Young Islanders interested in the sport of waterfowl hunting will have an opportunity to practise their skills this weekend.
This Saturday, September 15, has been designated Waterfowler Heritage Day. It is a chance for youth ages 12 to 17 to hunt with a licensed adult mentor before the opening of the regular waterfowl hunting season. The mentor is not permitted to carry or shoot a firearm but is there to provide a safe hunting environment and offer guidance on 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 and have a special permit from the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry. There is no charge for this special permit. However, it allows the department to keep track of the number of participants, ensure that they meet the safety requirements, and offer suggestions such as good locations for hunting and areas that should be avoided because of environmental sensitivity.
Waterfowler Heritage Day comes on the heels of the very successful Youth Waterfowl Hunting Workshop which attracted more than 100 young people. Participants received both classroom and hands-on instruction about waterfowl identification, blinds, decoys and boat safety, wildlife laws, duck and goose calling, hunter safety, conservation and ethics, bow hunting and outdoor survival skills.
To obtain the permit required to participate in the Waterfowler Heritage Day hunt, youth are asked to contact the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry at (902) 368-4683.