With hunting season just around the corner, a free workshop is being offered to help teenagers learn all they need to know to have a safe and successful waterfowl hunt.
The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry will host the eighth annual Youth Waterfowl Hunting Workshop at the Charlottetown Trap and Skeet Club in Mount Albion September 8. The full-day workshop includes both classroom and hands-on instruction. Topics to be covered include waterfowl identification, blinds and decoys, duck and goose calling, hunter safety, bow hunting and outdoor survival skills. There will also be an optional skeet shoot.
The workshop is open to youth ages 12 to 17. While there is no cost, participants must register by August 31. All meals are provided and Delta Waterfowl Foundation is offering free transportation for those living between Tignish and Kensington.
As a follow-up to the workshop, participants can put their newly-acquired skills to the test on Waterfowler Heritage Day September 15. This day is dedicated to youth hunters who may hunt with an adult mentor prior to the opening of the regular waterfowl hunting season. The mentor is not permitted to carry or shoot a firearm, but is there to provide advice and reinforce hunting skills, as well as conservation principles, safety and ethics.
Youth must obtain a special permit from the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry to hunt on Waterfowler Heritage Day. There is no charge for the special permit but it allows the department to keep track of the number of participants, ensure they meet the safety requirements, and offer suggestions such as good locations for hunting, as well as areas that should be avoided because of environmental sensitivity.
Youth who want to take part in the Waterfowler Heritage Day hunt must also have a hunter safety certificate which they can qualify for at the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Workshop. Those interested in getting their certificate must study the Hunter Education Manual and complete the study questions prior to the workshop.
For a copy of the Hunter Education Manual and to participate in the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Workshop or the Waterfowler Heritage Day hunt, contact the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry at (902) 368-4683. Registration is limited so youth are encouraged to register early.
Sponsors for the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Workshop include the Canadian Wildlife Service, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Red Rock Retriever Club, the PEI Trappers Association, Charlottetown Trap and Skeet Club, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Prince Edward Island Wildlife Federation and the PEI Traditional Archery Association.