While the hunting season is still a few weeks away, young Islanders interested in the sport of waterfowl hunting will have the opportunity to practise their skills this weekend.
Islanders are reminded that Saturday, September 16, 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 a safe and practical hunting environment and to develop hunting skills, conservation and the ethical aspects of hunting.
To be eligible to participate in the Waterfowler Heritage Day hunt, youth must have completed a hunter safety course, be accompanied by an adult licensed hunter, and have a special permit from the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry. 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 a very successful Youth Waterfowl Hunting Workshop. This year’s event attracted more than 125 young people. The full-day workshop took the participants through all the preparation for a safe, ethical and successful waterfowl hunt. It included both classroom and hands-on instruction on everything from waterfowl identification and blinds and decoys to bow hunting, duck and goose calling, hunter safety, and conservation ethics.
To obtain a special permit to participate in the Waterfowler Heritage Day hunt, youth are asked to contact the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry at (902) 368-4683.