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Youth hunts

Special seasons just for kids to enjoy

Special youth hunting weekends for wild turkey, white-tailed deer and waterfowl allow youngsters to hunt and gain valuable experience without competing against adults. These youth hunting events are scheduled one weekend before the regular hunting season and are open to residents and nonresidents 15 years of age and younger.

All youth hunters must have successfully completed a Hunter Education Program or participate in the Mentored Hunt Program. Hunters must hold the required valid licenses, stamps and permits/harvest authorizations for the species they wish to pursue, unless otherwise indicated in the rules below. An adult 18 years of age or older must accompany the youth hunter. An adult cannot attend more than two youth hunters at one time. Only one youth hunter can follow the mentor hunting program if the adult is attending to more than one youth hunter. 

Youth Hunt Weekends

Spring Turkey Youth Hunt

A spring turkey license, stamp and valid harvest authorization are required. Youths can hunt regardless of the period their permit is issued but may only hunt in the Turkey Management Zone designated on their harvest authorization. During this two-day youth hunt, the bag limit is one male or bearded turkey. All other hunting regulations apply.

Youth Deer Hunt

Youth hunters may hunt deer with a gun in all Deer Management Units except state park and non-quota units. A gun deer hunting license is required if hunting with a firearm. The bag limit is one buck per gun buck deer harvest authorization, plus additional antlerless deer per antlerless deer harvest authorization valid for the Deer Management Unit the youth hunter will be hunting. Youth hunters with an archer or crossbow license may continue to hunt with a bow or crossbow during the archery/crossbow season, which runs concurrently with the youth gun deer hunt. All other hunting regulations apply.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt

Season dates are finalized after a period of public input. A final ruling on the waterfowl season happens in early August by the Natural Resources Board.

All license and stamp requirements for eligible youth waterfowl hunters are waived on these two days. We expect the duck bag limit to be the same as the regular season. Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration is required of all youth hunters. All other hunting regulations apply.