The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the SC Department of Natural Resources initiated special youth hunts as early as 1996-97 and now conducts approximately 110 hunts each year. These hunts fall into 5 general categories as follows:

•Youth Dove Hunts
•Youth Deer Hunts
•Youth Raccoon Hunts
•Adult/Youth Turkey Hunts
•Adult/Youth Waterfowl Hunts
•Youth Waterfowl Hunts

In addition, WFF staff provides Adult/Youth...

In 2000, the SC General Assembly created a new statute (50-9-740) that authorizes the SCDNR to designate one or more youth days in addition to the regular season for a species of wild game. The youth days must be held outside of the regular season on a weekend, holiday or other nonschool day and within 14 days before or after the regular open period for that species. Under this law a youth hunter is one who is less than 18 years of age. The SCDNR, under the authority of this law, has...

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...

Youth Waterfowl Day provides a quality opportunity to introduce youth 15 and younger to waterfowl hunting prior to the opening of the regular waterfowl season.

An adult parent or guardian must accompany the youth at all times. No license or duck stamps are required. There is no minnimum age for participants. Youth ages 12 and older must have completed Firearms Safety Training.

Times, lifestyles, and family activities have changed, as well as our land and wildlife resources. The youth of today do not have the same opportunities to hunt as in the past 20 to 30 years. Due to urbanization, loss of farms and other open space, less leisure time, computers and internet access, video games and organized school activities, young people are losing their connection to the outdoors. The days of walking down the road to the nearby farm or wood lot to hunt after school are all...

Mentored Youth Hunts are operated in partnership between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Bluffland Whitetails Association and Minnesota State Archery Association. They have three purposes:

1) They are intended to be educational experiences to teach new hunters (both youth and their guardians) the skills and techniques to be life-long hunters.

2) They provide first time...

Executive Summary- Hunter Recruitment and Retention Plan

Declining hunter participation is a problem that needs to be addressed because hunters are pivotal to wildlife management fiscally, operationally, and socially. Additionally, hunting is a valued part of Minnesota’s heritage and culture – so much so that it has been given protection in the Minnesota Constitution.

In January 2002, the DNR Wildlife Roundtable (stakeholders) considered hunter participation issues,...

The Learn to Hunt Program is designed to provide novice hunters a high quality, safe, and enjoyable first time hunting experience.

Pass It On is a program designed to reverse the declining trend in Kansas hunter numbers through recruitment and retention efforts, including outdoor skills training, hunting access, special hunts and education and awareness.

Nebraska's 20 Year RDR Plan was developed using current Best Management Practices and research to achieve five main Goals which include:

GOAL I. Recruitment of
Youth Hunters/Anglers
GOAL II. Recruitment of
New Adult Hunters/Anglers
GOAL III. Recruitment of
Lapsed Anglers/Hunters
GOAL IV. Development and Retention
of Existing Hunters/Anglers
GOAL V. Maintain Support
of Hunting and Fishing
by All Citizenry in...