Youth Season Primer

The upcoming youth pheasant and quail season (Nov. 5 & 6) is the perfect opportunity to introduce a young hunter to bird hunting. Even though bird forecasts aren't stellar, there are still birds out there, and getting the first shot at WIHA and public areas is a huge advantage. Hunting pressure during the youth season is always light, so the odds of finding a positive experience are high -- for both youngsters and mentors. When I started hunting 40 years ago, we didn't have a youth season, but I was lucky enough to be included every opening day. I learned by watching and listening, and I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. However, hunting in a big group of seasoned adult hunters probably won't provide a young newbie with the best opportunity. Every opening day group has a couple of quick-draw shooters -- those who'll try to kill birds before anyone else gets a chance; a young hunter can't compete with them. And a big opening-day hunting party with yelling, dogs running wild and general chaos may fluster a new hunter. Contrast that with an adult mentor or two, a couple of young hunters and a couple of dogs on the ground during the youth season, and you can see which will be a better initiation to bird hunting. The youth season is also a great opportunity to scout new areas and give the dogs a warm-up hunt. A youth season outing will give a young hunter an experience he or she will never forget. Never underestimate the power of passing it on.