Prize update - Please visit our website. - http://www.michiganyouthhuntprogram.com/

Letters from past winners!
 
Youth hunt 2OO6
 
Hi my name is Eric my daughter got picked to do the youth hunt. I am replying to tell you that this was a hunt of a life time for myself and my daughter.I will start of by telling you she did not get a deer.That was the only bad part of the whole weekend. Iwill start of by telling you she had many chances to shoot from a large doe to a spike horn up to a good 6 point.She has spent many hours in the woods but when it came down to it buck fever was to great.She felt very bad that she let down everybody.I told her that she did not let anybody down it was just part of hunting. Dad felt really bad but did not tell her.The reason that she got buck fever is that she wanted it that much more then someone that would just shoot and have no emotion.Back to the hunt.When John called us my daughter was beside herself.The many phone calls from John and his friend Ernie(from Day in the swamp taxidermy)made Sarah that much more excited to get up ther and start hunting.We got up there early so Ernie invited use over. After ten minutes I felt like family.He set her up with one of his guns better suited for her and she fired of a few rounds.Then we went over to the place that she was going to hunt with that help of his neighbor Rich and saw 16 deer with one nice 6 point.That made her not sleep much.I want to say right now that the time that John, Erine and Rich had spent to setup scout and host myself and my daughter was more than most people would do for people they don't even know . I guess that it was for the love of hunting and getting others involved in it ( my daughter Sarah) .The youth hunt was what they had to offer and it was the time of our life. It was the best opportunity for a youth that you could ask for.The friendship that we made was hard to put in words. For people that up until that weekend we did not even know that would do so much for us and other youth hunters for the true love of hunting and friendship.I still am having a hard time expressing my thanks for everything that you did for us.I also thank Erines Wife for opening there home for Sarah and I along with filling our bellys with fine cooking.Just like Brittney the other youth hunter the guys took time dring the day to take Sarah fishing to catch some salmon.To watch my little daughter reel in those fish was nothing short of amazing.I could talk much more about everything they did for us but i dont have time to tell it. But what I would say to everyone that has a youth please think about involving your kids in hunting with this youth hunt it is a chance of a lifetime to hunt and make friends that live to hunt and share it with others. Thanks again!!!! We will never forget
 
 
 
(From, Brittneys dad)
 
Well first of all I would like to thank John for a great time! He is a great guide and a very caring person. My daughter had a great time as well. John was a heck of a guide and even took us fishing, letting Brittney land about 15- 20 salmons. Best of all was the preparation, scouting and the time he took to help guide her in taking down a nice 6pt buck. The look on her face after shooting that buck was out of this world.
 
I must be honest here..... I was skeptical about taking Brittney on this trip as I myself wondered, "why would these guys do this for these kids." I thought that there had to be a catch, so I asked John and Ernie from Day in the Swamp, why, why would you do this for these kids? They pointed out about how the sport is dying and how they want to pass the sport on to the next generation. They also pointed out how there are so many young kids that are sitting and wasting their lives playing video games because they never had the opportunity to go hunting. Ernie also explained as he held back tears, about how his father taught him to hunt and how he would like to give the same gift to others. He worded it best when he told a story of a Grandfather and grandson that he took on a hunt. He said after the young boy harvested a deer, the grandfathers head swelled with pride and the grandfather cried tears of joy. Ernie said at that point his own wife looked at him and whispered, " now I think I understand why you do this."
 
Well I can tell you that these guys have two of the biggest hearts I have ever seen. These two guys put the word sport in sportsman! These guys care about this sport and go out of their way to pass the hunting tradition on to the next generation. I am overwhelmed in knowing that there are guys out there that take this much pride in this sport!
 
While watching John fish, I noticed that most of the kids at the fishing hole knew and respected him. I also noticed that out of all the people fishing, John and the kids that knew him were about the only ones catching fish. My guess is that he probably taught most of them how to do it. I also noticed that most of the kids would release the fish, "above the dam"..to help the salmons trip upsteam easier...just as John would.
John, I have always taking all my girls hunting and fishing with me, but you my friend showed me a whole other side of hunting in a way that I never seen it before.......You have showed me that its not all about me...its about them!
God Bless!
 

Letters from past Winners
 
YOUTH HUNT 2007
 
 
From Sarah's Dad:
 
My daughters first deer
First I want to thank John Ingersoll for putting on the 2nd annual michigan youth hunt.My daughter was picked for a free hunt in Petoskey.This was one of the best times we had .If you know of a youth that would like to hunt and has not gotten a deer plaese check out the other forum Michigan youngsters in the out-of-doors.2nd I would like to thank Ernie Brossau our guide owner of Daylight in the swamp taxidermy (in Petoskey ) who will be mounting my daughters deer head along with other gifts they received from the hunt.I can't say enough good about these people ( friends ) and how they treated my daughter and myself.Sarah my daughter got this 8 point 145lb field dressed buck saturday night.She was sitting on a hay bail looking south at 10 doe for about 1/2 hour and then from the east wood line came a small doe running right at here. It scared her for a minute then four bucks came in behind her 2 spikes 1 four and this 8 point buck.She moved all the way to the left shook for a few minutes ( that felt like hours ) and shot a 100 yards.This is what she found 50 yards away.Thanks again to John and Ernie for helping out the youth hunters.Please check out the other forum for information of the hunt and the gifts that we got plus the free hunt some other lucky youth hunter could win.

