DWR Press Release
Hunters 15 years of age and younger will have Utah’s marshes, and the ducks and geese that go with them, all to themselves on Sept. 19. That’s the day Utah hosts its annual Youth Waterfowl Hunt.
And, for the second year in a row, young people who haven’t completed a Hunter Education course can still participate through a new program in Utah.
The state’s Trial Hunting program allows someone 21 years of age or older to take a person 12 to 15 years old hunting, even if the 12- to 15-year-old hasn’t completed Hunter Education.
More information about the Trial Hunting program is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/trial.
Take a kid hunting
Blair Stringham, migratory game bird coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, said taking young hunters into the marsh on Sept. 19 is the perfect way to get them interested in duck and goose hunting. He said the number of ducks in Utah peaks in mid-September.
“It’s the perfect time to be in the marsh,” he explained. “The kids you take will see plenty of ducks and they should get plenty of shots.” The young hunters should also get your undivided attention. “Adults can’t hunt during the youth hunt,” he said, “So, the kids you take will get all of your attention.”
Stringham said youth day might be the best day you spend in the marsh all season. “Youth day is the perfect way to pass the tradition of waterfowl hunting on to the next generation,” he said. “The experiences the kids have that day are something they’ll never forget.”
Shooting on Sept. 19 starts at 6:42 a.m. Here’s how to participate in the hunt:
If you’ve completed a Hunter Education course, you must be 15 years of age or younger on Sept. 19. You must also have a current hunting license and Harvest Information Program (HIP) number and be accompanied by an adult.
If you haven’t completed a Hunter Education course, you must be between 12 and 15 years of age on Sept. 19. You also must have a current hunting license and Harvest Information Program (HIP) number and be accompanied by someone 21 years of age or older. In addition, you must complete a brief online Trial Hunting Program Orientation course before Sept. 19. The orientation course is among the items available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/trial.
Learn more
More information about the Youth Waterfowl Hunt, including the number of ducks and geese kids can take, is available on page 28 of the 2015-2016 Utah Waterfowl Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.