Fish and Game plans mentored youth waterfowl hunts in North Idaho

Idaho Fish and Game has scheduled three mentored waterfowl hunting opportunities in north Idaho for youth aged 10-15 who have completed hunter education. The hunts are planned for Saturday, October 3, the opening day of the annual youth-only waterfowl season. The youth season is a special opportunity open only to hunters old enough to purchase a hunting license up to the age of 16. This special two-day season was started several years ago to give young hunters an opportunity to hunt waterfowl before the general season opens. Once the general season is open for a few days, the birds tends to scatter and become wary of decoys and waterfowl hunting activity. A Northern Panhandle Clinic will be held at the Boundary Creek Wildlife Management Area northwest of Bonners Ferry near the border with Canada. The Central Panhandle Clinic will take place at the Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area east of Sandpoint at the Clark Fork River Delta. A Southern Panhandle Clinic will be held at Heyburn State Park northwest of St. Maries at the south end of Coeur d'Alene Lake. Following the hunts, a free lunch will be provided at each location and the mentors will be available to visit and provide their expertise on waterfowl hunting techniques. Fish and Game staff will discuss waterfowl management and habitat management for waterfowl. Young hunters will need to be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, and bring a shotgun (plugged to hold no more than three shells) and ammunition. Shells must be non-toxic shot, as lead shot is not allowed for waterfowl hunting. Fish and Game has a limited number of shotguns that can be borrowed if needed. If a participant needs to borrow one, please make that request when registering. Participation in the mentored hunts requires advance reservations and space is limited. Anyone interested should call to reserve a spot at one of the hunts and to obtain additional details. To register, call Fish and Game's Panhandle Region office at (208)769-1414. Fish and Game is also offering an opportunity to help youth participating in any of the hunts to sharpen their shotgun skills the Saturday preceding the hunts. Shotgun shooting instructors will be available at the Farragut Shooting Range on September 26 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Fish and Game will provide 20 clay targets for each participant. Anyone interested in this opportunity must sign up in advance, this can be done when registering for the hunts. You can bring additional clay targets and shot shells if you want to continue to practice at the range following your instruction. Young hunters will need to purchase a youth small game license ($7.25) with a migratory bird validation ($1.75) prior to the mentored hunting event. They must have the license with them while on the hunt. Federal duck stamps are not required for hunters until the age of 16. Hunting Passports do not work for this event, as completion of a hunter education program is required to participate. Hunting ducks takes a level of knowledge that can best be obtained through experience. The idea behind these mentored hunts is to provide the young participants and their parent (or legal guardian) the opportunity to be paired with an experienced waterfowl hunter who can show them how to hunt ducks and geese. This quality hunting experience is intended to provide the youth and their guardian with enough training to repeat the experience on their own. Fish and Game has held numerous waterfowl hunting clinics in classroom settings that help new waterfowl hunters learn the ropes. But nothing gets a youngster more hooked on waterfowl hunting than getting into the field near a body of water before daylight to wait for ducks to take flight. Fish and Game is also looking for experienced waterfowl hunters willing to assist with the clinics. If you want to help pass on the tradition of waterfowl hunting, please JJ Teare at (208)769-1414.