The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's popular Take a Kid Hunting Program has several exciting youth hunting opportunities scheduled for this fall.

The Take a Kid Hunting Program offers youth hunters the opportunity for a quality hunting experience in a setting that encourages responsible, ethical and safe hunting practices. All hunts require that the hunter possess a valid youth license, and be under the direct supervision of a properly licensed, non-hunting adult 21 years of age or older.

Extensive write-ups, contact information and application forms (where applicable) on all of the Take a Kid Hunting programs offered are available in the 2009 Hunting and Trapping Issue of the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Digest beginning on page 21.

For more information on hunting opportunities in New Jersey, as well as maps of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), visit www.njfishandwildlife.com.

Don't miss these great opportunities to introduce youth hunters to hunting in New Jersey!

Youth Deer Hunting Days
    Bow Hunt: September 26
    Firearm Hunt: November 21

Hunters with a valid youth hunting license can participate. Youth hunters MUST be under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 21 years old and who has a valid firearm or bow and arrow license corresponding to the season hunted. Direct supervision is defined as both the youth hunter and parent/guardian setup together at the same location, hunting as a unit, not hunting independently. The adult CANNOT hunt or possess a firearm or bow. The adult may grunt, call or rattle for the youth. In addition to the youth, the adult accompanying the youth should wear the required hunter orange during the youth firearm deer hunt.

These hunts are extensions of the Fall Bow and Six-day Firearm seasons; no special season deer permit is required. Youth hunters may still harvest one antlered deer during the Fall Bow Season and two antlered deer during the Six-day Firearm Season. In addition, crossbows are now legal for use in New Jersey and youth hunters may use them on the Youth Bow Hunt day and during the regular bow seasons.

Successful youth hunters must tag their deer with a homemade transportation tag, or cut out the deer transportation tag provided on page 33 of the 2009 Hunting and Trapping Issue of the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Digest.

Mentors and young hunters should also note that more than 750,000 acres of public land are available to the deer hunter in New Jersey.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days
Youth hunters with a valid youth hunting license and under the direct supervision of a non-shooting New Jersey-licensed adult hunter (age 21 or older) will be permitted to hunt for waterfowl from ½ hour before sunrise to sunset on the following dates by zone:

North Zone: October 3
South Zone: November 6-7
Coastal Zone: October 31

Youth Pheasant Hunt
October 31

The 2009 Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt will allow properly licensed hunters with a valid youth license to hunt on one of nine stocked Wildlife Management Areas on Saturday morning, Oct. 31, 2009. In a cooperative effort between the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, volunteer hunting mentors with trained bird dogs will guide youth hunters on a pheasant hunt. This experience will increase the young hunters' opportunity for harvesting a pheasant in a setting, which encourages responsible and safe hunting practices.

All guided hunt participants must pre-register and be accompanied to the check-in by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians are welcomed and encouraged to follow the hunters through the fields. All pre-registered hunters will receive an information packet. One session will be offered, starting at 7 a.m. Only 50 youth hunters will be allowed on each WMA during each session. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of slots available, a random drawing will be held to select participants.

The Whittingham, Black River, Clinton, Assunpink, Colliers Mills, Millville, and Peaslee Wildlife Management Areas are open for guided hunts.

For those not signing up for a guided hunt, youth hunters under adult supervision may hunt on the same wildlife management areas the guided hunts are being held on after 1:00 p.m. The Flatbrook and Glassboro Wildlife Management Areas do not have guided hunts this day, but will be open all day for youth (under adult supervision) to hunt pheasant.

Youth Upland Bird Hunting Day
October 31

Youth hunters with a valid youth license, under the direct supervision of a New Jersey licensed, non-hunting adult 21 years or older, will be permitted to hunt on licensed semi-wild hunting preserves. Youths may hunt for pheasant, quail and/or chukar on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 from 8 a.m. to sunset.