December 2015 | Page 45

Two youngsters who definitely found the outdoors fun and rewarding were the winners of this year’s Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association (LOWA) Youth Hunter of the Year contest. The contest requires youth hunters to submit a story about their hunting experience along with photographs of the hunt. LOWA and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries select a male and female Youth Hunter of the Year based upon the stories and photos that are received. The awards were presented at the organization’s 70th Annual Conference banquet on August 8, 2015 in Morgan City, Louisiana. The contest is sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Delta Waterfowl, Bowie Outfitters, and the Harrison Law Firm. <<< 2014 Male Youth Hunter of the Year William Morrison of Natchitoches, LA is the 2014 Male Youth Hunter of the Year. Twelve year old William's story actually began in 2012 on a spring turkey hunt on family land in Arkansas. The gobbler came strutting in, but William's gun only made a clicking sound when he pulled the trigger. His older brother killed the tom and while William was disappointed, he was very excited for his brother. He had no luck during the 2013 Season; but on a turkey hunt in Louisiana in 2014, he connected with a gobbler using his new shotgun. Dad did the calling and his brother documented the hunt with his camera. William's first turkey is now hanging on the wall and serves as a reminder that good things happen to those who persevere and keep trying. William is the son of William and Emily Morrison. Laken Adcox, Bush, LA, 13, harvested a big buck that many deer hunters will never see in the woods, especially in south Louisiana. The Fontainbleu Junior High student has been hunting since she was ten years old with her dad, Chad, and it was Halloween when they took to the woods. In their deer stand, they were supposed to harvest a doe if the opportunity was there. When a big doe came in sight, she told Chad that she was going to shoot a big buck, and that it would be at 8:12! Turns out that she had been studying the game cams and noted that if the big buck made an appearance, it was at that time. Sure enough, an hour later, out it came and after calming down long enough to get a shot off, \