Wondering about the kids...

[MSDuckmen]

I tell ya Benny I have some real mixed feelings on this issue. Our club has always focused on the youth and it still amazes me how they think. Kids today are different than I feel that I was at that age. I grew up with little to no money in our family and everything had value. Today the kids have everything and complain when it is not as good as the other guys.

You can only hope that the few kids out there that see value in our resouces would step up and bring their peers to understand. Maybe something like you are describing would work to help those that might care later.

Damn just read some of these post by some of the younger group and it makes you wonder if the whole world hadn't gone to **** .

If it would wake a few up I would be a mentor right there with ya. We like taking the boys that have never hunted before because they are not clouded with more is better. It gives us a chance to educate them in the art of hunting and the respect for the resources available.

[Duck Nawteek]

[img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img]Well guys I could'nt agree with you more. I guess I would come from the younger generation. I'm only 27 and have hunted all my life with my grandfather he has taught me everything that I know about conservation and hunting. I tired of hearing that guys my age and younger saying if I had this or that I could be a better hunter. That's a bunch of crap all they need is to spend more time in the woods and do a little WORK for a change and quit expecting everything to be handed to them that's what is wrong with the youth of today, they are spoiled. Now if you take a kid that has never hunted before thats differnt because you can teach him things that has value and its not about how much you catch or how many you kill its about being out in the outdoors. Nowadays young guys who know a little bit about hunting are damn know-it-alls and don't respect wildlife anymore. And for Godsake if land was left for them to hunt on they want to try to make a million by starting a hunting club with outragous fees or a guide service by which they don't know Jack about. Now I'm not talking about all guide services let me clear that up. But some of the guys have gotten everything handed to them on a silver platter and whine about it when something gets taken away from them. If they started from nothing and get it then they might respect other people and the wildlife a little more. I know I probably got off the subject alittle but the younger generation of hunters are in a big trouble. [img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img]

[SCOOTER]

the state we live in could do a lot, my boy is 8 and daughter is 12, there need's to be something done so there kid's will be able to enjoy the great outdoors. our club really work's with the youth in safetey and respect for the outdoors, only time will tell if there will be another opening day in 2030.

[webfoot]

Now we are getting somewhere!

Baden Powell the founder of the Boy Scouts believed the study of nature would show you the beauty and wonders God has made in the world for us to enjoy. Be content with what you have, and make the best of it. Look on the positive side of things instead of the negative. Find beauty in the things that surround you.

To answer your question “I was just thinking about how Mississippi could provide for a hands on experience for youngsters and adults alike”.

We should help educate our youth about the importance of wetlands and the many species of wildlife that depend upon these natural habitats. Not only wetlands but the education of our natural resources, the way to achieve this goal is by hands on experience, which most of us have learned from prior generations or by our own trial and error.

We are the ones who hold the key to the future, this simple post could turn in to reality if We as a group agree (if possible) to form an organization with real grass root support from inside our state.

The real way to receive happiness is by passing it on to others. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it. When it’s your turn to die, you may die happy feeling you have not wasted your time but have done your best.

Benny you could even be looked up to as a role model! … Maybe not. But your idea does have merit.

This idea could serve as a foundation to the future of our resources. Let’s make this work. It is up to us!

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Benny, you have finally posted something that I can agree with --- not only the end result, but the mannner in getting there.

With the attitudes displayed on this board about not wanting other duck hunters to enter the sport for fear their duck holes will get too crowded, etc. etc., I fear that these attitudes may be prevalent in our society and may actually hinder such a fine endeavor as you proposed. I for one think that our future ability to continue to hunt federal lands, state lands, etc. may very well be tied to the number of hunters we develop from the younger generation. If no one cares about our hunting rights or privileges, they could be taken away.

Hunting can keep kids out of trouble, and is a good avenue for them to develop good atributes of citizenship and a love of the outdoors. I started taking my son hunting at a very early age, even before he could carry a gun himself. I started out slowly, carrying him on 2 or 3 hunts per year when he was about 6 years old. We would not stay out long enough for him to get too cold or miserable, just long enough for him to get the "flavor" of the experience. My efforts were successful in developing a good hunting partner, who now as a young adult, perhaps loves the sport as much as I do. But, I see fewer and fewer kids getting introduced to hunting these days. Something proactive needs to be done to stop this trend.

[Delta Duck]

Don't let the gov't get involved.

