Youth Season

[NWBuck]

Anyone heard of or seen results from this weekend's youth season? Up here in NW Iowa I know of several bucks taken - one 8 pointer that will reportedly go in the 130+ range. Hopefully a few more youngsters are hooked for life!

I am not a big fan of this season. I hear of it getting abused more that any other. Just another excuse for someone to buy their child a tag and shoot it for them. As a matter of fact, a particular game warden around these parts (last year) sighted the deer in thru the scope, held the gun, and his son just pulled the trigger. What kind of example does this set for the child?! Anyhow, I think they should send this season to the crapper!

[Maggs]

Hey Swanny. Sorry but I have to disagree with you on this one. I can't argue that this season gets abused by some but I personally know many people who have taken their son/daughter out & helped them get their first deer during this low key season. I think in this case the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. I can't wait until my children are old enough to participate so I can help them experience their first deer hunt and hopefully their first kill. I think this is one case where we don't penalize the majority because of the few that abuse the system. Just my opinion. Maggs

[NWBuck]

Ditto Maggs. No doubt there are a few abusers, but around here it is a great chance for parents (or other adult friends/relatives) to help a youngster get their deer. When I think back to my dad taking me deer hunting when I was 11 and 12, I am humbled by the thought that he spent most (maybe all) of his 1st season shotgun weekend helping me and not hunting much for himself. With the addition of this season a dad can focus entirely on their son or daughter while still having the opportunity to enjoy their own hunt later in the season. I applaud the DNR not only for youth deer season, but for youth pheasant and duck as well. A great idea, and like Maggs, I can't wait to take my kids in a few years. Thanks.

[NWBuck]

Oh by the way, a P.S. to the Youth Season topic. I heard of (but didn't actually see) a youngster up here in NW Iowa who bagged a dandy 8-pointer Saturday morning that still had some velvet. Isn't this really late? Maybe someone will have seen the same thing elsewhere.

I understand your points, but I see it abused around here more than the way it should be used. I hear guys at work getting em for their kids and then shooting the deer themselves too......I see your point, but it IS the most abused season!


ps...I never said abolish it, I said I am not a big fan of it.

[NWBuck]

10-4 Swanny...no offense taken. If I'd seen the type of abuse of this season that you have, I'm sure I'd feel the same way. Good hunting!

[antlers]

I'm from South Dakota but have enjoyed reading this conference for several years. This is one of the few conferences you can ask a question and get an informative response and not have someone tear you apart because they don't share your same ideas. Back to the youth season, one way to put a damper on the abuses is to have your youth season like South Dakota's. Our's is an antlerless season. If your main interest is to get kids involved in deer hunting and to give them a chance to get their first deer, it doesn't seem to me that it's necessary they take a buck, that can come later when the parents are ready to have them hunt the regular season. My son took his first deer last year, a 140lb doe, you would have thought it was the next world record by the smiles on his and my faces. Just a thought for you to mull over. Once again thanks for letting an out of stater enjoy a great website.
Darrel

[NWBuck]

antletrs,

What a great idea! Hopefully the DNR personnel will read this and give it serious thought. The idea of an "anterless only" tag would eliminate the motivation for abuse and yet let kids hunt in a much less hectic environment. Thanks for the input.

PS. How's the pheasant hunting is SD looking this fall ??

[Maggs]

Great idea Antlers! With the limited scope of the youth season I can't imagine anyone complaining about being limited to a doe. If there is a child that is that experienced in hunting that they need to get a buck they can hunt the regular season with the adults. It may not be what some people want but if it helps control the abuse of the season without having to eliminate it then I'm all for it. You still have to realise that some people will do what they want no matter what the rules are. Maggs

[antlers]

That's true, you'll never eliminate 100% of the abuse that takes place but any little bit helps. By the way this year my son wants to shoot a buck so he's applying in the regular season instead of the youth. Each unit has 2 choices, any deer and antlerless deer. By choosing antlerless as a second choice he is still pretty much guaranteed a license. The state then issues preference points for every year you don't draw your first preference for any deer. I think he's hooked!!! The pheasant season looks great! It's reported that the northern pheasant areas that took such a beating from past winter kills has had a good comeback in population. Last winter really helped. It's going to be a good year!

[BW]

I think the youth season is just fine. The abuse to hunting is the adults not doing anything about the abuses. We have had our day. Maybe WE should be shooting antlerless deer to remind us adults what hunting is truly about. Anything it takes to get youth involved to promote the future of hunting is ok in my book. Good luck to all the youth. A poacher does not care what season is on.....

