While the hunting season is still a few weeks away, young Islanders interested in the sport of waterfowl hunting will have the opportunity to practice their skills this weekend.
Islanders are reminded that Saturday, September 20, has been designated as Waterfowler Heritage Day. The objective is to give young hunters the opportunity to experience the sport of waterfowl hunting in a safe, controlled and supervised environment. On that day, youth ages 12 to 17 can hunt when accompanied by a licensed adult hunter who serves as a mentor. The mentor is not permitted to hunt but is there to provide advice and reinforce hunting skills as well as safety, conservation and ethical aspects of hunting.
To be eligible to participate in the Waterfowler Heritage Day hunt, youth must have completed a three-day firearm safety course and get a special permit from the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment. There is no charge for the permit, however, it allows the department to keep track of the number of participants and ensure that they meet the safety requirements.
Waterfowler Heritage Day comes on the heels of the annual Youth Waterfowl Hunting Workshop. This year's event attracted 92 young people. The full-day workshop took the participants through all the preparation for a safe, ethical and successful waterfowl hunt. Topics included waterfowl identification, blinds and decoys, distance judging, duck and goose calling, ethics and safety, and conservation.
To obtain a special permit to participate in the Waterfowler Heritage Day hunt, youth are asked to contact the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment at (902) 368-4683.