Originally posted on The Finger Lakes Times by Chris Kenyon

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Young hunters in the Empire State had the opportunity to hunt deer, pheasants and waterfowl during the first two weekends in October, the benefit of a state Department of Environmental Conservation initiative allowing youngsters to experience real hunting with mentors.

The only problem with this flurry of activity — a nice problem to have, I might mention — is how to organize an event that could combine these opportunities.

The folks putting together the annual Robert F. DeRoo Memorial Youth Conservation Event recognized the logistical issues. Their solution: Hunt the waterfowl Oct. 4, bag some pheasants the next Saturday and leave the deer hunters on their own.

The seventh DeRoo event kicked off Oct. 3 at the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah with Krittr Kris and her birds of prey.

Kristin Forsythe is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and her program teaches the public how to coexist with nature. Ron Figler gave an exciting, sporting-dog demonstration. Award-winning caller Jason Pollack showed the young hunters how to attract geese and ducks to their decoy setup.

Following a pizza dinner, several speakers talked about hunting, wildlife management and the importance of conservation.

“You might not realize it now, but this is an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your lives,” Wayne County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs president Gene VanDeusen told the younger hunters. “My goal is to put you in a field with outstanding dogs and handlers and give you the opportunity to experience a real hunt.”

The event is a partnership of the Montezuma Audubon Center, the DEC, the Wayne County Office of Tourism and the Wayne County Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs.

Dawn DeRoo-Nelson created the event in 2008 to honor her late husband. Bob DeRoo was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish.

“Any day he could be outside in one of those locations was a great day for him, whether came home with game or not,” DeRoo-Nelson recalled.

During the Oct. 3 presentation every pheasant hunter received a blaze-orange vest and back-tag holder courtesy of Bass Pro Shops. Each young waterfowler received a camouflage hat from Toyota, decoys donated by the New York State Conservation Officers Association and calls from Duel Game Calls.

Environmental Conservation Officers Kevin Thomas and Aaron Gordon concluded the evening focusing on ethics and safety, and being seen as a model hunter. Thomas defined hunting ethics as “doing the right thing when no one is looking.”

The night concluded with a special drawing. DEC Lt. Matt Lochner asked the youngsters to look in their caps. Cato resident Harley Ducharme quickly jumped out of his seat.

“I’m the winner,” she exclaimed. “I have an ‘X’ in my cap.”

Ducharme’s prize: a lifetime hunting license, courtesy of Sodus-based V&C Development.

Three other young hunters won free admission to DEC summer camps and subscriptions from Fish, Fir, and Game, courtesy of the Wayne County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.

After the special drawings every youngster was able to choose from a table of outdoor gifts that included decoys, gun cases, duck calls, targets and travel mugs.

The waterfowlers were up bright and early the next morning. While it was a rainy hunt, the 21 young waterfowlers — they were assisted by 15 volunteer guides — bagged a total of 42 birds.

The following Saturday 16 pheasant hunters met at 7:30 a.m. at the audubon center. Unlike the waterfowlers, these youngsters were greeted with a sunny autumn day.

After some advice on how to safely handle a gun, along with practice shots orchestrated by ECO Thomas, the young hunters paired with four dog handlers and walked the fields. Everyone got to shoot, and the group was able to bag nine pheasants.

“It was another great year,” noted Jim Eckler, a senior wildlife biologist for DEC’s Northern Montezuma State Wildlife Management Area. “The kids brought in nine pheasants this year, and we had a great diversity of ducks, including Northern pintail, mallards, wood ducks, American black ducks, blue-winged teal and Canada geese.”

The following individuals and businesses sponsored this year’s DeRoo event: Antonio’s Pizza of Clyde; Bass Pro Shops; Bell Company; Canandaigua Lake Duck Hunters; Cayuga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs; Daniel DeRoo; Dawn DeRoo-Nelson; Duel Game Calls; New York State Conservation Officers Association; DEC; Seneca County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs; V&C Development; Wayne County Community Endowment Fund; Wayne County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs; Wayne County Office of Tourism; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Lest we forget, the success of these youth hunts is made possible by the many adult mentors, dog handlers and waterfowl guides who give their time and knowledge. Hats off to these individuals: Bob Ruller, Ron George, Dino Amino, Joe Vanderbrook, Robert Stuck, Taylor Stratton, Aaron Hludzenski, ECO Scott Sincebaugh, ECO Aaron Gordon, Mike McPeck, Matt Frackelton, John Frackelton, George Willson, Luke Pollack, Jason Pollack, Gordy Morgan, Matt Taylor, Aaron Swartwood and Bradley Lunkenheimer.