[Outdoorsman]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by antlers:
I'm from South Dakota but have enjoyed reading this conference for several years. This is one of the few conferences you can ask a question and get an informative response and not have someone tear you apart because they don't share your same ideas. Back to the youth season, one way to put a damper on the abuses is to have your youth season like South Dakota's. Our's is an antlerless season. If your main interest is to get kids involved in deer hunting and to give them a chance to get their first deer, it doesn't seem to me that it's necessary they take a buck, that can come later when the parents are ready to have them hunt the regular season. My son took his first deer last year, a 140lb doe, you would have thought it was the next world record by the smiles on his and my faces. Just a thought for you to mull over. Once again thanks for letting an out of stater enjoy a great website.
Darrel<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I couldn't agree more!!! I took my son during youth season and I, too, had to help him by steadying the gun so that he could shoot as he is just a little tike (12) and the shotgun was terribly heavy for him. He, however, aimed the gun as the gun had a scope through which he had to look through and he pulled the trigger. Even though he got a deer, which was an added plus, the quality time we spent together was priceless. Unfortunately, there is abuse, but then again, I've heard of persons purchasing extra tags for their wives who do not hunt - so it's just not the youth season being abused. Some of them just have to spoil it for the rest, don't they? I personally feel it is much safer in the outdoors during youth season due to a lot less hunting pressure. Some people get careless when it comes to hunting and every year you hear numerous tragic stories of hunting accidents around the country, especially during the shotgun season, so I appreciate the fact Iowa does have a youth season where I can take my son out without fear of being injured or killed.

I think that being antlerless is a good idea. I never thought of that!

[scout]

Peer pressure will stop more poaching than all law books. We have all seen dozens of cases where an "almost" legal harvest took place. At times its tough to outright condem the person, but who else will change the person committing those almost legal kills. Condemnation from a friend,relative,ect, will carry alot of weight. Make sure you make it clear to them that you think they are a butt head! A guilt trip is well diserved.

Anyone who has Youth Season Success Photo's we would be more than happy to post them on the site or right here on the Conference Board.

Just send them to though@iowawhitetail.com.

Thanks,


http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubb/Forumlogo.jpg

[potluck]

The Youth season is both a bane and a blessing. However I get tired of the majority getting punished for the sake of the minority. My son is 15, 6 foot 1, and physically a man in every way. However he is still a teenager who needs guidance. Hunting gives us time together and the focus is on him. Last year he shot his first deer during youth season. He shot a small doe from 75 yards away. The shot was bad and he had to follow up with another shot. This year he wanted to get a buck but the farmer we hunt on was complaining about all the does that were eating him out of house and home. My son decided that if he got a good shot he'd take a doe. Sure enough, in the rain, in a harvested corn field, he stalked to within 29 yards of a doe and shot her through the shoulder. A one shot clean humane kill. I was right beside him the whole way. He has become a good hunter and I wouldn't trade youth season for anything. He is also a considerate hunter. During muzzleloader season he will try for his big buck but again if it gets late he'll happily take a doe. Youth season is about training hunters. If we don't get young people into hunting we will eventually lose our hunting rights.

[NWBuck]

Congrats potluck, and pass the message on to your son as well. The most difficult part of the trophy management plan we use and promote is to convince people that it is not only OK, but many times NECESSARY to shoot does. They eat just the same as a small basket rack, and letting the basket rack walk gives us a reason to be anzious for the next season. Your son has obviously learned this lesson at a younger age than most.

By the way, you brought up something I was just talking to a guy about last night, and I think you may have given me the answer. Can a youngster legally hunt both the youth season and another firearms season?? I was under the impression that they could not, but your message indicates your son can still hunt during the muzzeloader season. Thanks for the message, and Good Hunting!!!

[iarick]

My 14 year old son shot a year and a half 8 pointer during the youth season. This was his first antlered deer, and his 6th deer overall. 3 with a bow, and 3 with a shotgun.
I gave him a choice to either hunt youth shotgun or regular shotgun, along with his bow lic. (And by the way, a youth may hunt the youth season, and one other season.)

He chose the youth season, I think because he and I can go out several times, and not be rushed, or crowded.

He was not interested in shooting a doe or fawn, and passed on 15 before shooting this buck on the last day we were going to hunt. He told me he was not even going to shoot a doe on the last day. He says it would be too easy and not a challenge. He just doesn't know the quality of his guide.

We appreciate the youth season as it is now. My 12 year old says next year he will be ready, we'll see.

[iarick]

Sorry, one more thing. By the age of 12-15 a child is sharp enough to know what's going on. Anyone who would take a kid hunting as a cover for poaching a deer has prabably already done more damage to that child's feelings of self worth than all the poaching he could do in a lifetime. Pity the man, and pity the child.