Jeff-Widgnwhacker-Wallis
02-10-2009, 09:10 PM
Ike's Kids Shoot Again!
http://www.lsonews.com/images/stories/hunting/Ikeskids.jpg
T.C. Landry, English teacher at Hamshire-Fannett High School in Jefferson County, had seen his students recover from the devastation of Hurricane Rita in 2005.
Hurricane Ike came and hit them again.
A hunter, Landry knew many of his students hunted as well. Their opportunity, and, in many cases, their hunting equipment was gone.
“My district is full of kids who enjoy hunting ducks and geese as much as I do,” Landry said. “Time every Monday is spent telling stories of the weekend hunts.”
Landry’s classroom has a “trophy board” where students post pictures from their hunts.
“I’ve even had kids show up late for school in waders from a morning hunt.”
Ike changed all that for his students.
“They came home to destroyed homes, contaminated water, mud, gators and snakes,” Landry said. “Many of the students have relocated.”
Landry noticed an ad for Avery Outdoors in his Ducks Unlimited magazine about youth hunts put together for the Avery Youth Field Staff.
“Our kids weren’t on the field staff but they are as passionate about waterfowling as anyone.” Landry penned a letter and e-mailed it to Avery Pro Staffer Derek Rambo.
“This passionate group of duck hunters has no place to hunt,” he wrote. “Their camps and the marsh and refuges were destroyed.”
Rambo sent the e-mail to Doug Jones, a Ducks Unlimited volunteer, and the two took it from there. “It didn’t take much convincing after reading the kids’ stories,” Jones said.
Rambo helped Landry organize the group, and Jones secured the hunting area — a duck hunter’s paradise near Buckeye owned in part by former DU state chairman Bill Ansell.
The group left after school and made the two-hour trek to Ansell’s unnamed hunting area. There they were treated to dinner, followed by safety instructions, and had the chance to share their stories. Morning, though, came early for the excited hunters, who decided video games and talking were better ideas than trying to sleep the night before a much-anticipated duck hunt.
Broken into four groups assisted by guides Rambo, DU Regional Director Tim Soderquist and DU volunteers Scott Lassila, Ron Geels and Damron Henson of Frisco, the youngsters and two adults, along with their guides, managed 52 ducks, primarily green-winged teal and shovelers with a few gadwall, scaup, fulvous whistling ducks and pintail.
Two young hunters shot their first duck. Chris Myers shot a drake blue-winged teal worthy of mounting, and a shoveler was Rhett Williamson’s first success.
After the hunt, photos were taken and lunch was served. DU Manager of Conservation Programs Todd Merendino gave a presentation on the effects of Ike on the marshes, including how the marshes can ultimately benefit after a hurricane though people and their property don’t.
Then the tired students and their teacher headed back home, but memories of Ike were fresh on their minds.
“It just happened to be the opening day of teal season when Ike came to visit, said Caleb Verret, a 10th-grader.
“A week before the storm we scouted, and there were 1,500 teal and big ducks flying over and roosting in the reservoir,” he said. “Talk about excited!
“Instead of hunting we are cleaning up the mess it left behind. He was not a very good guest and won’t be invited back.”
But there is good news.
“Recently, some of the salt grass and native grasses are coming back,” he said. “We have seen ducks in the ponds, and a few snow geese. Hopefully by this time next year we’ll be shooting ’em down and eating mom’s duck gumbo.”
The teacher said the students had a great time.
“They have all talked up the trip with teachers, students, principals and anyone and everyone who would listen,” Landry said. “There are two guys that will never forget the hunt because they are now as addicted as I am. Hopefully this hunt could be repeated with other deserving schools.”
Written by Craig Nyhus, LSONews.com
Congrats Derek :D
http://www.lsonews.com/images/stories/hunting/Ikeskids.jpg
T.C. Landry, English teacher at Hamshire-Fannett High School in Jefferson County, had seen his students recover from the devastation of Hurricane Rita in 2005.
Hurricane Ike came and hit them again.
A hunter, Landry knew many of his students hunted as well. Their opportunity, and, in many cases, their hunting equipment was gone.
“My district is full of kids who enjoy hunting ducks and geese as much as I do,” Landry said. “Time every Monday is spent telling stories of the weekend hunts.”
Landry’s classroom has a “trophy board” where students post pictures from their hunts.
“I’ve even had kids show up late for school in waders from a morning hunt.”
Ike changed all that for his students.
“They came home to destroyed homes, contaminated water, mud, gators and snakes,” Landry said. “Many of the students have relocated.”
Landry noticed an ad for Avery Outdoors in his Ducks Unlimited magazine about youth hunts put together for the Avery Youth Field Staff.
“Our kids weren’t on the field staff but they are as passionate about waterfowling as anyone.” Landry penned a letter and e-mailed it to Avery Pro Staffer Derek Rambo.
“This passionate group of duck hunters has no place to hunt,” he wrote. “Their camps and the marsh and refuges were destroyed.”
Rambo sent the e-mail to Doug Jones, a Ducks Unlimited volunteer, and the two took it from there. “It didn’t take much convincing after reading the kids’ stories,” Jones said.
Rambo helped Landry organize the group, and Jones secured the hunting area — a duck hunter’s paradise near Buckeye owned in part by former DU state chairman Bill Ansell.
The group left after school and made the two-hour trek to Ansell’s unnamed hunting area. There they were treated to dinner, followed by safety instructions, and had the chance to share their stories. Morning, though, came early for the excited hunters, who decided video games and talking were better ideas than trying to sleep the night before a much-anticipated duck hunt.
Broken into four groups assisted by guides Rambo, DU Regional Director Tim Soderquist and DU volunteers Scott Lassila, Ron Geels and Damron Henson of Frisco, the youngsters and two adults, along with their guides, managed 52 ducks, primarily green-winged teal and shovelers with a few gadwall, scaup, fulvous whistling ducks and pintail.
Two young hunters shot their first duck. Chris Myers shot a drake blue-winged teal worthy of mounting, and a shoveler was Rhett Williamson’s first success.
After the hunt, photos were taken and lunch was served. DU Manager of Conservation Programs Todd Merendino gave a presentation on the effects of Ike on the marshes, including how the marshes can ultimately benefit after a hurricane though people and their property don’t.
Then the tired students and their teacher headed back home, but memories of Ike were fresh on their minds.
“It just happened to be the opening day of teal season when Ike came to visit, said Caleb Verret, a 10th-grader.
“A week before the storm we scouted, and there were 1,500 teal and big ducks flying over and roosting in the reservoir,” he said. “Talk about excited!
“Instead of hunting we are cleaning up the mess it left behind. He was not a very good guest and won’t be invited back.”
But there is good news.
“Recently, some of the salt grass and native grasses are coming back,” he said. “We have seen ducks in the ponds, and a few snow geese. Hopefully by this time next year we’ll be shooting ’em down and eating mom’s duck gumbo.”
The teacher said the students had a great time.
“They have all talked up the trip with teachers, students, principals and anyone and everyone who would listen,” Landry said. “There are two guys that will never forget the hunt because they are now as addicted as I am. Hopefully this hunt could be repeated with other deserving schools.”
Written by Craig Nyhus, LSONews.com
Congrats Derek :D