Youth Waterfowl day

[M.T. Pockets]

I took my boy out on the Youth Waterfowl Day in MN this Saturday. I've heard some prominant voices in MN say that we need to do away with this day because it scares the locals for the official opener it two weeks, but I tell you what. I've taken 5 different kids out over the last 10 years and it is the best experience I can think of. They get the undivided attention of a non-hunting adult in a non-competitive environment.

We went to my favorite slough and set up a nice little spread of decoys. My boy had 6 bluewing teal in about 3 hours of hunting. He missed a mallard and a goose, but he did well on those little teal. Not many ducks down in our part of the state yet, I expect some will show up by the opener in two weeks. The best hunting is still 6 weeks away.

[Dan Morris]

Good pile of ducks. Glad you both had a good time! M.T. You are allways gonna have some anti's....keyboard komandos..LOL
Dan

[fabsroman]

Good for both of you, and you know where the others can go. What I am wondering is if the "others" are also hunters that are worried that the locals will be scared by the blasting during the youth day? If that is the case, they really need to be kicked.

[M.T. Pockets]

Hello Fabs,

Yes, I'm afraid it is other waterfowl hunters that don't like the youth opener. They think it scares the ducks out of the state before the real opener in two weeks.

I'm a volunteer firearms instructor and I've seen kids in class who don't have anyone to take them hunting. I've taken some of these kids over the years and a couple have turned into fine gun owners and hunters. I hope they take me hunting when I get old.

Now my son is old enough so we get to go for a few years til he turns 16. Then I'll find another kid and take them out. It's fun because there is no pressure on the kid to compete with the "big guys" or groups of other hunters. When you're not hunting you can concentrate on helping the kid out and take shots when they're comfortable. It's a fun day in the field and it gets you back to the basics. The kids aren't rude skybusters or duck snobs. They get a kick out of shooting teal. The adults can learn as much from them as they learn from us.

[fabsroman]

I figured it had to be other hunters, but I had the reason wrong. I thought they might be worried that the kids shooting the early season would get the local citizens scared. That is an issue we deal with around me. Never thought they would be so selfish and ignorant to be worried that the "local" ducks would be scared off before the big opener. My Lord, do they really think all the ducks in the state are going to fly south just because some kids get a day or two to shoot without any competition from all the adults?

Then again, I know hunters/fishermen like this. They leave their garbage behind. They have no regard for the rules and blatantly shoot over the limit. These are the morons that would be more worried about getting their limit+ when they head out on opening day, then bringing a smile to a kids face.

Okay, I am done now, but this kind of stuff really pisses me off.

[kt]

youth day is the reason that 14 years later, i hunt waterfowl in any weather , every chance i get, i assure you i would not have been this into it with out one near perfect youth hunt.
kt
ps gooooooooooooooooooooooooooo redskins 20-12