This is a copy of an article I wrote that appeared in Take'Em! Magazine recently.

Jake Cisman with a game strap of coots

and snipe he killed on a mentored hunt.

A Waterfowl Guide's Perspective on 'Success'

By CAPT LARRY WEISS

  Guys, Food for thought. Something I've learned after guiding on the lake (Lake Erie) for the last 8 years: Often the most enjoyable day out for your friends, family, or customers may not mirror your idea of a good day.

 Example: yesterday, my long time hunting partner Kevin Wilson, and I took my nephew, Jake Cisman on a "Youth Mentored Hunt" which Jake won, online in a lottery. At the young age of 13 Jake was super-excited to say the least. 

 The area we hunted hosts two hunts per day.  Kevin and I knew the afternoon segment was going to be tough.  Being opening day, and the fact that the area had already had a lot of pressure during the AM, the ducks had vacated. 

  Jake could see coots off in the distance swimming closer by the hour.  Eventually two were swimming just outside of our decoys. I instructed Jake to stand up and try his luck when the coots began to fly off.  He picked out one coot and dropped it on his second shot.  Kevin and I couldn’t get over his enthusiasm over his Coot. 

  Eventually some snipe buzzed our spread and I informed him that those, too, were legal waterfowl.  What happened next was amazing.  Jake doubled on those Snipe on their next swing.  By the end of the hunt Jake ended up getting another double on Coots and Kevin and I each shot one also.  We had a blast shooting Snipe & Coot. We had a great time watching Jake getting in some shooting, and having success.

  Needless to say we saw several disappointed boys when we got back to the parking area at the conclusion of the hunt. Of course, everyone wanted to know what we were shooting at. We received a lot of looks of disapproval from other adults upon revealing our quarry. We had a great time and even chuckled a little at his excitement of shooting Coots. Reminded me of when I was younger and how I had a different picture of what success was.  Jake cleaned and ate those birds without a complaint.  With Social Media & TV people seem to have an inflated view of what this sport is all about.  Bottom line is: its what you make of it, and I think we have lost site of that.

Weiss is owner of Fish and Fowl Adventures, which offers layout hunting on big water for divers, and walleye and perch charters.