My son or my gun.

D

David Allen

Active member
The state of Maine has told me that on Saturday, which is Youth Day in the southern portion of the state and also in the middle of Early Goose Season, that I can have my son with me or my gun but not both. My original plan was to take my son duck hunting in the morning and as the action slowed go get my gun and Goose decoys and we would then try for some geese. The state told me that I could not have both my gun and my son with me. I can hunt geese alone or with adult friends but my son can not be with us. Now I could take him goose hunting Friday or Monday and that would be fine. However, not on Youth Day. I can only suspect that Maine Game Wardens have trouble telling the difference between duck hunting and goose hunting
 
Youth day is what it is--In del, when that day for the kids falls during an open season, that season closes for that day, giving all of the time to the kids. Probably, the fish cops in your state are a mite confused, since you still have an open goose seadon. Likely, you cannot have a gun when your son is with you hunting ducks, BUT, if you are going for geese, THAT should be no problem.
The intent was to get the kids out on a specific day(s) with adult supervision. However, if your early goose is open, hunting with him should be no problem.
Obviously, the person you talked to is rather off on the intent. Best to go over his head and try someone at your dnr. Maybe someone there is not suffering from cerebro-rectal disorder.
Case in point-our second youth day happens to fall during the snow goose conservation season. Simply, we took that day as a split-no snows, except if by kids only, with adults as guides only.
Goose, duck, sheesh!
 
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There is not much room over the head of the person telling me the rules. It came from the Deputy Commissioner of the Department. That only leaves the Commissioner and the Governor.
Unfortunately common sense and government often do not go together. 27 years in service to the state has taught me that (different department)
For Saturday it will be my sons day. I have killed my share and it is his turn. We may still hunt geese but he will have the only gun.
 
The rules are the same in PA and NJ. If you are taking a youth hunter out your complete focus is the youth. Too many rule breakers in the world, unfortunately, would take advantage of the situation to satisfy their blood lust at the expense of the kids. Hence your son or your gun.
 
Good compromise on the geese--Get him to set out and pick up!
Understand the kid hunt thing, BUT, the state should have just shut down the goose part for one day and gave the adults the extra of the special season to you guys at the end.
We only have so many days in our lives to do this, and each day kinda matters.
 
As a dad w/ grown up kids I strongly recommend you leave your gun home and spend the morning/day taking advantage of the youth training day. It's a special time, getting to hunt the duck marsh before it's shot up with little to no competition. Focus on your kid, and not your desire to kill something. You will be able to hunt geese with him many more times both this year and hopefully for decades to come. Laugh with his misses and share in his success, keep the day about him and his developing love for the sport. It will return dividends for life. Plus if you have a dog it's a great opportunity to focus on him too.

Now legally, I'm willing to bet that if goose season is open and both of you are licensed, you would be fine to go goose hunting together. Just make it very obvious to anyone viewing, that you are not taking advantage of the youth training day. No duck decoys, duck calls or inappropriate goose loads, and DON'T ANYONE SHOOT AT A DUCK if it does come in. Heck don't even raise a shotgun to track it.

If you want to take advantage of the youth hunt play by the rules - no gun for the adult. If you two choose to go goose hunting, then ducks are closed.

I miss those youth hunts with Meg, and her kid is only 1.5 yrs old. I hope that I'm still around and able to take him out in another 11 years.

Scott
 
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