Passing on the tradition of the hunt to youngsters can be rewarding.
We walked along old dirt roads that turned into narrow paths through woods that surrounded an abandoned apple orchard. The state had taken over the woodlot and was managing it as a hunting area. They had stocked the area with pheasants, probably just days before this October opening day hunt.
I had been waiting for this day for as long as I could remember. I was out with my father on my first hunting trip. A few shots echoed out as hunters took pot shots at fast-flushing pheasants.
“Those lucky guys,” I mused to myself, wanting desperately to at least flush and see a bird.
We saw a few hunters with dogs, surely the best way to hunt these birds that tend to run along the ground and not always flush. Other hunters were like my dad and I, two sports walking the paths in hopes of scaring a bird up from the weeds and brush. The path we were on formed a “T,” and as we pondered which direction to walk, a lone hen pheasant flushed in front of me and gave me a rather easy line-drive shot. I aimed and dropped the bird.
My first pheasant!
The image of that hunt is etched in my mind, and I can still recall the clothes I wore, the smell of the gunpowder and the feel of the bird, still warm in my game vest. I have been on countless hunts throughout the Northeast since then, but that hunt will forever occupy a place in my heart. Fortunately, for young hunters across the state, a series of youth hunts was created to get youngsters interesting in the sport.
My first exposure to a youth hunt came many years ago with friend Butch DeSanctis of Durham and his daughter, Alana. I had been hunting the same spot on Lake Auburn for many years with great success. For a few years, Butch and Alana joined my dog and I for an early season hunt. Alana grew up hunting with her father and has taken deer, turkeys, grouse and other game.
After Alana’s first waterfowl trip, the following season I took the son of a co-worker on his first waterfowl jaunt. Adam Letourneau of Hebron had just turned 10 and was fascinated by the outdoor world. When I suggested to his father that he accompany me on a hunt, he accepted without even having to question his son. Adam and I, along with my lab, Luke, paddled into our spot under the cloak of darkness and set the decoys. We got situated in the blind and began the waiting process. A few early ducks dropped in and I could see that Adam was getting restless. I whispered to him that we had to wait until legal shooting time, which he agreed was the safest and best bet. As soon as my watch signified it was legal, Adam took his first duck, a young drake mallard. Another hunter was born.
Two years ago, I introduced yet another youngster to the sport of waterfowl hunting. While Michael Lucas of Auburn was a newcomer to the sport, he was no stranger to other game. Being fortunate to be the grandson of Roland St. Pierre of Auburn and partner in Lac Lucault caribou and fishing camps, Michael cut his proverbial hunting teeth on caribou, ptarmigan and spruce grouse in northern Quebec.
I picked Michael up early at his grandparent’s house and we headed to my spot in Minot. I had brushed in a blind anticipating the upcoming Oct. 1 opening with hunting partner Matt Tufts of New Gloucester, so we had a spot complete with chairs to comfortably sit as we awaited the dawn. After loading my canoe with the essentials, Michael and I paddled into the dark marsh and set out a half dozen mallard blocks. I explained the “tricks of the trade” to Michael as I made an opening in the spread for any curious birds to land. Once the dekes were set, we hid the canoe and got into my blind to wait. Junior hunters wishing to take part in the Youth Waterfowl Hunt must be 10 years in age or older and under 16. They must possess a valid junior hunting license, but no waterfowl stamps are required. The daily limit on waterfowl is the same as the regular season. Junior hunters must be accompanied by a guardian or qualified adult who holds a Maine hunting license or a hunter safety certificate.
Mosquitoes bothered us until the morning sun baked them away. A lack of pre-dawn ducks caused me some concern, but I was positive we would not be skunked. A brace of wood ducks came into our spread, but lifted off before legal shooting time. A few mallards did the same. A lone black duck soon paddled in and Michaels sharp aim sent a charge of steel from my 20-gauge across the marsh. Michael had bagged his first duck.
The following year, I was able to take Michael along on yet another youth hunt, the youth deer hunt.
Typically scheduled for the last Saturday in October before the firearms season on deer, the youth deer hunt allows junior hunters to take one deer of either sex with a rifle or bow. Last fall, after joining Michael on a successful caribou hunt with his grandparents, I suggested we try the youth deer hunt. The plan was to take a morning ride up to Eustis and hunt birds and then sit in one of my treestands and watch a well-worn game trail until dark. After a few hours, I noticed a commotion in the leaves, and Michael spotted and shot his first ruffed grouse. The day was going as planned. We ate a trailside lunch and headed back for Auburn. Once at my house, we changed into our deer hunting garb and rode my four-wheeler out to the woodlot. I have several permanent tree stands on my property, but my “favorite” stand typically sees a lot of traffic, especially by does moving through to my neighbor’s field.
I had checked on the trail and it showed signs of deer movement, so I attached a climbing stand just below it so I could be with Michael for the hunt. I told Michael that the plan was to sit in the stand until dark and try to intercept a deer as it made its way to the field behind us. We got situated in the stand and commenced our vigil. We were both a little tired from our trek up north, and I nodded off briefly despite the chill in the air.
Michael turned and continued his search of the woods and immediately whispered to me, “There’s one.” I looked in the direction he was staring and saw a beautiful eight-point buck staring right at us. The deer was standing in a thick tangle of pines and blowdowns, just 25 yards from the stand. The only open shot Michael had was the area from the base of the deer’s neck to his head. I whispered for him to take aim at the base of his neck and squeeze the trigger slowly, but to hurry up because the deer wasn’t going to wait around for long. As soon as I uttered the last syllable, I heard Michael’s gun bark and the deer dropped where it stood. I was in shock! This was a beautiful buck and Michael calmly took it like he had been hunting for years. No buck fever for this young hunter and another successful youth hunt completed.
While more than 25 years have passed since I enjoyed my first hunt, more and more opportunities exist for junior hunters today. Introducing a youngster to the sport of hunting is a wonderful experience for both the adult and the new outdoors-person.
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