An annual youth duck hunt.

A family farm.

A sky that looked painted.


And a group of kids—many of them first-time hunters being introduced to the rhythm of the woods and water with patient mentors and proud fathers close by.


I was blessed to be there to witness it all—to honor the occasion the best way I could, by capturing memories of the morning through my camera lens.

 

Eighteen years going strong, the Davis P. Rice Memorial Youth Duck Hunt is hosted by Tennessee Wildlife Federation. The annual hunt remembers Davis Rice, a young avid duck hunter who passed away in 2007.


His legacy is commemorated through this special event which fosters an appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife conservation in young hunters from across the state. Volunteer landowners and experienced guides donate their time and resources to put on the event.

Group hunts take place at several different locations all across West Tennessee, but the set of photos you’re viewing here captures a hunt hosted on a family farm near Brownsville.


From the moment everyone arrived, the hosts set the tone:


Welcoming, accommodating, and incredibly patient with the kids—exactly the kind of environment you want for a young hunter’s first time in the blind.

The sunrise didn't disappoint


One of the most underrated parts of any duck hunt is the journey—the ride out, the field edges, the silhouettes of trees, and the first evidence of daylight that flips your switch from “I'm barely awake” to “we’re about to do this.”


That particular day, the morning sky showed off in a spectacular way with intense coloring across the horizon, along with a slight but crisp breeze, dark tree lines, and a preview of the ducks moving through the distance as the day began to come alive.


Even if hunting isn't your thing, this is something I highly recommend you witness, even if nothing else interests you about being out there. Only God can create such beauty—but that’s a different blog for a different day.

The Hunt

Pre-dawn meetup: gear checks, nerves, and quiet excitement

 

Long before sunrise, the morning started the way great duck hunts usually do: headlights cutting through the dark, gear getting sorted, and hunters stepping out in camo with that mix of excitement and “I can’t believe I’m up this early.”


You have to appreciate every step of the process, even the small moments:

  • Youth hunters bundled up in jackets and waders
  • Shotgun cases, blind bags, and calls getting organized
  • Fathers standing nearby, helping where needed
  • The calm, steady presence of the hosts making sure everyone felt ready


For me, it was just like a sleepless night before Christmas. I barely shut my eyes for more than 15 minutes. I was inflicted with a severe case of giddy excitement, that probably far surpassed any of that from the actual young hunters themselves.

A hearty breakfast…in the duck blind

 

If you’ve never had a hot breakfast in a duck blind, just know: it hits different.


The hosts cooked up a hearty breakfast right there on-site, turning the blind into a warm, fragrant, welcoming place to reset. You could see the comfort and camaraderie—kids eating, adults conversing, laughter and quiet conversation in between the fly-in visits from the ducks.


This wasn’t “grab a plate and keep moving.” This was 100% pure duck blind hospitality—the kind that makes folks feel like they’re part of something special.

 

Mentorship in real time: respect for the hunt and the bird

 

One of the most meaningful parts of the morning was seeing the blind guide take time to teach the kids (and first-time parents) elements of the hunt and not rush through the details. Questions were encouraged by the mentor and none were off-limits.


There were moments where the kids were walked through what they were seeing and doing—how to handle birds respectfully, what to notice, and why the details matter. When a young hunter gets their first duck, that’s a milestone. Having a mentor slow down and make it a learning moment turns it into something bigger than a quick photo op.

Success isn’t measured just in birds harvested

 

This group had a front-row seat to the fundamentals that matter most:


  • Listening and watching (letting the marsh tell you what’s happening)
  • Patience and being still (the hardest skill for anyone, especially kids)
  • Decoy strategy (how a spread creates an invitation)
  • Calling (and when not to call)
  • Safety and communication (the real backbone of any youth hunt)


There were also the in-between moments that make hunts unforgettable—someone quietly practicing on a call, a guide checking conditions, and kids posted up watching the water like they’d been doing it for years.

Gratitude for a great host farm in Brownsville, TN


A sincere thank you to our hosts in Brownsville for opening their place up and creating such an awesome experience. The patience…, the care…, and the way… are exactly what make youth events like the Davis P. Rice Memorial Hunt so special.


This hunt wasn’t just about ducks. It was about:

  • first-time experiences
  • fathers and kids sharing the morning
  • mentors passing down knowledge
  • and a community honoring a legacy the right way