Saturday morning broke crisp and calm for 17 young waterfowlers, their mentors and parents as they hunkered in scattered blinds in and along the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
This was the kids' first duck and goose hunt, and the anticipation before shooting time, said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and mentor Dave Fronczak, was palpable.
"The birds came in a flurry at our blind," said Fronczak, whose two young charges were Trevor Lenzen, 13, and Nelson Brothers, 11. "It worked out perfectly."
Each youth who participated in this year's refuge Youth Waterfowl Day program sponsored by the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service, had recently passed firearms safety training.
Hunting success? Between them, Trevor and Nelson bagged seven birds while seeing mostly blue-winged teal and wood ducks in the air. Together, the group accounted for about 45 fowl in the bag, including a handful of Canada geese.
A barbecue of hamburgers, hot dogs and ducks concluded the memorable outing later Saturday morning.
DENNIS ANDERSON
