DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has designated Saturday, Feb. 7 as the second of two 2014-2015 special waterfowl hunting days for youth hunters ages 10 to 15. The youth waterfowl hunting day promotes and provides additional hunting opportunities for youth hunters.
“These special youth waterfowl hunting days are an excellent opportunity for seasoned adult hunters to share their knowledge and experience with the next generation, thereby continuing one of Delaware’s great conservation and outdoor recreation traditions,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “Hunting is an exciting outdoor activity for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.”
Youth waterfowl hunting day hunters can hunt on Delaware’s public and private (with landowner permission) lands and must be of sufficient physical size and strength to safely handle firearms. Youth hunters must be accompanied by a licensed or license-exempt adult hunter age 21 or older. Additionally, youth hunting participants must have completed a hunter education course, obtained a certification card, and purchased a Delaware junior hunting license. State or federal waterfowl stamps are not required for youth hunters.
Hunting licenses can be purchased from the Fish & Wildlife licensing desk at DNREC’s main office in Dover, from license agents throughout the state, or online at Delaware Licenses. To promote youth hunting, the Division is waiving waterfowl blind lottery permit fees for youth hunting on state wildlife areas on youth waterfowl hunting days. On state wildlife areas with lotteries, a lottery drawing for waterfowl blinds will be held 90 minutes hours before legal shooting time, except for Little Creek Wildlife Management Area which holds its drawing two hours before legal shooting time. All other state wildlife areas are open on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the regulations printed on each area’s hunting map. Hunters should check each wildlife area’s rules before hunting.
On youth waterfowl hunting days, standard daily bag limits apply, with youth hunters also permitted to harvest snow geese and two Canada geese.