Long Point Youth Hunt Adds New Hunters

Canadian News

Long Point Youth Hunt Adds New Hunters
by Jeff Helsdon

The key to the future of waterfowling is introducing new hunters to the sport, according to mentors in a recent Delta Waterfowl youth hunt.

Members of the Long Point Delta Waterfowl chapter teamed up with the Long Point Waterfowlers and several other conservation organizations for the second annual Youth Waterfowl Day at the Long Point Waterfowl Unit on Oct. 4. They taught 20 new hunters the basics of waterfowling and then took them into the marsh.

The day started at 9 a.m. with a morning full of seminars on topics such as firearms safety, calling, waterfowl identification, processing birds, decoys, retriever demonstrations and information on the importance of conservation. Primed with a good lunch, the 20 young hunters headed to the marsh for the afternoon hunt.

“If we are to sustain not only waterfowling but the resource itself, it is vital to encourage new generations of hunters to participate,” said Al Gallagher, a mentor for the day and youth committee member. “It is really important to replace yourself in order to maintain, and even grow the community of duck hunters. Many youths have a disconnect with the outdoors. It is vital that we all do our best to mentor youngsters into the ranks of waterfowlers.”

“The youth program is a fantastic way to introduce new and apprentice hunters to this wonderful resource.”

Mentor Jerry Bell sees these types of events as a way of getting kids “hooked” on duck hunting. Even before the Long Point Waterfowlers program was in existence, Bell took more than a half-dozen hunters out for the first time. At this year’s hunt Bell shared a blind with Kyle Hiebert, who shot two ducks. While Hiebert’s father hunts deer, this was Kyle’s first chance at waterfowl hunting and he loved it.

“I said to him ‘Did your heart thump a little bit and did you enjoy it’,” Bell said. “He said ‘Yes’ and I said “ I still get it and I’m 62’.”

Mentor Les Eves also had success, experiencing Andrew Bacro’s first duck with him, when the youth shot a green-winged teal. Andrew’s father Mark used to be a hunter years ago and is getting back in it now his son has shown an interest.

Eves believes programs like this help waterfowler retention and teaches the youth not only about waterfowl hunting, but also about the Long Point Waterfowl Unit. “It lets the kids know there’s a place for them to go hunting and teaches them about the marsh,” he said. “I think that’s part of the problem is people don’t know where to go hunting.” Eves said if it wasn’t for the Long Point Waterfowl Unit, he would have given up waterfowling himself years ago.”

Is the program working?

Gallagher said last year the unit saw a 50 per cent increase in youth hunters. Each of this year’s participants was given three hunts this fall to encourage them to come back. Gallagher said the father of his young hunter proved the program works. “I received a phone call from one of the fathers last week telling me that they have been out together four times since the event,” he said, “The father said his son won’t stop talking about it!”

Long Point Waterfowlers Association took over management of the 40-plus blinds in the unit when the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources decided it would no longer operate waterfowl hunting in Long Point Provincial Park. The park is part of the famed Long Point marshes, one of the most important waterfowl staging areas in eastern North America.