By Wayne Beyer
September 3, 2026 • Wahpeton Daily News
Fall is approaching, making it a great time to introduce young people to hunting, a fun tradition that connects us to nature and the outdoors.
Hunting interest is declining, and mentors are needed to get kids hunting. Mentors can make a lifelong impact. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has an R3 (Recruit, Retain and Reactivate) Program designed to recruit new hunters, retain existing hunters and reactivate those who have stopped hunting.
The Red River Area Sportsmen’s Club offers three quality youth hunts to get kids hunting. A Canada goose hunt is scheduled for Sept. 12 at a to-be-determined favorite feeding destination near Breckenridge. The Marv Manock Youth Waterfowl Hunt will be held Sept. 19 on sloughs near Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge. A youth pheasant hunt will take place Oct. 3 on the Chuck Haus farm just west of Hankinson.
The youth hunts include practice trap shoots, free shotgun shells and loaner shotguns. Volunteer mentors are needed. Safety, ethics and fair chase are highly emphasized. Register at rrasc.net.
Hunting is an opportunity to go on nature hikes and birdwatching excursions. Many times, I have not fired a shot and yet enjoyed an incredible day with wildlife, such as seeing a skunk raise its tail in defense, admiring a bald eagle perched magnificently on a cottonwood tree branch and listening to bugling sandhill cranes.
I am grateful that my father introduced me to hunting. Those were some of our best times. I was fortunate to hunt with a daughter, too. We especially enjoyed crouching in cattails and experiencing the fall migration of ducks and geese, some of which showed interest in our decoy spread. Our best conversations often happened at sunrise and during the early morning hours. Time outdoors with your children is one of the best investments you can make.
Hunting is healthy, with plenty of exercise from walking the prairie, wetlands and woods. Wild game is healthy, too, and we love pheasant dumpling soup, venison sausage and pheasant stir-fry.
My favorite hunting areas were Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge, Waterfowl Production Areas and Wildlife Management Areas. Thank you to past hunters whose licenses helped pay for public land.
Friends typically share the same interests. I was lucky to hunt with some who remained friends for a lifetime.
North Dakota is a terrific state if you are a waterfowl hunter. It is our nation’s “Duck Factory” within the Prairie Pothole Region, producing more ducks than any other state. My daughter and I cherished the variety — puddle ducks such as mallards, gadwalls, wood ducks and green-winged teal, and diving ducks such as redheads, buffleheads and bluebills.
The habitat can be stunning, with the prairie offering a fall mosaic of tan, gold and yellow grasses. Cattail-lined wetlands add unique interest.
Hunting teaches life lessons such as discipline, confidence, responsibility and patience. It shows children how to respect the land, the sport and wildlife. Hunting outdoors can be a mental health prescription, offering opportunities for calm, relaxation and mindfulness.
Hunting presents the challenge of matching wits with wildlife. When you hunt, there is an intimate connection with the land.
I am excited that my grandchildren are talking about hunting. Hopefully, they can write a lifetime hunting story of their own on their 70th birthday, too.
Wayne Beyer is the former Wahpeton Parks and Recreation director.