Fall "Take A Kid Hunting" Youth Hunts

September 20, 2017

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds parents, grandparents and mentors of the special opportunities available through the Take a Kid Hunting Program. These days provide a quality hunting experience for properly licensed youth hunters by increasing their opportunity for harvesting game in a setting which encourages responsible and safe hunting practices with a supportive atmosphere.

The Youth Bow Deer Hunt will be Saturday, September 23. Although the Fall Bow deer season opened in "early" zones on September 9, the day is a week before the statewide opening on September 30. Also, the "antlerless deer first" is waived for youth hunters that day as it is during the entire early season period. The Antler Point Restriction requirement is also waived in zones where it normally applies. The Youth Firearm Deer Hunt is November 18.

In the 2017-18 season there will be two Youth Waterfowl Hunt Days in each of the three hunting zones beginning October 7 in the North Zone. That day is followed by October 14 in the South Zone, and then November 4 in the Coastal Zone. The final Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days are in early 2018, on February 3 in the North and South zones, and February 10 in the Coastal Zone.

The popular Youth Pheasant Hunt provides an opportunity for youth hunters to hunt on 10 stocked Wildlife Management areas before the regular opening day. On eight of those WMAs youths have the opportunity to work with volunteer mentors with trained dogs on Saturday, November 4. Registration is required and is available online at www.njfishandwildlife.com/ythpheas_register.htm. Those wishing to serve as a volunteer mentor and/or dog handler can also register online. Youths may continue to hunt pheasants Monday through Friday, November 6-10. More information is available on page 25 of the 2017-18 Hunting and Trapping Digest.

New this year is that the Youth Pheasant Hunt has been extended from one day to six days. These additional hunt days will be from Monday, November 6 through Friday, November 10.

Members of Semi-wild Preserves can take advantage of the Youth Upland Bird Hunt, also on November 4, to introduce youths to upland bird hunting before the regular opening of the season.

For more information see the Take a Kid Hunting Program page.