Spring Turkey Youth Hunt

Alex Reas (12 years old) of Rhinelander successfully harvested his first spring turkey during the 2009 season. Congratulations Alex!

The 2010 youth hunt will take place April 10 and 11th.

2007 marked the first year Wisconsin youth were able to participate in an annual spring turkey youth hunt. The hunt is designed to give youth hunters, ages 10 – 15 an opportunity to hunt turkey and gain valuable experience at a time when other hunters are not authorized to hunt turkeys. Starting in 2010 for the spring turkey youth hunt, youth hunters 10-15 years of age, with or without hunter education certification, are eligible to participate with a mentor (see below for details on the new Mentoring Program).

Youth Hunt Rules and Regulations

• Open to youth hunters 10 - 15 years of age (residents and non-residents) who possess a current valid spring turkey license, stamp, and carcass tag for the spring 2010 season.
• Youth are allowed to hunt on April 10th and 11th, regardless of what time period their permit is issued for. They may only hunt in the Turkey Management Zone their permit was issued for, and may only harvest one male or bearded turkey total, during this 2 day hunt. If they have more than one tag, it does not matter which tag they use, as long as it is for the zone they will be hunting in. All other spring turkey hunting rules and regulations apply.
• A youth who does not successfully harvest a turkey during the 2 day youth hunt may use their unfilled carcass tag during the time period and in the zone for which the carcass tag was issued. A carcass tag that was used to tag a turkey during the 2 day youth hunt may not be reused to harvest and additional turkey during the time period for which the carcass tag is valid.
• Youth hunters shall be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. One adult may not accompany more than 2 youth hunters. If one youth is being mentored under the Mentored Hunting Program requirement, the adult may “accompany” no more than one other youth at the same time and only if the 2nd youth is at least 12-15 years of age and has completed hunter safety education (see rules below for details).
• All other spring turkey hunting regulations apply. See the “2009 Small Game, Fall Turkey 2009 and Spring Turkey 2010 Hunting Regulations” for more information.

For youth hunters 12 - 15 years of age (resident and non-resident) who possess a hunter education certificate of accomplishment and a current valid spring turkey hunting license, stamp and permit:

• Hunters must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. To “accompany” means the adult is within both visual and voice contact of the youth. The adult does not have to be a licensed hunter or a hunter education graduate to accompany 1 or 2 youth who is at least 12 years of age and has completed a hunter education course.
• Adults accompanying youth hunters may not hunt for turkey during the youth hunt, and may not possess their own firearm, bow or crossbow while in possession of any turkey calls or decoys.
• An adult may not accompany more than two youth hunters during the youth turkey hunt at any given time.

For all youth hunters 10-11 years of age, OR youth hunters 12-15 years of age who do not possess a hunter education certificate, but possess a current valid turkey license, stamp and permit:

• Hunters must be “mentored” by an adult who is within arm’s reach at all times during the hunt.
• Qualified adult mentors must be at least 18 years of age and be the youth’s parent or guardian, or have the youth’s parent or guardian’s permission to mentor the youth hunter.
• Mentors must possess a valid hunting license for the current year (any type of game).
• If the mentor was born on or after 01/01/73, they must be a graduate of a hunter education course or have completed basic training with the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Qualified adult mentors may only mentor one youth hunter who is age 10 or 11 or who has not completed hunter safety education (i.e., a 12-15 year old youth without hunter safety) at any given time.
• Only one firearm, bow or crossbow (if eligible to use a crossbow) may be possessed jointly between the mentor and any youth age 10 or 11 or who has not completed hunter safety education.
• Both resident and non-resident youth hunters are eligible to participate with a mentor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hunt in a park unit designated as a disabled only hunting zone?

Answer: Only disabled hunters are allowed to receive permits in designated disabled only hunting zones (1G, 1H, 1J, 1K, 1L, 2B). If a youth disabled hunter ages 10-15 receives a disabled only park hunting permit, they are allowed to go hunting in the park during the youth hunt.

Does the adult whom is accompanying the youth hunter need to be licensed?

Answer: No license is required if the youth hunter is age 12-15 and has completed hunter education. Generally, a license is not required to accompany another hunter or call for another hunter. However, if the youth is age 10 or 11, or has not completed hunter education, then they must hunt with a mentor who would need to possess a current year’s license to hunt any game species. However, if the mentor is mentoring a youth on the mentor’s own land, then a license is not required. Adults do need to keep in mind they are not allowed to possess a firearm, bow or crossbow during the youth spring turkey hunt, even with a valid license if they are also in possession of any turkey calls or decoys.

I didn’t receive a permit through the preference drawing, how can I still participate in the youth hunt?

Answer: Spring turkey permits that remain after the preference drawing will be made available for purchase until the time period and zone quotas are met. Leftover permit typically go on sale in late March. To participate in the Youth Hunt a permit, license, and stamp must be purchased. Youth may only hunt in the Turkey Management Zone their permit was issued for during the Youth Hunt. The only other option is if a person who received a turkey permit through the cumulative preference drawing process was to transfer their turkey permit and license to the youth by submitting a “Transfer of License or Permit to Youth” form 9400-403Y to the DNR. The application must be received at least 15 days before the season opens. This is a once in a lifetime transfer.

How close do the adult mentor and youth hunter need to be while hunting?

Answer: "Accompany" for the purpose of 12-15 year olds who have completed hunter education means within visual and voice contact without the aid of any mechanical or electronically amplified device, except for a hearing aid. For youth ages 10-15 who are hunting under the Mentored Hunting Program requirements, the youth must be “mentored” by an adult who is within arm’s reach at all times during the hunt. Please keep in mind turkey hunting is a unique sport and requires extra safety precautions.

For more information on this topic, send mail to: Assistant Upland Ecologist

Questions for Wildlife Management