I just think of the season opener. If your on public waters with numbers of hunters it seems that after about 2 hours people get bored and people start to skybust at anything they see. I have never observed this happening on a youth hunt. It's near impossible to decoy birds once this happens. To me its a great on hand learnng day for kids, and also a great learning day for adults. Not neccessarily for decoying in birds, but how to brush up on safety issues, and learning to hunt with young, inexperienced hunters. I have taken my mentally handicapped nephue out a few times waterfowl hunting. He is constantly alert of safety issues and makes sure I'm aware of them. It gets annoying at times, I wont lie, but it does help me make adjustments for future hunts, and comforts me greatly knowing that he pays attention to where others hunters are, and goes far out of the way to be sure he doesnt shoot toward anyone, and keeps his muzzle far out of harms way when hunting with me. I cant ask for more, but if there were something I had to bring to his attention, I would rather it happen on youth waterfowl day with less hunters on the lakes and far less pressure. He enjoys hunting and would like to see him do it now, and in the future.

[HUNTER2]

They say there is a decline in young hunters. So the youth day is a way to get them out there without the competition of alot of hunters. The University of Minnesota did a study and found 60% of hunters were in favor of the youth hunt. I just wonder how much that study costed us? Without hunters the DNR would lose alot of personel! I dont know why the University had to do the study,all they had to do was ask the QUESTION when you bought your license. I guess I dont know how many ducks are taken on this day. Some say they limit out others say they get a few. I dont know if it really matters its just fun to be out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hunt&Fish tell you drop!

[NateEboy-1]

By the way, Nate earned all the money by mowing lawns and shoveling snow. Anybody out there in the Orono area need a good kid for mowing or shoveling? He wants to buy a Benelli by next years opener.

[duckbuster]

Please don't take this the wrong way because we all know some of us get a little testy if we don't agree with someone elses opinion so here goes.
I am all in favor of getting kids out in the field like alot of the reponses said. If we all feel that way then why do we not have a youth day for Fishing? Why do we not have a youth day for Grouse? Why do we not have a youth day for Deer?
The one species that year-in and year-out we are told that the Duck #'s are down they have a youth day. The fish population is never low, the deer population is always in good shape because of the Doe permits, and the grouse population is only down when the cycle is at the bottom like last year and this year.
If we really want to get the kids out like most of us think then we as individual parents need to make the time, take the time and get the youngsters out.
I hope everybody has a GREAT and SAFE opener! GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HUNTING

[early007]

Just to express my oppinion. I love the youth hunt. I don't have kids and have never participated in this event. But it is a great idea because of many factors. Most of all its a timing thing. Warmer weather early in the season allows young hunters to get out and enjoy a day in the field. Plus there is the opportunity to get some shots at woodies and teal. Which in most cases the majority migrate before the season opens. The other seasons for deer and other game are usually set up at the easiest time of the year to bag an animal. And you can pretty much fish year round somewhere. People that are against this youth hunt are just ignorant and selfish.

[duckbuster]

But why just Ducks? I'm not ignorant nor am I selfish. I just want to know why the youth hunt pertains only to Ducks.