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Your First Hunt
By Casey Buck, Drake Field Expert Member

Author's Note: Being twenty two years old it may seem a little out of place for me to be writing about the importance of youth hunting. Even though I may not come close to others in the amount of days in the field I can truly tell you how much hunting has benefited my life and how I have seen it benefit others as well. That is why the importance of influencing the younger generations on the benefits of safe and courteous hunting should be a big goal for all outdoorsman.

We all remember our first time in the field. Waking up before the sun, getting in the truck, and making the long drive to the blind, all the while not really knowing what to expect… these are the feelings of a first hunt. Learning everything from where to sit to what spread to put out in the slough. And then, last but certainly not least, that famous time of day when the sun begins to crest over the horizon and the ducks start to make wing-beats above your head. The initiation of a new waterfowler is complete.

Today kids have a lot of options to choose other than hunting. Sadly, most of those choices are going to be bad for them in the long run. Getting young kids involved in hunting is one of the best things you can do for them. The lessons they learn in the field will not only help them in successful hunting, but will also help them be successful in life. I can still remember when my father made me ask permission to hunt when I was very young. At the time I was not all that interested in this, but my father impressed upon me that this was part of the hunt, and a very important part, at that. What I did not know was that this was training me to be a people-person and have the skills to work with people you may not even know, which is a great lesson learned.

The relationships you build as you grow older are another invaluable benefit reaped from hunting. I cannot think of anyone who I would rather hunt with than my father. I do not get to hunt with my father as much as I would like, so you learn how enjoyable it is and respect how much they taught you. When you hunt with them now, you may be able to show them a thing or two, even though they may not want to hear it. One thing I have noticed is that I want to see my father be successful in the field before myself. It is almost like the situation has completely reversed from him watching me and wanting me to get my first bird, to myself wanting to see my father be successful.

Try to keep them occupied even when the action slows. Whether looking for lost birds, letting them kick the water to give the decoys some motion, or just sharing a snack, these things make the hunt more enjoyable for kids.
Keep them involved. If you are calling they are going to want to call. Get a drake mallard whistle and give them the opportunity to help the group out. This will make them feel a part of the group, which usually means more than we think.
As kids get more interested in hunting, get them their own gear. A lanyard with a drake whistle mentioned above, a small thermos for some hot chocolate, or a small gear bag like the Drake 3-Box Shell Boss bag will really make youngsters feel like they are part of the hunt.
Lastly, remember to encourage them, because there will be times they will need this. All in all, makes things fun and do not worry so much about the success of the hunt.

So it's up to you! It is our responsibility to get these kids involved in the outdoors. No matter what opposition hunters face, we owe it to future generations to keep our traditions strong. Without the involvement of younger generations, our great sport could fall. Educating children about our passion will help carry on the traditions for decades to come. So take a kid hunting and watch them grow - we can all make a difference!

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