We just returned yesterday around noon from our trip to Thief Lake in northwestern Minnesota where we opened up the duck season with 3 youth. It was youth waterfowl day here in MN and despite warm temperatures, we had a great time. This whole show originated back at “Woody Camp” in Fergus Falls, MN where we joined a group of 13-15 year olds who took some pretty extensive waterfowl training courses from some awesome trainers. These kids learned a lot about this great sport and put a lot of it to use on Saturday. Thank you Minnesota Waterfowl Association for putting on this incredible program for the future hunters of America.
This trip was very exciting for me as well as the kids. Greg Kvale (retired DNR) was the other “helper”, and thanks to Greg (our advanced scout) and his many years of hunting this area we had a good clue on where to set up. I certainly can’t forget our cameramen (Ryan, Kyle and Jeremy) or the dogs (Satch and Flint). This trip would not have had ALL the excitement without these other characters. After loading 3 duck boats with camera equipment, decoys, guns, snacks, dogs, push poles and the “kitchen sink”, we were off through the cattails. The motors got clogged with vegetation and after awhile, we were pulling the boats to the “spot” (with waders on). We got to the spot and set-up. I was with Grant and Jared and Greg was hunting with Karlie. We had Kyle and Satch in our blind too and Ryan was filming in the other blind. Jeremy, hard to say where he ended up…pretty sure he was rolling on the sunrise and this massive waterfowl area. The birds were flying and the excitement was nearly uncontrollable (for me as well as the kids and dogs).
Once the decoys were set, the shots were ringing!! Grant dropped the first two birds (a gadwall and a wideon), Jared and Carlie were in on the action but I think they soon realized it wasn’t going to be easy. Maybe a little more aiming and swinging needed to be done. Carlie dropped the next bird, a blue-wing teal and the excitement of these kids was really starting to shine through now! Their first birds. Jared was wondering why the birds he was shooting at weren’t dropping, and after giving him some encouragement and a few tips, he came through BIGTIME! His first bird was a giant Canadian goose.
This was a fantastic experience for all of us and we could not have asked for 3 more awesome kids to share the blinds with on this youth waterfowl day. Thank you Greg, Pete (Greg’s son and all the rest of you for making this such a memorable day!
And kids, thanks for cleaning and cooking and sharing your game with us! And also for your awesome personalities!! This show will be a good one, look for it sometime after the first of the year.
Enjoy today, Dan
