Young hunters and those interested in mentoring young hunters are reminded this year's youth deer hunt is October 7 - 8. A DNR official says please remember to wear blaze orange.
The Youth Hunt is an opportunity for youth to hunt with a gun or other legal weapon prior to firearm seasons.
DNR hunting and shooting sports coordinator Keith Warnke outlines the rules..
"....a child who is between 10 and 15 with an adult mentor is able to hunt deer during the Youth weekend, using regular rules and wearing blaze orange, using deer rifles or shotguns. They youth and mentor have to stay within an arm's length and they can only have one firearm between the two of them..."
The youth hunter has to have a valid license and tag and all standard rules apply. Warnke says just like during the regular gun hunt, participants must wear blaze orange. He says regardless of who is hunting, simple safety rules apply....
"...so the old rules, TABK is the easiest way to remember it. treat every firearm as though it were loaded. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction, be sure of your target and what's beyond and keep your trigger outside the trigger guard until your ready to shoot. Those rules should be first and foremost in the minds of both the hunter and the mentor...."
Should a young hunter be successful, there's a section on the DNR website where a picture of the hunter and game can be uploaded and in turn the hunter will get a certificate about bagging their first deer. More information is on the DNR website.
