The night before

[monstermoose78]

I think I am the most excited one for youth water fowl day. I got the calls out, shells, gun, snacks, drinks for us all water and Gatorade, camo out ready for the morning.  Finn was getting excited when took the gun out that made me smile. My nephew was telling his friends about going duck hunting. Pictures will follow

[MattL]

Good luck! Hopefully your nephew can knock down some birds so the pup can see some action. 

[MJ1657]

Good luck Moose.

[monstermoose78]

Merk sat on the pond too long!!

[Neighbor_guy]

I had a few youth hunting across the lake from me this morning. Not sure how they did but I heard a couple shots before I left. 

I was disappointed when I couldn't take my goose out this morning, but that's part of life. 

I also am amongst the few who embraces youth waterfowl day. I think it's good for them to get out and have a day just for them. It helps build some excitement for the rest of the season when the weather sucks and it's cold and raining. 

[monstermoose78]

Agreed I just made a duck hunter for life today. 

I got my brother 2 of his friends to be duck hunters because of youth day it is the best 

[DLD24]

I wish someone would have taken me years ago, my buddy got me into it last year and now I'm hooked...Way more fun than sitting a tree for 8 hours watching squirrels haha 

[MJ1657]

Nice work Mr Moose.

[monstermoose78]

Watching his eyes bug out when the first teal buzzed the pond or the first wood ducks dropped in over his head. 

When we got home cleaned the duck, the dog, and ourselves my nephew got on his phone callinghisbuddies bragging he was shooting 12gauge and it hardly kicks. I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

last night he asked if we could go again this morning and had to tell him no it is a one day hunt. The sadness that came over his face is the same one I get when duck season closes or ice fishing comes to an end.

[fishuhalik]

I know I'll never forget my first duck hunt on youth day. I mighta shared this before but I'll share it again. Everyone loves a good duck story

12 years old. The old man finds a fresh beaver pond chock full of woodies and mallards. Hundreds, maybe over a thousand birds. Tiny little pond, maybe a couple acres at most. We sneak up on it before daylight and I can hear the woodies squealing and mallards quacking all the way from the pickup. We sit there and listen for a good 20 minutes as the sun comes up and my heart is racing. I mean it's pounding hard, about to beat out of my chest. I have the ol' 20 gauge Wingmaster ready to rock. Birds start getting off the roost and flying past us. Now, my dad always stressed to me not to flock shoot. Pick out one bird and kill it.  Always solid advise, right? It's all happening so fast, birds are zinging through the timber, left-to-right, right-to-left, straight at me, I can't focus on one. He finally says in that typical Da Range accent "what'r ya doin! Start chootin!!" So I just shoulder the 20 and start pulling the trigger, throwing steel in the air. The whole pond erupts and there's birds EVERYWHERE!! My inexperienced brain can't handle it. I'm reloading & shooting as fast as I can. The dust settles, not a feather was knocked loose and my dad is rolling on the ground, laughing so hard he can barely breathe. You've all heard of buck fever, well, this was duck fever at its worst!!! We finished out the day jump shooting a rice stream and I knocked my first birds, a woody and a mallard, but I'll never forget that morning. I've been addicted ever since. Anyways, that's why I love youth day and don't really care if it scares a few birds out of the area. It's the future of our sport and I hope it's always a thing. Yall don't even know what you're missing if you aren't taking a kid out hunting. It'll be the highlight of your year

Edited September 12, 2016 by fishuhalik