Youth hunt

[ChrisT]

Hey guys so I was wondering how old the kids have to be to participate in the youth hunt.  My 11 yo has been turkey hunting the last 2 years and deer this past year.  If he can do the youth duck hunt I would like to take him.

[MJ1657]

Regs just state 15 and younger when accompanied by an adult. 13-15 must have a firearms safety certificate. 

 

Youre good to go.

[Neighbor_guy]

I thought I read someplace it was 10-15 with an adult, but like MJ said the regs state under 15.

 

i am taking the Goose out. She's 11 as well. I say go, keep it safe, and have fun!!!

[monstermoose78]

Get them kids out there!! I am trying to get my nephew out.

[MJ1657]

Mollie, myself, Neighbor Guy and the Goose are going to give it a try next Saturday. 

 

Me and Moll did a little scouting tonight. Its looking promising. 

[ChrisT]

Thanks guys.  Leave it to the regs to make it vague....  I will get him out there.

[MJ1657]

Cooler temps will sure make Saturday much more enjoyable. Might even scare a few more teal down from up north. 

[Neighbor_guy]

I don't think you are too far off on that prediction. I check the ponds at work on a daily basis. Today is the first day I have seen Teal and Woodducks. Those little birds don't like cold. It's been in the 30's overnight the last few days in Baudette and Ely. Some birds are going to bail out early. 

[bobberineyes]

I sure miss that youth hunt, might just have to hit up some neighbor kids. Just seeing the smiles was enough, even though a lot of empty shells in the bottom of the boat with a duck or two they sure had fun....go get em kids!!!

[Rip_Some_Lip]

Im taking my 14 year old and his buddy out in the morning. I hope they get some shooting. I scouted a couple sloughs after work and saw a few woodies and teal.

[Neighbor_guy]

boat is stuffed into the pickup as the place we are headed isn't very trailer friendly. Couple dozen mixed decoys and a handful of geese are stuffed in there with the oars and push pole. 

The Goose is learning what to put into her blind bag and going over some last minute gun safety refreshers. 

Min not sure who is more excited, her or me. 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2015 by Neighbor_guy

[fishersofmen]

I'm taking my son and a friend of his out hopefully they get some good shooting in. Kid got his limit last year. It doesn't seem like I have seen many ducks around lately but we will see.

[MJ1657]

[monstermoose78]

I hope they are getting some shooting in. I heard some shooting this morning. I was not able to get my nephews out. Good Luck MJ 

[Neighbor_guy]

The girls did get some shooting in. But the birds were scarce. We did a lot of scouting and had a good plan, but they didn't get the memo I guess.

We got a bit of a late start cause, mike and Molly sank their boat. It's always something. But the girls took it in stride and we made it work. The teal and wood ducks we had been seeing were nowhere to be found. But there were a handful of mallards played around enough to get their first volleys of the year in. 

Decided to make a weekend out of it as MJ and Molly invited us back out for geese this morning. 

we all got the barrels warm this morning. Then looked around and tried to figure out how we managed to miss those birds  still having fun and seeing smiles on faces is what it's about. 

[fishersofmen]

It was very quiet for us. The boys got a couple birds but it was nothing like last year at the same location.

[Rip_Some_Lip]

We did pretty good. The boys got 4 Wood Ducks and a Teal. They should of had a few more but shot a box of shells each. They had a ball though, me too!

 

[TylerS]

That's what it's all about!! I don't care what anyone says...youth weekend is exactly what the waterfowling heritage needs to survive. Way to go everyone!

[Kettle]

I have pictures of the first two ducks I harvested 17 years ago on youth waterfowl day.  Youth day is what got me into hunting and got the addiction to what it is today.  I had family members complain that I hunted the ponds two weeks prior to the opener and that scared the ducks.  Now these days the same ones that complained are the ones that have me drag their boats and keep the land up for them to hunt. Keep the tradition going! 

Kettle

[TylerS]

I think anyone who complains about the youth weekend "scaring away the ducks" ought to spend more time hunting and less time coming up with excuses about why they suck at killing birds. 

[Neighbor_guy]

I think anyone who complains about the youth weekend "scaring away the ducks" ought to spend more time hunting and less time coming up with excuses about why they suck at killing birds. 

I live in a spot where it is easy to monitor birds. I also have several ponds that I check on a daily basis at work. The Teal and Wood ducks are getting ready to move already and some have made their first jumps. I have Teal I'm the ponds in Plymouth that were not here until the cold snap last week. 

Youth Waterfowl Day does not move or scare ducks. Mother Nature moves ducks. 

[leechlake]

the wood ducks stick around up at our cabin near Walker til the middle of October year in and out.  I'm sure some bail early but there are always plenty around til almost MEA weekend.  Teal, glad they bail early always feel bad if I kill one.

[Kettle]

Wood ducks definitely tough it out more than most seem, I have shot a few wood ducks in Oct in Canada and have shot GWT in MN over ice in Nov.  I agree with most, ducks may move around after getting shot at but pushing them into migration from shooting isn't relevant.  The people than complained about my youth hunt days were the people who only hunted opener and never hunted a weekend past that.  I hope that in the future my nephew has interest in waterfowl hunting.  Would love to get him out on youth opener someday

 

kettle