Youth bird, waterfowl seasons give kids first shot

Special youth-only hunting seasons in Idaho and Washington give licensed hunters under the age of 16 the first shot at the region’s crop of upland birds and waterfowl.

The youth seasons precede the general seasons for adults. This allows adult mentors to leave their shotguns behind and give full attention to assuring the youth hunter has a safe and enjoyable experience. For waterfowling in particular, the youth hunt is a premier opportunity for hunting before ducks scatter and become wary of decoys as they do in the general hunting season. 

Youths can hunt on public lands or private areas where they have permission to access.

Just before the youth bird seasons, Washington spices 44 East Side pheasant enhancement program sites on public lands with the year’s first releases of pen-raised birds. Nontoxic shot must be used for upland birds as well as for waterfowl at these sites, which are listed and mapped on the Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

Events specially tailored to youth hunters are organized in several areas, and there’s still time to sign up for events set for this weekend.

Pheasant hunts are being organized by Pheasants Forever chapters and Fish and Wildlife staff for Saturday in the Royal City and Yakima areas.

• Columbia Basin hunts at B&G Farms, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Info: (509) 754-4624. Preregister online at 1.usa.gov/1Mq6OkI.

• Yakima hunts at Sunnyside Wildlife Area, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Info:

(509) 424-0381. Preregister online at pheasantsforever.org/events.

Experienced mentors with trained dogs will accompany participating youths to hunt pen-raised rooster pheasants.

Waterfowling clinics are being organized by Idaho Fish and Game and sportsmen volunteers at three areas in the Idaho Panhandle on Oct. 3, plus a shotgun shooting practice day at Farragut on Sept. 26.

More than half of the slots are available in Idaho youth waterfowl hunting opportunities for 10- to 15-year-old licensed hunters.

Space is limited in the following hunts:

• Northern Panhandle Clinic, Boundary Creek Wildlife Management Area northwest of Bonners Ferry near the border with Canada.

• Central Panhandle Clinic, Pend Oreille Wildlife Management Area east of Sandpoint at the Clark Fork River Delta. 

• Southern Panhandle Clinic, Heyburn State Park northwest of St. Maries Maries at the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Following the hunts, a free lunch will be provided at each location and the mentors will be available to visit and provide their expertise on waterfowl hunting techniques and waterfowl management.

Young hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult and bring a shotgun and nontoxic shot ammunition.

Sign up for the three Idaho Panhandle hunts, call (208) 769-1414. 

Youths participating in any of the Idaho hunts to sharpen their shotgun skills from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 26 at the Farragut Shooting Range. Idaho Fish and Game staffers will provide 20 clay targets for each participant.  Pre-register when signing up for the hunts.