Minnesota youth waterfowl & deer hunts

Here's the details on Minnesota youth hunting opportunities

 

 

 

 

 Apply by Aug. 17 for October special youth deer hunts

Minnesota youth have until Friday, Aug. 17, to apply for 14 deer hunts in October, according to Mike Kurre, mentoring program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

 “Spend some one-on-one time and share your outdoor passion in some of Minnesota’s finest deer hunting venues where you can target deer and a memorable experience with a youth hunter,” Kurre said. “Youth deer hunts provide the much needed time away from a hectic lifestyle, and the quality time you need to connect a youth with an outdoors adventure.”

 Youth ages 12-15 may apply for one of 12 special firearms youth deer hunts at selected state parks and refuges. Youth ages 12-17 may apply for special archery youth deer hunts.

 Participating in a youth deer hunt does not preclude the youth from participating in the regular firearms deer season, but any deer harvested do count against the youth’s season bag limit.

 A limited number of either-sex permits are available for the following hunts:

ARCHERY

• Camp Ripley Archery Hunt (open to youth 12-17), archery, Morrison County, Oct. 5-7, 175 permits.
• Lake Alexander Preserve (open to youth 12-17), archery, Morrison County, Oct. 5-7, 20 permits.

FIREARMS

• Afton State Park, firearms, Washington County, Nov. 3-4, 15 permits.
• Banning State Park, firearms, Pine County, Oct. 27-28, six permits.
• Buffalo River State Park, firearms, Clay County, Nov. 3-4, 14 permits.
• Great River State Park, firearms, Winona County, Oct. 27-28, 25 permits.
• Itasca State Park, firearms, Clearwater County, Oct. 13-14, 75 permits.
• Lake Bemidji State Park, firearms, Beltrami County, Oct. 13-14, 20 permits.
• Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, firearms, Polk County, Oct. 20-21, 20 permits.
• St. Croix State Park, firearms, Pine County, Oct. 27-28, 100 permits.
• Savanna Portage State Park, firearms, Aitkin County, Oct. 27-28, 20 permits.
• Sibley State Park, firearms, Kandiyohi County, Oct. 27-28, 10 permits.
• Tettegouche State Park, firearms, Lake County, Oct. 20-21, 10 permits.
• Zipple Bay State Park, firearms, Lake of the Woods County, Oct. 13-14, 20 permits.

Youth must apply for the hunt of his or her choice, which can be done at any DNR license agent; the DNR License Center at 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul, or online at 
www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense.

 If the number of applications exceeds the number of permits, a lottery will be conducted. Youth may only apply for one archery hunt and one firearms hunt.

An adult parent or guardian must accompany the youth at all times while hunting, but only the youth may hunt. Youth and their mentor must attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation session. Successful applicants also must meet all firearms safety requirements, purchase all appropriate licenses and follow hunting regulations.

For more information on these hunts and more, visit www.mndnr.gov/discover and click on the youth deer hunts.

Youth who want to experience waterfowl hunting for the first time can apply by Monday, Aug. 13, to be one 80 participants in this year's mentored youth waterfowl hunt on Saturday, Sept. 8, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said.

Hunts, which are open to youth ages 12-15 who have earned a firearms safety certificate, will be conducted at Hamden Slough near Detroit Lakes and the Morris Wildlife Production Area near Morris as well on private lands in the Prior Lake, Windom, Buffalo and Little Falls areas.

A parent or guardian must accompany the youth at all times during all orientation, education and field sessions that occur during the mandatory hunt orientation meeting on Friday, Sept. 7, and the Saturday hunt.

Youth and guardians are paired with experienced waterfowl mentors, who do more than take a youth and a guardian into the field for a Saturday morning hunt. Before venturing out, mentors will spend time Friday discussing the importance and necessity of habitat as well as explain and demonstrate waterfowl hunting safety, techniques and outdoor skills.

"Mentored hunts provide the basic know-how from an experienced waterfowl hunter so youth and their parent or guardian can venture out on their own in the future," said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator.

Partners, who provide mentors and areas to hunt, are Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Delta Waterfowl, Midwest Extreme Outdoors, Russell Outdoors and the Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club.

If the number of applications exceeds the number of available spaces, participants will be selected via lottery. Applying for hunts farther from the Twin Cities increases the likelihood of being selected.

The mentored youth waterfowl hunt occurs on Youth Waterfowl Day, a specially designated day during which any adult can share their waterfowl hunting experiences by taking a youth 15 and younger waterfowl hunting. Only the youth may hunt.

   

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