[goosebruce]

My boys have been going for 3 or 4 years now. Season opener before last, I was in the blind trying to tell them how excited we were. Told them the 15 minutes before legal was like Christmas, trickortreat, last day of school, and 4 th of july all in one. Was explaining to them how we always make sure we set up early, so we can sit and enjoy it. like 12 minutes till, some "turd-cutter" starting banging away next farm over. Ty looks at me, and says, hmmm, his watch must be broken....

Want to save the kids? Screw getting a program. Everyone take every kid they know hunting. If we all took every kid we know, they'd all get a chance. travis

[GulfCoast]

I don't have any kids, but I did rescue my Godson from rap music etc. by first teaching him to shoot skeet, then dove hunting, duck hunting and fishing. He isn't exactly a predetor, but he wants to go now. (Could also be 'cause I taught him to dip). I always try to take a kid from my youth group fishing or hunting when ever I can. I agree with every one that it going to be the life or death of our sports as to whether we can get children and especially women involved.

[iron grip]

I was just looking a ways back and came across this post from almost four years ago. I think it was and still is a great idea. It's definately something that could have an impact on education and the environment.

What is ya'lls thoughts on this now, four years later. Could be something to stop the talking and start the doing!

[Double R 2]

Agree wholeheartedly, but WE are the next generation's mentors - they will love what they know and they will know only that which they are shown.. Take them hunting, fishing, camping, scouting...get them active in backyard bird feeders, bird watching, snake and turtle catching, hiking, flowers, trees, everything outdoors - consumptive and nonconsumptive too.

[Wingman]

I just heard today on the radio that the average kid spends 6 hours per day playing computer games or watching tv.

I think this is one of the major reasons our state has gone to week-long youth hunts to try and draw the youngsters back into the sport.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Don't fret too much. If we can't draw them into the sport as youths, marriage likely will. Nothing like being married for a couple of years to send a man looking for refuge in the great outdoors.

[judge jb]

i see very few kids in my line of work that spend time in the outdoors hunting or fishing. the ones i do have been caught with a headlight or other citations of illegal game violations....the apple don't fall far from the tree..... most have additional charges of alcohol or drug possession....they ain't all bad, but i see my share....

judge jb

[feather]

I am an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 3, Petal, MS BSA. I just got back from an overnighter backpacking trip into the Black Creek Wilderness Area in south MS. We have about 20 active Scouts and 15 took part in the trip. For many, this was their first backpacking trip and you should have seen how some moaned and groaned (it was primarily the youngest patrol made up of 11 year olds. The rest of the troop was ragging them about being xbox kids, etc. so those who have experience actually do appreciate the time outdoors. I noticed that many of the boys never really even looked around at their surroundings but stared at the boots of the boy in front of him...simply enduring the trek. The other leaders and I decided that from now on there will be an age or rank limit on such excursions and the new scout patrol will do some other less strenous activity with the A. Scoutmaster assigned to that patrol. Taking our thinking further, we have decided to form what is known as a "Venture Patrol" for the boys 14 and older and who, by their demonstration of maturity and outdoor experience, will be given the opportunity to participate in high adventure activities such as canoeing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, caving, high country backpacking, and wilderness survival. My 13 year old wants it to include duck hunting! My question to you is...Do you think we could get away with it? Most of our older Scouts have their Shotgunning and Riflery merit badges and therefore have at least some experince around firearms. I'm thinking we could get them thru a hunter safety course and then take them hunting. The problem is where do you take 6 or 8 boys ages 14 to 18 hunting? I'm thinking we need to do a dove shoot....SO...anybody got a beanfield in the Delta that we could shoot next 2nd season? And do you think that is the type thing Benny is talking about? I have an Eagle Scout, a Life Scout, and my youngest just passed off for Star. They are all avid and accomplished hunters..they just want to turn their friends on to it. What'chall think?

[crow]

Feather, rather than jump too quickly into the hunting phase, I would recommend having your scouts spend a lot of time on a clays or trap course. Trap may be best because it gives an easier going away shot, but is still challenging enough for even good shots. Let them get thoroughly familiar with the guns and gun handling before you put them is a situation where they cannot be managed individually (dove hunt). The shooting sports is a great way to bring a group of kids into hunting gradually, especially if most of them have not been around guns and hunting. The hunter safety course ought to be a prerequisite for beginning any shooting sports effort, though. Good luck and thank you for working with scouts.

By the way, we in the North Georgia Council have a sporting clays shoot every year for the scouts who want to compete. It is huge among the scouts over here.

crow