Often putting to use his resources as general manager of Honey Brake at the Louisiana Delta Plantation, Drew Keeth is a staunch supporter of the annual LDWF youth weekends. Each year Keeth hosts young hunters to this sprawling waterfowl wonderland near Catahoula Lake to provide a taste of early arriving birds.
“We try to offer hunting opportunities to as many kids as we can handle,” Keeth said. “It’s important for them to learn to shoot and be safe while in the blind.”
Keeth notes that it’s crucial for the young hunters to have an enjoyable experience to make it more likely they’ll want to go again.
“By introducing these kids at a young age we’re able to hopefully make them future hunters to carry on the sport and all the traditions we have associated with it,” he said.
Mike Smith of Louisiana Marsh Guide Service agrees that such hunts are planting seeds for the future.
“The youth hunts are a great opportunity to show the kids everything that goes into a hunt, including practicing calling,” Smith said.
The Delacroix guide said he usually opts to hunt out of his boat blinds instead of using fixed blinds for two reasons.
“I like to use the boat blind for the youth hunts because it makes for an easy hunt and helps to safely corral the kids,” Smith said.
Safety when dealing with youngsters and guns is another consideration, and Smith will allow only one gun in the blind even if there are multiple youth when dealing with inexperienced hunters.
While using one gun can reduce the likelihood of taking a large strap of birds, Smith makes up for it by handing the kids calls and allowing them to have fun with the uneducated birds.
“With the calling practice, we’ll surely be making plenty of noise,” he said. “It’s their special day.”
And that’s why Keeth favors the early season youth hunt offerings as opposed to the later options.
“Our birds are definitely a lot more wary by the end of the season,” he said. “When trying to put kids on a good hunt I’d much rather work with uneducated ducks that are far more cooperative.”