 
Letter from Keith:
 
First, I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to go hunting. The Youth Hunt was one of the best experiences I've ever had! I didn't have the equipment, know-how, location or the people to hunt with. Therefore, without you I would've never had the chance to experience something so incredible. I learned so much and had so much fun!
When I was sitting in the blind and saw that HUGE 5 point buck come out of the woods, my stomach dropped and I couldn't breathe! I was so excited and John was telling me I only had about ten seconds to take the shot. I didn't have a clear shot because the deer kept moving, and going behind trees. Finally, the deer was in a good position and I had my chance. It was the perfect shot, and with John's coaching, I took it! I hit the deer at about 100 yards and it ran right into the open field and stopped. When we got to the deer it was an enormous 5 point buck! This had to be the most exciting moment ever! After my great experience getting my first deer, we drove over to the fishin' hole in town with the deer tied to the top of our car! I was so proud.
The salmon fishing was a lot of fun! John taught me the art of salmon fishing, and I was getting good by the end of the weekend.
Ernie and John were both very welcoming to my family and I. Ernie was also very nice about letting us look around his taxidermy shop, which was really interesting. He has worked on so many different kinds of animals. That was an experience I would never get at home!
I can never thank both of you enough. I'm not done hunting - this was only the beginning! I will remember the Youth Hunt weekend for the rest of my life! Someday, I hope I can help someone the way you helped me.
 
Sincerely,
Keith
 
 

ATTENTION - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are trying to expand this program statewide, with a represenative in all 83 counties.


If your Sportsman’s Club, Gun Club or Organization is not listed and would like to sponsor a youth hunt for the 2008 season, or if you would like to make a donation to the program. Please contact me at michiganyouthhunt@yahoo.com

Availible Hunts

Hunt Number – 024YDH
County – CHARLEVOIX COUNTY
Type of Hunt – Youth Firearm Deer Hunt
Land Type – Private
Age of Hunter – 12-16
Weapon Available – YES
License - Hunters responsibility
Transportation - Hunters responsibility
Food - Hunters responsibility
Lodging – Hunters responsibility
Sponsor – Ernie Brosseau / Daylight in the Swamp Taxidermy 231-347-9789

Hunt Number – 015YDH
County – EMMET COUNTY
Type of Hunt – Youth Firearm Deer Hunt
Land Type – Private
Age of Hunter – 12-16
Weapon Available – YES
License - Hunters responsibility
Transportation - Hunters responsibility
Food - Hunters responsibility
Lodging – Hunters responsibility
Sponsor – John Ingersoll / John’s Mobile Marine Service 231-330-0887


Hunt Number – 047YDH
County – LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Type of Hunt – Youth Firearm Deer Hunt
Land Type – Private
Age of Hunter – 12-16
Weapon Available – YES
License - Hunters responsibility
Transportation - Hunters responsibility
Food - Hunters responsibility
Lodging – Hunters responsibility
Sponsor – Livingston Gun Club 517-404-1908 (Jeff LaFave)


Hunt Number – 066-131YDH1
County – ONTONAGON / HOUGHTON COUNTIES
Type of Hunt – Youth Firearm Deer Hunt
Land Type – Private
Age of Hunter – 12-16
Weapon Available – YES
License - Hunters responsibility
Transportation - Hunters responsibility
Food - Supplied
Lodging – Supplied
Sponsor – Blue Road Bucks Outfitters 906-852-3650 (Hank)


Hunt Number – 066-131YDH2
County – ONTONAGON / HOUGHTON COUNTIES
Type of Hunt – Youth Firearm Deer Hunt
Land Type – Private
Age of Hunter – 12-16
Weapon Available – YES
License - Hunters responsibility
Transportation - Hunters responsibility
Food - Supplied
Lodging – Supplied
Sponsor – Blue Road Bucks Outfitters 906-852-3650 (Hank)


Hunt Number – 066-131YBH
County – ONTONAGON / HOUGHTON COUNTIES
Type of Hunt – Youth Firearm Bear Hunt
Land Type – Private
Age of Hunter – 12-16
Weapon Available – YES
License - Hunters responsibility
Transportation - Hunters responsibility
Food - Supplied
Lodging – Supplied
Sponsor – Blue Road Bucks Outfitters 906-852-3650 (Hank)
******special notes*****
1) The license application dates are May 1 - June 1 thru the MDNR and is done on a point system.
2) Applicants must apply for Baraga or Amasa Units
3) Anyone who applies for this hunt number will be contacted to see if they obtained a license before the winner is announced.

In 2007 I also took another youth, Joshua on his first deer hunt. The second day of the Michigan Youth Hunt.
 

 
I did the same in 2006 and took ryan on his Youth Hunt on the Second and final day of the season.
 

We now have a website.

http://www.michiganyouthhuntprogram.com/

Prize update - Please visit our website. - http://www.michiganyouthhuntprogram.com/