Extensive research about youth participation in hunting has been conducted in recent years, and the results are in. Young people become hunters because adults take them hunting, and the earlier that kids start hunting the more likely they are to hunt for the rest of their lives.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering several special opportunities to make taking a young person hunting a little easier.

Take a Kid Hunting Weekend: Adult residents who go small game hunting with a youth under age 16 on Sept. 20-21 can do so without a license.
Squirrels, rabbits, grouse and doves provide opportunities for an enjoyable hunt throughout the state. Resident youth under age 16 do not need a Small Game license, and kids under age 12 can hunt small game without a Firearms Safety Certificate when a legal guardian accompanies them.

Youth Waterfowl Day: Sept. 20 is Youth Waterfowl Day. Kids under age 16 may hunt waterfowl in Minnesota on this day, prior to the opening of the regular waterfowl season. An adult must accompany youth under age 14, but may not hunt.

Northwest Minnesota Special Youth Antlerless Deer Season: A special season for youth 12-14 years old and their non-hunting adult parent of guardian is scheduled for Oct.18-19. Lands within Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington and Roseau counties are open for this hunt.

Future Pheasant Hunters Weekend: Together with the Minnesota Chapters of Pheasants Forever, the DNR is encouraging pheasant hunters to take a kid pheasant hunting the weekend of Oct. 25-26.

The DNR offers the following suggestions for those taking out young
hunters:

focus on the young hunter, and make sure that they are comfortable and well rested stay close to them, and emphasize safety at all times emphasize ethics, and demonstrate good conduct in the field take the pressure off them to measure the success of the hunt by the amount of game in the bag make sure their clothing and firearms fit them make sure everyone has fun; hunting shouldn’t feel like work For more information about the upcoming hunting season and hunting regulations, consult the 2008 Hunting Regulations Handbook or go to www.mndnr.gov.