This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 Newsletter edition.
On September 14th, 2024, six area youth were introduced to duck hunting by members of the Southwest Wisconsin Chapter of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. The participants were invited out to the Duck Inn Lodge, where they learned about local duck species, duck hunting methods, and gun safety. The afternoon’s activities included broasted chicken lunch catered by Huckleberry’s Restaurant, a gun safety review, a clay pigeon shoot in a variety of duck hunting situations, and a duck hunt in the Wisconsin River bottoms. Before the hunt, each youth hunter was provided a hunting bag filled with hunting supplies and other goodies purchased with funds donated by our generous donors. After the hunt, one lucky youth hunter, Colton Landt, was drawn as the winner of a Maverick 20 Gauge pump shotgun which was donated by Matt Martin. An additional gun, a Weatherby Element Semi-Auto 20 Gauge, was generously donated by Mark & Kati Forsythe. This gun was used this year by one of our youth hunters and will be used for future youth hunts.
This event would not be possible without our volunteer mentors. Many thanks to Nate Cejka, Mike Pettit, Ryan Stram, Ryan Deegan, Dylan Varo, Mikey Pettit, Matt Martin and Hope Martin. Special Thanks go out to Nate Cejka and the entire Cejka and Yeomans families for hosting the event at the Duck Inn Lodge!
This event was sponsored by the Craig Martin Legacy Fund, which was created to keep Craig’s passion for youth in the outdoors alive and well after his passing in 2012. Over the years, this fund has received generous donations from the Carolyn M and Leary E Peterson Family Foundation Inc., Mark & Kati Forsythe, Tom & Cheryl Olson of Big River Campground, Mark Fillback and The Fillback Family of Dealerships, Rick Lange Taxidermy, Mike Pettit via the 3M Foundation Volunteer Match program, Steve and Angie Jones of Jones’ Black Angus, Scott Yeomans of Sports World, Todd Lensing of Flyway Fowling Guide Service, Keith and Jenny Coleman, Josh and Katie Tonne, and the Skemp Family of Huckleberry’s Restaurant. If you would like to donate to the Craig Martin Legacy Fund contact Matt Martin at 608-412-1249. Other outdoor related youth organizations needing support can also contact Matt at the same number.
The Southwest Wisconsin Chapter of the WWA would like to thank all Sponsors, Donors, and past banquet attendees for making events like this possible. Wisconsin Waterfowl Association – Dedicated to the conservation of Wisconsin’s Waterfowl and Wetland Resources.
