District youths rewarded with snowshoe hike

Wednesday, 14 January 2009 - 6:10pm.
by Henry Miller

A snowshoe hike took place over the weekend for local youths who had earned it. They had worked hard during the fall and early winter cleaning more than 300 birdhouses, replacing bluebird boxes on existing lines, building wood duck boxes (some of which they placed near beaver ponds, and cutting a hiking trail near Wasaw Lake.

During the trek, the group stopped to eat. Our chefs grilled burgers and deer sausage over an open fire, with the usual tasty fare black just the way they like it. The group also had learned a bit about hunting—safety, fair chase, and how to hunt hares.

On a field trip, they found hare, deer, squirrel, and pine marten tracks. The snowshoe hare tracks were examined carefully to determine which direction it was travelling.

The kids were shown how to hunt them. As soon as those over the age of 12 achieve their apprentice licences, they should have a head start on a real hunt this coming fall.