For the third year, New Hampshire will hold a youth turkey hunt. Read about it below.
TAKE A KID HUNTING: YOUTH TURKEY HUNT WEEKEND IS APRIL 29-30
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s 2006 youth turkey hunt will take place
April 29-30, the weekend before spring gobbler season gets underway.
This year marks the third annual youth turkey hunt weekend in New
Hampshire. Last year, youth hunters took 389 gobblers, or 12.8 percent of
the total spring season harvest, during their special weekend.To participate, youth hunters must be age 15 or younger and accompanied
by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older. The adult may not carry
a firearm or bow and arrow. Youth hunters do not need a hunting
license, but they must have a $6 turkey permit, which can be purchased at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us. Youth also can get out and hunt (when
accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older) during the
regular spring gobbler season (May 3-31), but the special weekend gives
them a quiet time with less competition in the woods and a focus on
safety and education for young hunters. For more details on youth hunting
in New Hampshire, see
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/
youth_hunting.htm.“The youth weekend gives hunters a chance to introduce young people,
under the careful guidance of an experienced adult, to an exciting
hunting opportunity,” said Mark Ellingwood, wildlife programs administrator
for Fish and Game. “When you hunt wild turkeys, you’re pitting your
skills, knowledge and experience against a million years of evolved turkey
wariness and vigilance. By sharing the experience, you can build bonds
that last a lifetime.”Hunter education is not required for youth hunters under age 16, but
youth should try to complete the hunter education course sometime between
the age of 12 and their 16th birthday. A list of available hunter
education courses is posted on the Fish and Game website at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/
hunter_ed.htm. Hunter
education classes are made possible by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
Program.Fish and Game urges all turkey hunters, including youth hunters, to
memorize the following list of ten safety guidelines before going out in
the field:
1. Never stalk a turkey. It rarely works and increases the risk of
an accident.
2. Never wear red, white, blue or black over or under-clothing, as
these are prominent colors of displaying gobblers.
3. Never call from a tree that is thinner than the width of your
shoulders.
4. Never jump or turn suddenly in response to a suspected turkey.
5. Never call from a site where you can’t see at least 40 yards in
all directions.
6. Never imitate a gobbler call while concealed in a stand.
7. Never presume that what you hear or what responds to your call is
a turkey.
8. Never think that your camouflage makes you totally invisible. To
ID yourself to other hunters, wrap an orange band around the tree
nearest you.
9. Never hide so well that you can’t see what’s happening around
you.
10. Never move or wave to alert approaching hunters; shout “stop”
instead.For two first-hand accounts by fathers who took their sons hunting on a
youth turkey weekend, download the March-April 2005 Wildlife Journal
Magazine feature, “Turkey Tales” at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife_Journal/
WJ_mag.htm.For more information on turkey hunting in New Hampshire, go to
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/
Hunt_species/hunt_turkey.htm.Purchase hunting licenses and turkey permits online at
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us.
Tom Remington
