Carson with his first of many mallard drakes

Getting skunked on a hunt is never fun and when 3 guys go on a duck hunt and only get one duck it is pretty easy to brand that as a “Lousy Hunt” but in this case nothing could be further from the truth.
Having a young person along and seeing him get his first Mallard Drake made the whole thing worth it for me. We were sitting on a beaver swamp in Harnett County long before shooting light so we could hopefully not scare to many of the birds off. I’ve hunted with Carson and his Dad a number of times this morning Carson and I were in the easier to reach spot while his Dad (who was wearing waders) worked his way around to the other side of the swamp.
There was some open water in front of us and between the moon and the stars once our eyes adjusted we could see the beavers and the wood ducks swimming back and forth only a few feet from us. This was looking to be a great day’s hunt but like wood ducks will do they flew off before legal shooting light leaving us holding the bag so to speak.
Once daylight hit we had some wood ducks fly over us but our poor shooting didn’t help us bag any of them. Shortly after that the mallards started flying many out of our reach but finally some flew our way. Carson threw his gun to the shoulder and dropped one of them in the woods right behind us. He was excited especially when he discovered it was a Drake.
I swear there is no such thing as a “ lousy hunt” when you have young people along they bring you back to your early days of hunting and how exciting every little aspect was an adventure. Take a young person hunting it will a whole new perspective to your hunts and it will do away with the doldrums of a slow hunt.
As we sat in a small dinner eating breakfast and hearing Carson relive the morning hunt with his Dad I thought to myself what a lousy hunt this wasn’t .

Take a Kid Hunting!!!

Cindy Carpenter Justin Ristine, 11, of Marysville, poses with a deer he shot near Colfax in Eastern Washington recently. Ristine, who was born missing his right arm, received his hunting certification through Youth Outdoors Unlimited, a Moses Lake organization that helps children with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses go on hunting and fishing trips.

People who take kids hunting are heroes and those who take kids that are battling a disease or overcoming a handicap or other major obstacles are even a cut above. Justin Ristine is one of those kids born missing an arm but a desire to get out there and hunt.

Justin is a very healthy boy who was just born without his right arm but no other medical conditions. Justin’s mom was so amazed because as Justin was growing up he did everything else that other kids his age were doing he just did them with one hand. Justin does not currently have the opportunity for a prosthetic arm because there is nothing to attach it to. Whether it’s tying his shoes or playing video games he is very competitive and very accomplished.

Justin Ristine

Youth Outdoors Unlimited Washington State

On his first hunting trip earlier this month, he fired one shot and bagged one deer. The buck died instantly.

The Marysville boy was born with only one arm, his left. He fired the shot from a rifle set on a tripod.

Justin went on his hunting trip near Colfax in Eastern Washington Oct. 16 courtesy of Youth Outdoors Unlimited, a Moses Lake-based organization.

The fledgling non-profit group’s mission is to help children with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses, who have an interest in outdoor sports, go on a hunting or fishing trip.

The trip was recorded by the Outdoor Channel and is scheduled to be aired in December or January, his parents said.

Herald Net

This story is out of Washington State but there are a number organizations and groups across the county that do similar things for young people who want a chance to get out and experience the great outdoors that could use our help. I’m sure any help we can give them would be greatly appreciated and heck seeing the smile on a kid after something like this is truly priceless.

Getting to use a microscope seemed to be pretty popular

It’s October so it’s got to be time for the state fair. The weather has been pretty spectacular for the most part thus far into the 11 day run. The economy has seemed to have little effect on the attendance and there is plenty of fried things from macaroni & cheese to fried Ho Ho’s to keep a cardiologist happy. In between those deep fried treats and the carnies trying to separate ya from your money with a chance to win an over sized stuffed animal wander down to the NC Wildlife tent. They got an educational exhibit that chances are pretty good your kids will just see as fun.

Visit the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s exhibit at the N.C. State Fair to learn how the Commission uses science and public involvement to conserve wildlife.

The exhibit, located downhill from the Village of Yesteryear, is open to the public 3-8 p.m. on Oct. 13, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Oct. 14-23.

“Fairgoers will learn how Wildlife Commission biologists work with the public to study wildlife across the state. We’ll showcase studies of mourning doves and gopher frogs, black bears and Northern flying squirrels,” said Margaret Martin, field outreach manager for the Commission. “The exhibit has fun, hands-on activities for children and adults alike.”

Visitors to the exhibit can view an electrofishing boat that biologists use to study fish, check out a huge trap used to study bears, and see how scientists determine the age of various animal species.

Visitors also can learn how hunters help the Commission gather data that is used to help manage wildlife, and how biologists use the diversity of aquatic animals to help them evaluate water quality.

