Ducks Unlimited teaches value of wetlands through youth duck hunting excitement.
RIDGELAND, Miss., Feb. 14, 2007 – Young hunters, ages 7 to 15, recently enjoyed a weekend of winter outdoor fun while attending Ducks Unlimited sponsored youth hunts in Mississippi and Kentucky. State regulated youth-only waterfowl hunting seasons provide opportunities for adults to introduce kids to the joy of duck hunting.
Austin Adams from Kentucky and Andy Lack from Missouri bag a few mallards during the 2007 youth hunt in Mississippi.
On February 3-4, almost 50 youngsters participated in duck hunts at duck clubs throughout the Mississippi. It was the second year for the event organized by DU Regional Vice President Dr. Ronal Roberson. DU staff provided a program to help the kids identify waterfowl species, understand the daily bag limits, learn hunter safety and why wetlands are important. Several duck clubs in the Mississippi Delta hosted the youngsters and their parent/guardian.
“Our goal with this hunt is to get kids outside and let them experience the excitement of duck hunting,” said Dr. Roberson. “These young folks hunted at some of the most successful duck clubs in the Delta that are managed by people who are passionate about waterfowl.”
Dr. Roberson also instills young hunters with an awareness of the need for conservation of waterfowl habitat in Mississippi and throughout North America.
“We need to support organizations like Ducks Unlimited that protect waterfowl breeding, wintering and migration habitat to promote healthy waterfowl populations and provide hunting opportunities for future generations,” Roberson said.
In Ballard County, Kentucky, Ricky Waldon, owner of Waldon Lodge, hosted 30 youths and their parents/guardians during the youth-hunt weekend. Excellent hunting conditions and cold weather provided opportunities for most youths to shoot plenty of ducks. In all, 290 ducks and 10 geese were taken during the two-day hunt.
“The fate of our wetland and waterfowl resources rests in the hands of these kids, and it is up to us to make sure they are prepared for the task,” said Waldon who serves on the DU Conservation Programs Committee in Kentucky. “By introducing a youth to hunting, we can help them establish the link between natural resources and human experiences to develop a desire to conserve those resources.”
The purpose of DU Greenwing events like youth hunts is to educate young people about the importance of wetlands to waterfowl, other wildlife and people and help them form an appreciation for the outdoors. In association with DU’s Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign, the Educating Youth About Wetlands Initiative was launched to raise awareness of wetlands and wetland values among students throughout North America. DU’s Greenwing and Project Webfoot programs give students hands-on experiences and provide integrated classroom activities to help inspire tomorrow’s conservation leaders. To support the Educating Youth About Wetlands Initiative visit www.ducks.org/wetlandsfortomorrow.
Contact: Jennifer Kross
(601) 206-5449
jkross@ducks.org
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with almost 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.