Youth Participate in Illinois Hunting and Fishing

Youth Participate in Illinois Hunting and Fishing

This past weekend was full of hunting and fishing events.  Getting the youth outdoors is a necessary part of their childhood.  No kid grows up remembering their high score on a video game, they remember the time ducks were locked out and landed in the spread or that time a bass pulled some drag.

The Sangchris Waterfowl Association held their annual Youth Event on Friday night, the day before the central zone youth hunt.  There were more kids this year compared to last and they all had an excited look on their face. They were running around, asking questions and enjoying themselves.  At times it sounded more like a surprise party as kids were running around blowing their duck calls that they had received from R-Calls.  They all have some practice to do, but I'm sure they'll end up being great callers.

The Sangchris Waterfowl Association holds this annual event so kids, teens and even adults can learn about boat safety, decoys, dog training and all enjoy the comradery of the waterfowl community.  Passing along the heritage of waterfowl hunting means that these youth are our the future.  Here at Capitol Outdoors seeing the passion in some of these kids eyes as we talked was amazing. We know that the future of waterfowl hunting is in good hands.

Youth from all around Central Illinois took to the blinds to try their luck.  If you've never taken a kid on a youth hunt please consider taking one next year.  Consider becoming a member of the Sangchris Waterfowl Association!  This is a group of men, women and children that talk hunting, fishing and just enjoy Sangchris Lake State Park.  As we walked around taking photos and watching the kids, we were reminded of our youth hunt.  We wanted to thank Sangchris Waterfowl Association for the invite and for letting us watch the youth experience all that is waterfowl hunting, 

The Trout Opener was also this weekend.   There are various lakes that are stocked by the DNR for this event.  Gridley Lake at Jim Edgar Panther Creek was one of those locations.  The few anglers that were fishing stated that it was a slow day with a lot less people.  There was a father and son fishing, which was great.  What a great way to get youth involved in fishing. 

Regardless if you are hunting and fishing, introduce someone else to the outdoors.  It will only take one time and they will be hooked.

If you took a youth outdoors this weekend, tell us about it below.