Paying It Forward
Chris Cremeen was a youth hunter himself. Now a mentor, he shares the thrill of waterfowl hunting with young people.

On a chilly Sunday afternoon in November, 12 young hunters and their parents gathered for a youth waterfowl hunt at Lighthouse Lakes Park near Aransas Pass.
For many of them, this hunt was not only their first time duck hunting, but also their first time to ride in an airboat. The camo-clad group was flush with anticipation, excitement and nervousness.
The hunt sponsor, Chris Cremeen of Texas Gulf Duck Hunting, knew the feelings well. Cremeen participated in this annual hunt as youth hunter in 2010. That first hunt was the beginning of what would turn into a passion for hunting as well as a business opportunity for Cremeen.
“Giving kids the opportunity to hunt is not only fun, but it could give them a new passion in life,” Cremeen says. “I want to share that with as many kids as possible.”
Huddled in a small group, the excited hunters and parents got briefed for the hunt, gathered their gear and headed to the airboats for a ride to the duck blinds.
Like most youth hunts, lots of planning took place beforehand to make sure the hunt happened safely. Cremeen spoke with parents and guides multiple times to ensure each hunter had proper equipment for the hunt, such as shotguns and waterproof layers, and prepared them for extremely cold weather conditions.
As experienced hunters know, terrible weather often coincides with great waterfowl hunting. That theory almost proved true in this instance. Several days before the hunt, the weather was projected to be rainy and cold — not exactly ideal for introducing young hunters to the sport. In the early hours before the hunt, the weather predictions began to improve. As it turned out, the rain dissipated and temperatures were warmer than expected.
“The weather this year was potentially a concern, but it turned out to be great for duck hunting and led to one of the most successful youth hunts in recent years,” Cremeen says. “It was great to see the excitement as many of the kids harvested multiple ducks.”
The yearly hunt was sponsored by Texas Gulf Duck Hunting, a waterfowl hunting guiding business, and the Port Aransas Junior Boatmen, a local service and outdoor youth organization associated with the Port Aransas Boatmen's Association. Many of the volunteer guides were former and current Texas game wardens and local duck guides.
In 2010, Cremeen was introduced to waterfowl hunting when Steve Johnson — a local duck guide, member of Port Aransas Boatmen's Association and former owner of Texas Gulf Duck Hunting — hosted an annual youth hunt in partnership with the Junior Boatmen, local game wardens and other volunteers. Cremeen participated in that youth hunt and was hooked on waterfowl hunting.
In 2021, Cremeen purchased Texas Gulf Duck Hunting from Johnson, who had become his hunting mentor and friend. He hit the ground running. In his first year owning the business, Cremeen continued the tradition of the annual youth hunt.
“Being one of the guides who hunted with Cremeen as youth hunter, checking him hunting for years in the marsh and now helping guide hunters during the hunts he hosts has been a unique experience,” says Lerrin Johnson, a former San Patricio County game warden. “Seeing his skills develop as a hunter and now a business owner has only fortified my belief that hunting is a rewarding and valuable skill.”
By attending one youth hunt, Cremeen was given a new experience that opened a whole world of possibilities for him. He plans to continue to share his joy and passion for waterfowl hunting with others and hopes it might one day be a positive, life-changing experience for someone else.