Natalie Perkins of DeRidder and Madden Dowden of Elm Grove enjoyed deer hunts they’ll never forget in 2025. Perkins had her first harvest during her first hunt and Dowden took his biggest deer. For their efforts and stories, the duo have been named the 2025 Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s (LWF) Youth Hunter of the Year (YHOY) contest winners.
Perkins, who is 11 and a physically disabled hunter, had success on her first ever hunt when she harvested a deer. She is the YHOY female winner. Dowden, 10, took a 200-pound buck in November during Thanksgiving break and was the award’s male recipient.
The 2025 Youth Hunter of the Year contest, presented by LWF and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and sponsored by Harrison Law LLC and the Baton Rouge Chapter of Delta Waterfowl, honors one boy and one girl who best represent the joy, thrill and camaraderie of hunting. Youth hunters must be Louisiana residents who were 15 years old or younger at the time of the hunt. Each hunter was required to submit a short story on the hunt and submit photos from the hunt.
The two winners received a plaque in recognition of their achievement and a gift card. They were honored at LWF’s 60th Annual Conservation Achievement Awards banquet April 11.
Perkin’s hunt started in the morning, and although she saw several deer, she wasn’t able to get a shot off. That changed in the afternoon.
“When we went out that afternoon, we were sitting there and a doe came out,’’ Perkins said. “The buck came out right after and started chasing the doe. My dad helped me line up the gun while it was resting on my stepmom’s arm and I pulled the trigger and hit him. He ran into the woods and my dad pulled him out for me.’’
Perkins parents said they were so pleased she was able to experience this hunt. “Her first time hunting and she got her first kill,’’ they said. “We were all over the moon excited for her. She doesn’t let her disability stop her.’’
Like Perkins, Dowden made his harvest during the afternoon. Dowden’s father spotted two deer and told Madden to get ready to shoot.
“I found (the buck) in the scope and said holy moly because of how big he was,’’ Dowden said. “My dad said I could shoot whenever and then, boom, I shot. After I shot the buck, he ran off into the pine trees. I could see him running then and I just see him fall.’’
After about five minutes, they began the mission to recover the buck. It took a while and plenty of effort to haul the animal from the woods.
“My dad and I tried to drag the deer out but it was too heavy,’’ Dowden said. “My dad drove his truck down the trail. It’s kind of skinny trail and when he backed in he broke his mirror off on a pine tree. We used all our strength to drag it out and we had to use rachet straps to get it on the bed of the truck.
“Once it got dark, we got my brother and showed him my deer. He thought it was the biggest deer he had ever seen. That hunt was the best hunt of my life.’’
Visit LWF for more information on the Youth Hunter of the Year contest.
