He had to change into his converse hi-tops as quickly as he could...his boots were pretty muddy and wet, although his feet were dry, thanks to GoreTex and Rocky youth boots.
These hunts are really great - I highly recommend them to any CA hunters. They offer hunts just for juniors (Apprentice Hunts) and Family Apprentice Hunts, where I would get to hunt with him. We've put in for a few more of both of these.
The Taft Sportmen's Club went all out. Gift bags containing a hat, ear plugs, shooting glasses, etc. were provided to all youht hunters. Dogs and handlers were provided, and our guys worked very hard to get Michael his second bird. The first one came easy, as it was missed by hunters in another field and was flying directly towards him. The previous Saturday, he had spent all day shooting incoming clays for his Boy Scout Shotgun Shooting Merit badge, so it was an easy shot for him. He is not used to flushing the birds over a pointing dog himself, so that took some getting used to, for him. (We did not flush the birds for him....)
He is anxious to get started on big game, but in CA you have to be 12...but next year he can start putting in for special youth drawings for elk and deer!!!! He will have a much better chance of getting drawn than I will, even with my max points. In February, we head to NM for javelina. That will be his first "big game" animal - if javelina really count as big game.
