Youth Hunting Program of Florida

Sponsoring Agency or Organization

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Contact: William Cline

Email: bill.cline@myfwc.com

Phone: 850-413-0084

Program details

The Youth Hunting Program of Florida (YHPF) is preserving the hunting tradition in Florida for future generations by providing introductory, instructive youth hunts for inexperienced youth hunters and their sponsoring parent. The goal is to mentor both the youth and adult through the hunter safety program, shooting activities and a weekend hunt giving them enough experience to feel comfortable repeating the process on their own.

A major key to the YHPF's success is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provides an umbrella of liability protection for private landowners who donate their land for youth hunts. Essential to the success of the program are landowners and hunting clubs that donate their property for a weekend hunt and volunteers to run the program.

Website: Youth Hunting Program of Florida

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Program focus:
Program type/format:
Program length:
Cost to participants:
Program frequency:
Program started: 2007

Audience

Target age group(s):
Target participants:
Number of participants annually: 600
Prerequisites for participation: Hunter safety certification.
Planning and Evaluation

Program objectives:

  • To increase the number of youths involved in educational, safe, mentored wildlife and hunting activities.

Manual or Plan

This program has a manual or plan: Yes

Evaluation

This program is evaluated: Yes

Metrics used to measure success and evaluate this program:

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Program considerations and recommendations Comments, considerations and recommendations from the sponsoring organization

General comments: Exit evaluations show that both youth and parents feel they are acquiring enough knowldge during the hunt that they are comfortable repeating the process on their own. Linking these new hunters to other hunting opportunities in their area is a must.

Critical elements to consider when planning this type of program: People learn by doing. The youth hunting program is an opportunity for experienced hunters to share their knowledge with a novice hunter and their parent. When implementing such a program, there is a lot of effort in locating suitable hunting lands, scheduling hunts and training volunteers.

Special facilities needed to implement the program: *Landowners and hunting clubs that are interested in hosting a weekend youth hunting event. *Volunteers who are interested in being trained as huntmasters, hunter safety instructors, cooks and guides. *Organizations that are interested in financially supporting the youth hunting program. *Young men and women between the ages of 12 and 17 who are interested in learning the hunting experience.

Budget

Approximate cost to agency/organization to implement program: $50000.00

Approximate staff effort required to implement program: Minimum of one full-time staff


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Partners

Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center
National Wild Turkey Federation

Donors and Sponsors

Shikar Safari Club
National Rifle Association

Published by

William Cline

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