Utah Division of Wildlife Resources 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. 20. That’s the day Utah hosts its annual youth waterfowl hunt.
This year, even young people who have not completed a hunter education course can participate through a new program offered 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 child has not completed hunter education.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Migratory Bird Coordinator Blair Stringham, said that taking young hunters into the marsh on Sept. 20 is the perfect way to get them interested in duck and goose hunting. He explained that the number of ducks in Utah peaks in mid-September.
“It’s the perfect time to be in the marsh,” he stated. “The kids you take will see plenty of ducks. And they should get plenty of shots. Adults can’t hunt during the youth hunt, so the kids will get all of your attention.”
Stringham says the youth day hunt might be the best day spent 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. 20 starts at 6:43 a.m.
To participate in the youth day event, hunters must qualify one of the following ways:
- If you’ve completed a hunter education course, you must be 15 years of age or younger on Sept. 20. 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. 20. 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. 20. The orientation course is among the items available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/trial.
More information about the youth waterfowl hunt, including the number of ducks and geese kids can take, is available on page 28 of the 2014-2015 Utah Waterfowl Guidebook. A draft copy of the free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.
More information about the trial hunting program is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/trial.