Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), in partnership with the Lake Plains Waterfowl Association (LPWA), hosted its 37^th Annual Young Waterfowler's Training Program. The program included a full day of waterfowl hunting information and orientation on Saturday, October 16, 2010, designed to improve the skills of young waterfowlers before the youth-only hunt day scheduled for Sunday, October 24, 2010.

The orientation program, held at the Refuge headquarters 1101 Casey Road, Basom, was open to junior hunters between 12-17 years of age but limited to 25 participants with first time participants having preference. The morning session of the orientation consisted of a New York State sanctioned Waterfowl Identification Certification class from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm and was attended by 6 junior hunters. The afternoon session, from 12:30 pm -4:30 pm, covered decoys and calls, ballistics, clothing and equipment, hunter ethics and safety, an overview of the refuge waterfowl program as well as a retriever demo and trap shoot. This session was mandatory except for those who have been through the program at least twice. Twelve attended the afternoon session. Lunch on the orientation day was provided by the Lake Plains Waterfowl Association and the Finger Lakes and Western New York Waterfowl Association.

On Sunday, October 24, 22 junior hunters participated which included the 12 who had been at the orientation and another 10 who had been through the orientation at lease twice before. A total of 10 birds were harvested during the hunt.

The Lake Plains Waterfowl Association also provided instructors for the orientation and arranged guides for those who needed them.