Take a Youth Hunting! – DEC announces the 2023 Youth Turkey Season

[Sir-diealot]

Take a Youth Hunting! – DEC announces the 2023 Youth Turkey Season

New York State offers several youth hunting opportunities to allow young hunters time afield with experienced adult hunters outside of the regular hunting seasons. As a result, they gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of the hunting community. This spring, the youth turkey hunt is April 22rd and 23th.

If you're an experienced, licensed hunter, please consider taking a youth out! The youth season is open throughout upstate New York and even in Suffolk County. Several non-profit groups sponsor specific events, and we encourage experienced hunters to reach out and take a kid hunting.

Other details of the youth turkey hunting weekend are as follows:

Eligible hunters are youth 12, 13, 14, or 15 years of age, holding a hunting license and a turkey permit.
All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult, as required by law for a junior hunter.
Youth 12 or 13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or person over 21 years of age, with written permission from their parent or legal guardian.
Youth 14 or 15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or person over 18 years of age, with written permission from their parent or legal guardian.
The accompanying adult must have a current hunting license and turkey permit. S/he may assist the youth hunter (including calling), but may not carry a firearm, bow or crossbow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth hunt. Crossbows may not be used by licensees who are under 14 years of age.
The youth turkey hunt is open in all of upstate New York (north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary) and Suffolk County. Shooting hours are from 1/2-hour before sunrise to noon.
The bag limit for the youth hunt is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth's regular season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken beginning May 1st.
All other wild turkey hunting regulations remain in effect.

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[krm944]

Is youth day something new for NY?

[TBoo]

In NY this has been happening for some time now.  Have made some tremendous memories for youth and even better memories for myself.  Very rewarding experiences and now hunting with some of them several times during the season. 

[Sir-diealot]

Is youth day something new for NY?

No, but still like to let adults know when it is.

[deathfoot]

I like that there is an age limit on the minimum side. I've seen too many 3 and 4 year olds posting pics on the socials. And I'm not buying what they selling.

[Sir-diealot]

I like that there is an age limit on the minimum side. I've seen too many 3 and 4 year olds posting pics on the socials. And I'm not buying what they selling.

I completely agree. I do think the age is to high though.

[krm944]

My little guy at 4 was having a REALLY hard time with crisp triggers. I think I'm the only person in the USA that has a Daisy Buck (smaller than the Red Ryder) with a red dot and a trigger job!!!

[deathfoot]

My little guy at 4 was having a REALLY hard time with crisp triggers. I think I'm the only person in the USA that has a Daisy Buck (smaller than the Red Ryder) with a red dot and a trigger job!!!

That's funny.

Huggies needs to get in the camo game.

[Sir-diealot]

My little guy at 4 was having a REALLY hard time with crisp triggers. I think I'm the only person in the USA that has a Daisy Buck (smaller than the Red Ryder) with a red dot and a trigger job!!!

I don't even think I had seen a gun of any kind at that age, in person anyway. Youngest I remember being is somewhere between 12-15 Not that I think anything is wrong with it mind you, wish I had been brought up with hunting.

[krm944]

Any lawyers here? I think the Statute of Limitations is up, but I grew up in NY. At the time you had to be 16 to hunt. I have hunted since I was 9 years old on our rural property and family farm. At a similar age I was operating farm equipment or the farm truck in the field.

Home now is VA and my son first went afield at 4 with a Daisy Buck BB gun. He shot his first deer at 6. He is 9 now and we hunt every opportunity we have. He is proficient and safe with a firearm. He also has his own ATV. He enjoys age appropriate activities (toys video games) but knows when to turn it off.

I'm glad VA is supportive of the youth hunting. I often wonder what would have happened if I would have been "caught" as a young teen hunting. My dad said a box of shotgun shells is what kept me out of jail. I had an allowance of about a box every month or so. Luckily the local grocery store that sold ammo "gifted" me a box or two when I was dry.

As parents we need to teach our children to do dangerous things safely, instill responsibility, and allow kids to have times of maturity while enjoying their youth.