Why it Matters: Passing on our time-honored hunting traditions is crucial for the future of conservation. Mentored hunts and youth hunting seasons provide safe, structured opportunities for young hunters to learn hunting skills, ethical shot placement, and develop confidence. These programs provide the first steps for youth and other first-time hunters to become engaged in hunting and hopefully keep them engaged in the future.
Highlights:
- Youth hunting seasons allow young hunters to participate before the general season, giving them a chance to learn without heavy hunting pressure.
- Mentored hunts pair experienced hunters with new sportsmen and women of any age, offering hands-on guidance and experience in the field.
- Both programs play an important role in hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts (R3).
In the Great Plains region, and across the country, state wildlife agencies have recognized the importance of recruiting the next generation of hunters. One of the strategies used is the youth hunting seasons. These opportunities typically occur before or alongside the regular season, giving young hunters a less crowded, more supportive environment to gain experience. By lowering barriers to entry and creating positive early experiences, youth seasons play a direct role in building future participation.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) provides youth hunters with a two-day waterfowl season for residents and nonresidents under the age of 15. Additionally, NDGF offers a youth deer season that lasts nine days, allowing youth hunters to hit the field ahead of the start of the regular deer season. Early opportunities allow inexperienced youth hunters to become comfortable afield before the more experienced hunters apply pressure to a targeted species.
Equally as important are mentored hunts, which allow an experienced adult to take a new hunter of any age afield under direct supervision. These hunts offer in-the-moment instruction on everything from firearm safety and ethical shot selection, to field dressing and conservation principles. Mentors serve as role models who teach new hunters the importance of hunting and hopefully continue to keep the new hunters engaged in the future. During the North Dakota youth deer season, each youth deer hunter must be under direct supervision of an adult, creating an opportunity for tenured hunters to share the field with a youth hunter and pass on their sporting knowledge and experience.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to work with state agencies and legislatures to create new opportunities and protect existing opportunities for youth hunters to hit the fields and woods and be exposed to the thrills of hunting while learning firsthand the value that sportsmen and women bring to conservation.