As in previous years, visitors can try their hand at the air rifle range and learn about firearms safety from Wildlife Enforcement Officers and Hunter Education Specialists. Buttons featuring this year’s animal – the gopher frog –also will be available.

Scopes for looking under the water

I was pretty impressed at how engaged the kids were with this exhibit and getting to do a lot of hands on fun activities.

People making their way through the tent

So if you plan to head out to the state fair be sure to check out the NC Wildlife Resources exhibit its worth it even if they don’t have anything on a stick or something rolled in batter and deep fried.

Nothing like a young hunter's first deer

A free hunting clinic sponsored by the Cape Fear River Branch of Quality Deer Management Association and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Centennial Campus will be held on the 30th Aug 6-8 pm.

“This free clinic is primarily designed to help newcomers get started in deer hunting, but experienced hunters may pick up some new tips,” said Kelsey Obernuefemann, a wildlife education specialist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “This course provides thorough and fun instruction on what to do before, during and after a hunting trip, at various times during the season.”

Topics covered in the clinic will include:

Tree stand safety
Whitetail habits and habitats
Scouting and hunting techniques
Equipment, archery and firearm choices
More safety recommendations and state hunting requirements

Space is limited and pre-registration for the clinic is requested. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Contact Info:
Kelsey Obernuefemann,
Wildlife Education Specialist
919-707-0202
kelsey.obernuefemann@ncwildlife.org

Deer season will be here soon and here is a great opportunity for anyone that wants to learn some new skills or to brush up on some before the season rolls in. Maybe you don’t think you need this but I’m sure there is someone you want to introduce to hunting and this is a perfect opportunity to get someone started on the right foot.

Hunting is a great pastime so introduce someone to the world of hunting.

Many folks when they meet me imagine I grew up in some rural place that ingrained my love for the outdoors at an early age but nothing could be further from the truth.  I grew up outside of Boston with no adult in my life that hunted and only a few did some limited fishing.  I never took up hunting till I was an adult however fishing and camping was my thing.  Not unusual in the summer to pack a lunch and grab my fishing equipment and hike to one of the ponds around the city for a day of fishing.  While they were some productive and I caught some fish my dream was to hit one of the lakes but I had to have someone to drive me.
That is where Mom came in she drove me to many of these places and indulged my fishing habitat and while the hum of 18 wheelers rolling by on the nearby highway was loud I didn’t hear them as I imagined I was fishing some pristine Canadian lake out of one of the fishing magazines I read.
I guess as equally important as those fishing trips to the fostering my love for the outdoors was the frequent trips to the public library and the many books and magazines I read about the outdoors.  Both my parent’s took us there but it was really my Mom that took us there on a regular basis.
These memories have been fresh on my mind with the recent visit of my Mom to North Carolina and our many discussions about the old days.  I’m sitting in a Starbucks in Boston not far from the Charles River where as a young man I spent a summer learning how to sail a boat.  A drive through the old city neighborhood where I grew up yesterday seeing how close the houses were and really how compact a world I grew up in even though my memories were expansions of land and places to play.
I had the opportunity this past month to share a little bit of my love for the outdoors back as my Mom visited with us.  Watching a doe with twins, seeing hawks chasing squirrels, a momma raccoon with 3 babies, a trip to the hunt clubs, a trip to the mountains where she got up on the Mile High Swinging Bridge.  All memories we’ll cherish forever.
Take kids out and let them enjoy the great outdoors but don’t forget the ones that introduced you maybe you had a Dad that hunted or an uncle or maybe you grew up like me with parents that just encouraged you to explore beyond what they had ever experienced and gave you the opportunity to really see how expansive this great world really is… Take a Kid Hunting or Fishing…. and take your mentors out as well.

young man at NRA Convention Charlotte NC 2010

Turkey season is winding down here in North Carolina I’m blessed to be tagged out after last year not getting one. For those of you that still have tags to fill don’t panic still some time left in the season. The hens should be nesting pretty well now so there should be lots of lonely gobblers wandering the fields and forests.

This weekend is the State Youth Hunter Education Skills Teams Competition where youth from across the state compete in Archery, Rifle Marksmanship, orienteering, and other outdoor skills to see who the best is. I know a few of the young people participating in this and I wish them the best.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s 33rd annual Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament will be held April 30 at Millstone 4-H Center near Ellerbe, to determine team and individual state championships.
Last year, 54 teams – more than 900 competitors – participated on senior (high school) and junior (middle and elementary schools) divisional levels, with overall team and overall individual awards based on aggregate scores in all events.

The Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournaments are an incentive component of North Carolina’s Hunter Education Program, provided as an opportunity to showcase outdoor skills and demonstrate safety, with events in rifle, shotgun and archery marksmanship, as well as an orienteering challenge and a wildlife knowledge test. Teams are organized within public and private schools, while home-schooled students and teams representing organizations such as 4-H or FFA also can compete, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

NRA Annual Convention is in Pittsburgh this weekend I really wish I could of made it to that event. I attended my first one last year and was blown away by the event and the impressive line of speakers they had. If you are anywhere near Pittsburgh this weekend I urge you to check it out you won’t be disappointed. Next year is St. Louis hopefully things will work out and I’ll get to that event.

Gun show is in Raleigh this weekend as well always a good time to stock up on things or find that perfect gun you’ve been looking for. Weather is great the fish are biting no reason to not get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Have a great weekend and take a kid hunting or fishing .

running and gunning last youth day

Tomorrow (Saturday) is youth day for turkey hunting here in NC. Across the state young people will be chasing turkeys on a day set aside for them. Anyone taking young people out tomorrow please be careful, safe, and have fun. I plan to be joining a young man and his dad as they try to fill his tag.

working a gobbler last youth day

Wing bone call made by Jeff Gearhart

Turkey season is about upon us and I still don’t have things organized since our move during deer season. This week I’ve been going through boxes pulling my turkey hunting stuff together to get ready for the season. Judging by the amount of stuff I got you’d think I’d been hunting turkeys all my life but you’d be wrong.
I’m not exactly sure how long it has been but it wasn’t until I moved to NC before I started chasing turkeys. So it’s been about 14 years I guess and the first few years I didn’t know what I was doing. After a couple of years of not even coming close to closing the deal on a turkey I had to get some help.
There was a couple of guys in my hunting club that were pretty deadly on the gobblers so I start pressing them to teach me how to hunt the turkey. Rick is still one of the guys I hunt with and he has taught me a lot over the years. He was there when I killed my first gobbler. The other guy in those early days was Jeff, he get on a gobbler and chase all day if he had to. I found a wingbone call Jeff made for me before he moved out of state. An old style turkey call that the average hunter doesn’t know how to use. I’ve never called one in with it. Heck it was a few years before I practiced enough so I could get a sound out of it that even remotely sounded like a turkey. One of my prize turkey calls one that reminds me of how a couple of guys helped me learn how to be successful at turkey hunting.
That is an important life lesson as we find ourselves close to the youth opening day. If you have the opportunity to take a kid or anyone hunting pass it on. The future of our sport depends on us introducing others to it and mentoring them on how to ethically and safely do it as well as how to be successful.
So Pass it on

Alejandro Arroyo Mejia, 7, died Friday night at Wilson Medical Center after being shot in the chest, authorities said.
Melinda Mejia said her brothers, Alejandro and 4-year-old Ivan, were shooting cans with a pellet gun outside their home on Jaycross Road. She said the gun was a Christmas present for Alejandro, and Ivan cried because his brother wouldn’t let him use it.
When Alejandro, a first-grader at Stantonsburg Elementary School, finally relented and handed the gun to his younger brother, the weapon went off, Melinda Mejia said.
Wilson County Sheriff Calvin Woodard Jr. said the pellet gun involved in the shooting is recommended only for people age 18 and over.

WRAL

Pellet guns are not toys and they should be handled in a safe responsible manner. I’m afraid that will see a rash of new laws coming down the pipe because of these two incidents. We don’t need new laws we need people to safely handle these weapons.
In the first case you had an adult bring a loaded weapon into the house and leave it on the stairs. When the child was coming down the stairs an adult picked up the gun to check the safety and point the gun towards the child and the weapon goes off killing him.
The second incident it seems from news reports the two children were playing with the gun without supervision or at least not very close supervision. Where were the adults?
Tragic situations… both of them…. But they could have been prevented if people would only follow gun safety rules. Kids can learn gun safety rules and with proper supervision safely handle a gun adults should know the rules . As for new laws to protect our kids…..how about enforcing the child endangerment laws already on the books before we crack down on everyone just because some adults are careless or negligent.

Ty-Rion Henry 8 years old

Ty-Rion Henry died from injuries from a pellet from his Grandfather’s pellet gun. News reports state that Daniel Henry had been shooting at squirrels earlier in the day and had left the loaded gun on the stairs inside the home.

As Ty-Rion was coming downstairs, she said, her father checked to make sure the gun’s safety latch was on, and he accidentally hit the trigger, shooting the boy.
The pellet went through the boy’s eye and lodged in his brain. Tests at WakeMed showed he had no brain activity.

WRAL

This is a tragic story and should be a reminder to all of us the importance of gun safety including pellet guns. To many people underestimate the power one of these guns pack and that they really are not a toy. Adults and young people need to follow gun safety rules when using any gun including bb and pellet guns.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ty-Rion’s family as they lay their young one to rest.