Youth Hunting Options Filling Fast

Posted on July 31, 2012

While it may seem hunting seasons are many moons away, look at your calendar. They’ll begin before you know it. So the real question becomes: is your son, daughter, nephew, niece, cousin’s kid, or coworker’s child ready for you to take them on that first excitement-filled hunt?

One way to up the excitement level is to ensure that the new hunter attends a “new hunter special instruction course or hunt.” These are beyond the basic hunter education course, and sometimes the course ends with an actual in-the-field hunt. For example Colorado is holding a course to introduce kids to waterfowl hunting. Wisconsin will also host a special youth waterfowl hunt. Oregon will host a youth elk hunt. Texas has several locations offering special youth wild hog hunts. Minnesota will host a youth and women upland bird hunt. Most hunts begin with a special instruction course. In most cases, unfortunately, the youth hunts under game department control are restricted to only residents of the state. But there’s good news.

Some local sporting clubs around the nation also host events to prepare youth (boys and girls) for dove hunts, their first deer hunts, pheasant hunts, and other species pursuits. In some cases attending the group’s education course and completing it ensures that young hunter a slot in a waterfowl blind, spot along the edge of a dove field, or a seat in a treestand.

These courses are filling fast and many will be occurring in the next two to three months. Visit your state game department’s website to locate a course near you—and learn the details. Some metro parks, state parks, conservation areas, water districts and other publicly-held properties also host courses—and the subsequent hunts. Check also with local conservation clubs.

Nearly all 50 states have mentored youth hunting programs and education courses, host special youth-only hunting days, and set aside specific areas only for young hunters to give the endeavor a try. You could be the key to making that important connection between hunter and opportunity.

Another page of the calendar is turning. It’s time to make plans to help the youth who will be hunting with you get off to a good start.

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