10-19-2007, 11:10 PM
CONCORD, N.H. -- Young deer hunters will have their own opportunity for success on Saturday and Sunday, October 27-28, 2007, when New Hampshire's youth deer hunt is held. This special weekend gives young people statewide the opportunity to go deer hunting with an adult mentor, without the pressure of competing with thousands of adult hunters. Accompanying adults must be licensed hunters and are not allowed to carry a firearm, so that they can devote all of their time and attention to coaching their young companions.
Prospects for this year's youth season are excellent, according to Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Gustafson notes that New Hampshire's deer population is very healthy. In 2006, young hunters took 668 deer during the youth weekend, a dramatic increase from the 326 deer taken in 2005 and surpassing the previous youth weekend record of 334 deer taken in 2003.
"The weekend is a chance to introduce young people, under the careful guidance of an experienced adult, to deer hunting," said Gustafson. "You can build bonds for a lifetime while tracking a whitetail through the autumn woods or deciphering the sounds of the forest from a treestand. We hope hunters will spend the weekend with their sons and daughters, grandchildren or young friends, helping them learn what hunting is all about."
Gustafson notes that hunting can help youngsters learn about the environment, conservation, tradition and ethics, and gain an appreciation for the wildlife and wild places of New Hampshire.
The basics of New Hampshire's youth hunting weekend for deer are as follows:
* Youths must be under 16 years of age to participate; they do not need a hunting license and do not have to complete a hunter education requirement.
Both resident and nonresident youth may take part.
* Youths must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older, and the adult must have a valid New Hampshire hunting license.
* Adults who accompany youth hunters may not carry a firearm or assist in taking the deer, other than to supervise.
* Each licensed adult may accompany up to two youths under 16 years of age.
* A deer of either sex is legal statewide during the youth weekend.
* Youths are entitled to their own bag limit of game; any deer taken constitutes the one deer allowed by muzzleloader or regular firearms per year.
* All deer need to be registered, as required during the regular season; youths should tag their deer using the tag found inside the back cover of the 2007-2008 Hunting Digest, available from Fish and Game license agents statewide or on the Fish and Game website at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunting.htm.
* Youths and accompanying adults must comply with all Fish and Game laws relative to hunting deer.
New Hampshire has offered a special youth deer hunt since 1999. It also offers youth weekends for waterfowl hunting in the early fall and for wild turkey in the spring. The special weekends are part of the reason New Hampshire New Hampshire ranks third nationally for youth hunting participation, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Prospects for this year's youth season are excellent, according to Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Gustafson notes that New Hampshire's deer population is very healthy. In 2006, young hunters took 668 deer during the youth weekend, a dramatic increase from the 326 deer taken in 2005 and surpassing the previous youth weekend record of 334 deer taken in 2003.
"The weekend is a chance to introduce young people, under the careful guidance of an experienced adult, to deer hunting," said Gustafson. "You can build bonds for a lifetime while tracking a whitetail through the autumn woods or deciphering the sounds of the forest from a treestand. We hope hunters will spend the weekend with their sons and daughters, grandchildren or young friends, helping them learn what hunting is all about."
Gustafson notes that hunting can help youngsters learn about the environment, conservation, tradition and ethics, and gain an appreciation for the wildlife and wild places of New Hampshire.
The basics of New Hampshire's youth hunting weekend for deer are as follows:
* Youths must be under 16 years of age to participate; they do not need a hunting license and do not have to complete a hunter education requirement.
Both resident and nonresident youth may take part.
* Youths must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older, and the adult must have a valid New Hampshire hunting license.
* Adults who accompany youth hunters may not carry a firearm or assist in taking the deer, other than to supervise.
* Each licensed adult may accompany up to two youths under 16 years of age.
* A deer of either sex is legal statewide during the youth weekend.
* Youths are entitled to their own bag limit of game; any deer taken constitutes the one deer allowed by muzzleloader or regular firearms per year.
* All deer need to be registered, as required during the regular season; youths should tag their deer using the tag found inside the back cover of the 2007-2008 Hunting Digest, available from Fish and Game license agents statewide or on the Fish and Game website at http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/hunting.htm.
* Youths and accompanying adults must comply with all Fish and Game laws relative to hunting deer.
New Hampshire has offered a special youth deer hunt since 1999. It also offers youth weekends for waterfowl hunting in the early fall and for wild turkey in the spring. The special weekends are part of the reason New Hampshire New Hampshire ranks third nationally for youth hunting participation, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.