Twenty-one youth participated in the Youth Waterfowl Hunt at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge on October 19, 25, and 26.  Youth who have completed both hunter safety and a waterfowl skills clinic are encouraged to apply for this special hunt, held each year on three different days in October.  This year all youth who applied for the hunt were accepted.  The youth are required to have an adult sponsor with them on the day of the hunt (who is not allowed to hunt) and they must attend a pre-hunt orientation where they are given an overview of the rules and an opportunity to look at the area where they will be hunting. 

This year at the orientation they were also treated to a guest speaker from Wisconsin Waterfowl Association who supplied lunch and door prizes.  The youth hunted in the 424-acre I-9 impoundment on the south end of the Refuge.  The twenty-one youth shot a total of 28 ducks and one coot.  Three parties were not successful.  Ducks included 5 northern pintail, 5 mallards, 4 green-winged teal, 3 ring necks, 3 wigeon, 2 redheads, 2 shovelers, 1 scaup, 1 black duck, 1 blue-winged teal, and 1 wood duck.  Many positive comments were received from the youth and adult sponsors.