Youth Hunts

Idaho's fledgling waterfowl and pheasant hunters should mark their calendars for this fall's youth hunts. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission set September 24-25 for the waterfowl youth hunt. The youth pheasant hunt is set for October 1-2. The youth waterfowl hunt is available to licensed hunters 15 years old or younger. A federal migratory harvest information validation is required on the license, but the federal waterfowl stamp is not needed. Legal game in the youth hunt is the same as in the regular season, including ducks, geese and coots. The daily bag limit this season is seven of which all may be mallards. Only two hen mallards are allowed in the bag. The goose limit is four statewide. Possession limits after the first day are double the daily bag limit. The youth pheasant hunt opens at noon in Areas 2 and 3, and at daylight in Area 1. It is open to licensed hunters 15 and younger. Limits are three cocks with six in possession except on Wildlife Management Areas where the limit is two and four. These hunts are designed to be mentored, with youths learning skills and hunting traditions from older hunters. Youths must be accompanied by licensed hunters at least 18 years old. The older hunter may accompany more than one youth hunter. The older hunter is not allowed to shoot and must accompany youths within normal conversational distance.