Kid gets new chance in deer hunt

Forrest Ahrens

Twelve-year-old Forrest Ahrens again has won a spot in a youth-only deer hunt in October. He hopes he's learned from the mistakes that cost him a deer last year.

The St. Peters seventh grader said he wasn't well prepared when he spotted a deer in last year's hunt. He was among over 100 kids who took part in last year's youth-only hunt.

"Last year, our blind was too high. I had to stand up to see over it. Also, there was a stick in the way when I aimed," Forrest said.

By the time he was ready to fire, the deer had smelled him and fled.

Forrest said, "If I don't get anything on a hunting trip, I try to learn from my mistakes."

He applied for and was picked again for this year's Missouri Department of Conservation youth-only deer hunt. The two-day event is October 25-26. The winners have to attend a pre-hunt clinic on October 11.

The kids get to pick an adult to accompany them. As last year, Forrest plans to go with his dad again.

But, he's going to change the place where he hunts.

Last year, he hunted on the Busch Conservation Area land. The area is located on flat land with lakes, fields and many access roads. "You drive in and park," he said.

This year, he's going to try his luck in nearby Weldon Springs Conservation Area. That's more hilly as well as more completely wooded. "There, you park and hike in," he said.

Forrest said he and his dad used a blind last year.

"Sometimes, we just sit next to a tree. But, we might make a stick blind again this year," he said. For that, they put sticks into the ground and then drape special camouflage cloth over the sticks.

Of course, he'll be wearing special camouflage coveralls and face mask. He also has hunting boots. He wears an orange vest and hat, which are required of hunters in the woods.

Forrest said he's been hunting since he was 6 or 7. The first time, he went hunting with his dad for black-tail deer when the family lived in Washington State.

Forrest said his only game taken in a hunt so far has been a squirrel. He's got the squirrel's tail hanging from one of the rack of deer antlers in the family's living room. The antlers from deer his father bagged are on plaques and hanging on the wall.

Last year, Forrest hunted both in the youth-only deer hunt and again in the regular deer season. He plans to do that again this year.

The MDC sponsors youth-only hunts so younger hunters can have the fields and forests to themselves for some of their first hunting trips.

For information about youth-only hunts, you can log on to the MDC website at www.mdc.mo.gov. You can get special information about lots of outdoor activities in the St. Louis area by clicking on the St. Louis region in a map on the website.

Forrest has his own 20-gauge shotgun. But, for last year's youth-only hunt, he borrowed a .243 rifle from the MDC. Then, he used his own 20-gauge, with slug ammunition, for his regular season hunting trip.

The MDC often lends kids outdoor equipment when they're taking part in special youth-only seasons or just starting outdoor practice sessions.

Although he hasn't bagged anything but a squirrel, Forrest said he's eaten venison and wild turkey. He said the wild turkey was especially good.

"We got a whole turkey breast from a neighbor. It was marinated in Italian dressing," he said.

But, he said his experience with trying to eat his own squirrel wasn't too good. After bagging the squirrel, he helped his dad clean it before cooking.

But, Forrest said, "It was too bony."

He said he actually likes fishing better than hunting. He has his own fishing tackle. Asked about his fishing skill, he said, "I'm not good-good, but I'm okay."

He said he usually fishes for bass or catfish. Most of the time he fishes in lakes at the Busch Conservation Area. He doesn't live too far from that area, with its many lakes.

Asked about a future goal, he said, "My dream is to be entered in the Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament."