October 24. Overton Wildlife Management Area, hours before daylight. Young hunters and their mentors packed in under the pavilion lights for Ducks and Donuts, NDOW’s youth waterfowl hunt.
The numbers: 40 young hunters and 36 mentors. They took 19 birds, 17 ducks and 2 coots. Better than last year.
Then it was out to the blinds and the water, mentors alongside. Plenty of these kids are repeat hunters. NDOW’s Doug Nielsen talked with hunters and families through the event, and all of them spoke well of it.
WHIN backed the hunt again this year, working with the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Why it matters for wildlife: hunters help pay for conservation. License dollars keep wetlands like Overton working for waterfowl, and a kid who learns to love a marsh at dawn grows up to protect it.
Early alarm. Muddy boots. The next generation is on the water.
WHIN is a volunteer-run Nevada conservation nonprofit. Every dollar stays in Nevada. Join at whinlv.org/membership. Donate at whinlv.org/donation. Want in on the next one? Email Whin@whinlv.org or call 702-449-2560.