Delta Waterfowl PA Youth Hunt

**David Rearick** · #1 09-26-2007, 10:43 AM

2007 Hunting Journal Entries

DATE: September 22nd, 2007

LOCATION: Moraine State Park

SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7:08 am

WEATHER: Warm w/ Clear Skies

TEMPERATURE: 70 Degrees F

WIND: Non-Existent

EQUIPMENT USED: Greenhead Gear® OS Mallards, Greenhead Gear® LS Wood Ducks, Greenhead Gear® LS Canada Floaters; Avery® 6-Slot Mid Size Decoy Bag; Avery® 9’ Dove Blind, Avery® Quick Cutters, Avery® Skull Cap, Avery® Power Hunter Blind Bag

HUNTERS: Nathan, Zachary, Dan and Avery® Pro-Staffer David Rearick

JOURNAL NOTES:
Delta Waterfowl PA Youth Hunt 2007

With nuisance goose season coming to a close and the duck season quickly approaching, many youth duck hunts are taking place across the United States. Here in PA, the date was set for September 22nd and a local Delta chapter has an annual youth hunt that takes place at Lake Arthur in western PA. I volunteered to be a “guide” for a few youngsters and their guardian. We set out after a quick orientation in the morning to a little hidden cove that holds some wood ducks and mallards during the early season. Nathan and Zachary were both pumped to get to the spot and we were hoping for a great day.

After poling our way though some lily pads, Nathan, Zachary, their Guardian, Dan, and my black Lab, Monte got out of the boat on a nice piece of hard ground with good overhead cover. Using my Avery® Quick Cutters and an Avery Dove Blind we made a nice little hide complete with overhead cover, but plenty of visibility for passing and decoying shots on wood ducks. After the boys were set, I placed 6 GHG® LS Floaters and a mixture of mallards, teal, and wood ducks sparingly throughout the lily pads. I then slid the boat a few hundred yards down the bank and waded back through the water to our home for the morning.

Once back at the hide, I went over some safety and shooting requirements and let the boys know that I would identify the duck and give the okay to shoot. They both listened very well and were eager for the sun to rise. We all sunk into out own hiding spots and awaited legal shooting time as the sun slowly came over the horizon.

When the clock struck legal shooting time, I instructed the boys to load there guns and get ready for the ducks. It wasn’t long after when two woodies circled above and then plummeted into the shallow water in front of us. I hesitated to call the shot and the birds lit about 100 yards to the left. Kicking myself for being ever so hesitant it wasn’t long until I heard the unmistakable shrill of wood ducks taking off and I told the boys to get ready. To my surprise a large flock of 35 wood ducks buzzed by the decoys and after some shooting, the birds left unscathed. The look on the both boys’ faces told the tale as they were in awe struck just getting to see that many birds at once. Today was only their 2nd waterfowling adventure. They both exclaimed how “awesome” that was and were not in the least disappointed that they had not connected. Youthful enthusiasm is something I had almost forgotten, up until this point, and it was refreshing to show these kids just much fun waterfowl hunting can be.

Not wanting to waste any time, we chatted for a second and then tucked back into the blind. It wasn’t much longer when a pair of woodies buzzed right through the decoys without a shot. Both boys using single shots with hammers weren’t able to get the hammers back in time and the birds got through unscathed. Shortly after another wood duck landed in the decoys and left without a shot. Monte whined a little in his disapproval, but the boys could have cared less that they got a shot off or not, they were just happy to be out and to be seeing the birds work. We sat back and waited for the next group birds.

Much to my surprise, not much was moving today as the fishing/boat traffic quickly increased and the birds were hesitant to fly back into our cove as we had three boats blocking the entrance. We hung out waiting for a lone mallard or wood duck to sneak through the armada, but it just wasn’t happening. I decided to stretch my legs and check a few small ponds through the woods and see if I could get the birds moving to the boys. As Monte and I walked along the first pond he became very “birdy”. I was expecting a grouse or pheasant to flush from the underbrush, when much to my surprise a goose came flailing out into the water. Thinking I had found a cripple, I lined up Monte and sent him after the bird. As Monte approached, the bird lifted and began flying towards the boys. Upon seeing the decoys, he locked up and went out of sight. I hoped they would get a crack at him and a after a few seconds, I heard a shot and a holler for me to come. Being 200 yards away Monte and I tore out to the water to get to the boys and Dan. Upon reaching the water, I could not see a bird and thought maybe they had missed. As I trotted to the blind, I got the thumbs up and two very smiling faces. They said the bird had come over the spread and was coming into the decoys when they shot and knocked it down. After hitting it, the bird swam over to the opposing shoreline.

I quickly heeled Monte to my side and started wading across the 60 yards of water to the other shore. Half way over with Monte swimming next to me, in the chest deep water, I gave him a back and he was off. He got about 20 yards out and became interested in a Styrofoam cup, left in the water by fisherman, after his investigation I gave him the whistle, he stopped, faced me, and treaded water. I gave him one more back and he was off to the shore. Once on shore I gave him the sit whistle one more time and a hard over. He started off down the bank to where the boys had last seen the bird and the bird flushed into the water swimming away as fast as he could. Monte was on him and I was without a gun, so it was going to be up to him. Monte continued the chase and the bird dove 3-4 times before Monte got a hold of the struggling goose and brought him to the shoreline. With a firm hold on the bird, he brought it to my side and never put it down. I took the bird from his mouth and gave him a “good boy”, as the boys across the water were clapping and hooting and hollering. At this point I don’t know who was more exited, me or the boys about Monte’s retrieve, but I can say I was one happy camper at his performance on this blind. I gave the bird back to Monte and he swam along side me back to the boys, as I waded back through the chest deep water. I told the boys to heel him along there side and take the bird from him. The boys held the bird in their hands and patted the dog on his head. I pulled out an Avery® Hexa-Bumper and did a few fun retrieves as an award for the good work We then decided to call it a day, as the sun was quickly becoming increasingly warmer and the time had struck 9:45 AM. We quickly packed up the gear and headed back to the pavilion for lunch, a few seminars and talks of conservation.

Looking back at the day as I write this, I really must say it was one of the most enjoyable experiences while waterfowl hunting hence my long winded JE. Not only did the kids have a great time and Monte got a good retrieve, but I learned a lesson on just how impressionable kids are at a young age. With the youth being the future of the sport, we must make their experiences not necessarily successful, but most importantly enjoyable, so they will want to do it again while teaching them the right way to do it.

The Blind...

The Boys Having a Good Time During a Lull in the Action...

Monte Awaiting the Next Bumper...

Some Happy Hunters..

A Short Duck ID Seminar by Yours Truly...

Erik Nilsson from Zink Calls Providing Duck Calling Instruction...