Youth Waterfowl Hunt moved to Sept. 19

American widgeon drake at Harold Crane Waterfowl Management Area.
Photo by Phil Douglass.

Utah’s special Youth Hunting Day will be held on Sept. 19 this year. That’s two full weeks before the general waterfowl season begins on Oct. 3. It’s also a week earlier than it’s been held in the past.

“Last year, the Utah Wildlife Board moved the start of the chukar partridge hunt to the last Saturday in September. That was also the same day the youth waterfowl hunt was held,” says Tom Aldrich, migratory game bird coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

“We want to give young hunters as many chances to hunt as possible, so we decided to move the youth hunt up one week,” he says. “That way, kids can participate in it and also participate in the start of the general chukar hunt the following Saturday.”

Who can participate?

The youth waterfowl hunt is open to hunters who will be 15 years of age or younger on Sept. 19. To qualify, you must complete the state’s Hunter Education course, have a current hunting license and Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, and be accompanied by an adult.
You can start shooting at 6:42 a.m. on Sept. 19.

A fun day

“The youth hunt is a lot of fun,” Aldrich says. “The marsh is usually filled with ducks that time of the year, and the kids get to have the marsh all to themselves. And, since adults can’t hunt that day, the young hunter you take gets all of your attention.
“The youth waterfowl hunt is a great chance to introduce a young person to waterfowl hunting and to pass your skills along to him or her.”

More information about the Youth Hunting Day is available on page 30 of the 2009 – 2010 Utah Waterfowl Guidebook. The guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.