Youth Pheasant day?

[BDR]

I've seen that Iowa and S.Dakota have youth days before the masses hit afield. Is there a good reason MN doesn't?

[Guest]

I think that there shouldn't even be these youth hunting days. IF they want to hunt, then let them come out with the rest of us on opening day so you can both share the excitement. Also, I have heard of Dad's just taking there kid's out and then the Dad shoots all the ducks to "show them how it's done". I didn't have a youth waterfowl day when I started and don't see why we have one today.

[Dano2]

I think (heh, thats a mistake)
that if MN doesn't have one for pheasant, maybe its becasue the pheasant hunting in MN isn't all that great, thats just a thought, I could be wrong, this will be my first year giving it a try myself, since about 12 years ago.

I think it IS a good thing to have for the youngsters, that way they can go out when theres not a whole mess of other hunters around, then ofcourse you've got your SLOB hunters as folks call them, I wouldn't want to take my kid out to be dissapointed and have his hunting recked by a bunch of idiots, that'll just take the interest away.
just my opinion ofcourse.
thanks

[honker23]

I don't like the youth days either. Go with you're parents/gaurdian on opener. The way we all did it and it works. Too many crooks abusing it in my opinion.

[Crossin' Eyes]

I'm pretty new to the site, and am a very avid hunter and a father. Here's my 2 cents.
Youth hunting days are great. They are more than great. Every state should have one. A youth pheasant hunting day, as stated by someone previously, probably doesn't exsist in MN because the bird population is not much good since the big CRP acreages disappeared 10 years ago. Honker and Zippo, you are right, there are undoubtedly violators out there that abuse a priviledged, fun, family directed hunting day. However, every sport has a few a**holes that ruin it for everyone. I am an avid snowmobiler, and the sport is always fighting legislation aimed at a few bad eggs and not at the masses. I don't have the numbers to back it up, but no doubt there are way more good guys than bad guys when it comes to kids hunting days. I have many good friends that live in Iowa and take their sons and daughters afield for a great day.
End of my sermon. Everyone have a fantastic and safe upcoming hunting season! And when you see those bad eggs afield, don't forget your right and duty to call the TIP line!

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Good Fishin!
Crossin

[setterguy]

I would be interested in knowing if those against a youth day have young children. Now I don't know the ages of anyone on this board but I know in my short life (I'm 27) I have seen the pressure on public lands increase for all species of game. I think that it will only do good for the sport to have a day or two a year that kids can go out, without the crowds and focus on saftey and learning about their game. Your right, we didn't have a youth day, but wouldn't it have been great if we did? I know that there are guys that are abusing the system, there always will be, its just a fact of life. Lets just not make the rest of the kids suffer because of a few a-holes.

[Guest]

I think anything that has to do with bring kids in the outdoors is A GREAT IDEA!!!

Lots of youngsters do not get the chance to do these things to set 1 day aside for teaching youngsters about anything in the outdoors gets 2 Thumbs UP...

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RiverTown Guiding
Mississippi River Pools 3-4
http://www.geocities.com/wish_i_was_fishing2002

[BDR]

Interesting responses thanks. I am all for youth days. I think with all the horror stories I read of the regular waterfowl opener's and "slob hunter" it is enough to turn off adults from the sport let alone a new comer.And Pheasant opener is getting crowded as well.
I do have 4 kids and my oldest is in firearms training now. I will really enjoy taking him to S.D. for his first pheasant hunt,only $25 for kids and 2 days just for them. It will be a perfect situation for safety and learning as all my attention can focus on him and my dog.

p.s. If I new directly of any "dad" doing the shooting I would not hesitate to call TIP!