Youth Waterfowl Hunt Is a Valuable, Enjoyable Opportunity; Consider Lincoln County For Hunts

By DNR Conservation Warden Joel Nuernberger

Pictured above: DNR Conservation Warden Joel Nuernberger on duck ponds patrol at New Wood Wildlife Area

This article appeared in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s November 2026 eNewsletter. 

If any Wisconsin Waterfowl Association members are scouting for hunting areas that are new and perhaps not too far to drive with friends and families, I have an answer.

While you might think that’s stretching it a bit for a first-year Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conservation warden stationed in Tomahawk, I can endorse Lincoln County as a prime hunting spot from two worlds – my warden squad and as a father who patrolled the Sept. 19-20 youth waterfowl hunt.

I have a lot of respect for parents and adults who make time in their busy schedules to spend quality time outdoors with children. That was on full display during the 2026 youth waterfowl hunt in Lincoln County. More on that later.

I grew up in a neighboring county and enjoyed hunting and fishing there. That meant I had to explore waterfowl hunting opportunities in my new service territory during my off hours. I can report there are plenty, starting with the Wisconsin River, which flows through Lincoln County.

Fun also can be had at several waterbodies in the immediate Tomahawk area. These include Lake Nokomis, Lake Mohawksin, Lake Alice, Jersey Flowage, and Spirit Flowage, all of which are productive for waterfowl.

I have heard from some hunters who view waterfowl hunting regulations as among the most complex and intimidating to a novice. I understand, and that’s another reason to consider sharing your expertise about waterfowl hunting and regulations as a mentor to someone interested in joining the hunt.

In addition to the regular safety guidelines all hunters should follow in the field, waterfowl hunters need to understand the various seasons, bag limits for each species, required licenses and stamps, goose and duck management zones, and shot type and capacity, to name a few. Having a mentor available to help navigate the regulations and show a new hunter how to locate and harvest waterfowl would be a huge asset to those hunters trying to get into the sport.

It can be an adult, a coworker, a neighbor, a friend of a friend – or a youth. Sharing the hunt and Wisconsin’s outdoors is rewarding and enjoyable for all involved.

While many hunters may be familiar with the youth deer hunt, the DNR also provides a youth waterfowl season. The youth waterfowl season gives youth an opportunity to hunt waterfowl before the regular waterfowl season. Mentors can share their expertise with their mentee and can also participate in the hunt if they are hunting geese during the open goose season.

I was on duty for the youth waterfowl hunt, and it was encouraging to see hunters take advantage of the season. I had several contacts with fathers with their sons/daughters/friends. I enjoyed our conversations about their hunting experiences, and I remember one father who let his daughter load the duck boat by herself because she wanted the full experience.

If they were lucky enough to harvest some ducks, the young hunters were always eager to show them off. It was clear to me they appreciated the opportunity to get in the field while doing it safely. Whether they harvested or not, everyone enjoyed a memory-filled event.

Here are some requirements for the youth waterfowl hunt:

• Only those ages 15 and younger may participate.
• All hunters must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older.
• Adults may not accompany more than one youth hunter. There is an exception to this: An adult may accompany two youth hunters if at least one of the youth hunters is aged 12-15 and has completed a hunter education safety course.
• The mentor may not hunt ducks but may hunt geese if the goose season is open and they possess the appropriate licenses.

These licenses are needed:

• Harvest Information Program Registration
• All other license and stamp requirements are waived for eligible youth waterfowl hunters.

If you would like to provide mentorship but don’t have a youth mentee available, there are organizations, such as Pass It On! Outdoor Mentors (outdoormentors.org), that facilitate hunts.

As the number of overall hunters has declined in recent years, it’s important to do what we can to ensure future generations can have the same opportunities.

Please always remember that safety should always come first – and is a part of the fun!

I look forward to seeing you in Lincoln County.