Questions on the Waterfowl Youth hunt

[WoodchuckSniper]

Pardon my ignorance fellas, but I have never taken part in the youth hunt.

I have a nephew who I will be taking out this year for the hunt. My brother will be home that weekend from Georgia and he will be joining us. We are really looking foreward to watching the kid try for his first ducks.

My nephew has been through hunters education. He is 12 years old, what licenses will he need? If the new waterfowl guides are not available yet, what time does shooting time start?

Just want to make sure we stay on the legal side of things.

Thanks

[soggybtmboys]

Here is what I have found on the DNR webiste.


http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_10859---,00.html


there are links to navigate around for your specific questions.

hunting hours table

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/2007_Mi_Hunt_Guide_pg9-13_204859_7.pdf

[WoodchuckSniper]

Thank you. I poked around there but couldn't really get the answer I was looking for. All I found was that all waterfowl hunters 16 and older must have a State Of Michigan Duck License in addition to the Small Game License. What about kids under 16?

I know somebody has been down this road before.............

[HunterHawk]

i think when i did the youth hunt back in the day... all i needed was a small game license.... but i would hate to tell you that and be wrong.... you might have to call on it.... i remember it was a blast... i did it for like 2 years and both years i was getting ragged on for missing so many birds:).... the last year i could do it i went to a special place where it was bow only and i smoked a goose out of the air with my recurve:)

but dang man im only 22 now and my mind is already slipping.. i would be interested to know all this info too because i would like to take someone out

[ahartz]

I will be buying for my 12 year old this season for waterfowling '

mich small game
Mich waterfowl endorsement....No more stamp:mad::mad:
fed duck stamp

thats all I buy to hunt waterfowl.

[Big Frank 25]

All your nephew will need is a small game license. Nothing else except the HIP endorsement (free).

From last years guide.

• Small Game License (Resident, Junior or Senior)
with HIP endorsement printed on license
• Waterfowl Hunting License*
• Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp*
*Required only for hunters 16 years of age or older.

Legal shooting time for waterfowl is 1/2 hour before sunrise until sundown. When everything gets printed you need to work these to sheets together.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_10859-30876--,00.html

and

http://www.michigan.gov/images/hunt_hours_map_19446_7.jpg

by inserting the proper info you'll get a good idea of your shooting times.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html

[FMann]

Big Frank hit it on the head the only thing a person under the age of 16 needs is a small game lisense with a hip endorsement. For the times you can also use the hours listed in the regular hunting guide for 2007/2008. But you will be safe using the 1/2 hour befor sunrise and sunset for the ending.

[WoodchuckSniper]

Thanks a bundle folks!

[Big Frank 25]

Hope he gets a bang for the buck!:D Post some pics.:)

[WoodchuckSniper]

Pics?????????

Heck, If he can knock some birds down I'm posting video.

[Shlwego]

As other's have said, he doesn't need the Federal stamp, but I've always thought that it's kinda nice for a kid to look back at the stamp from his/her first season. So I always get one for the kids I take out. Just a thought.

[warrenwaterfowler]

Hey all,

I couldn't help but notice that the Early Goose Seasons LAST day (in select areas) is Sept 15th and that the Youth Waterfowl hunt (duck & goose) starts on that same day....

Please, someone correct me if I am wrong...but doesn't that mean that if I take my son hunting in those areas on Sept 15, I can hunt geese, and HE can hunt ducks & geese at the same time???

I hope I'm right, that would be really cool!:coolgleam

[Shlwego]

Yep, you're correct.

[flockshot]

Yep, you're correct.
just be darn sure you arent seen even thinking of pointing a gun at ducks, even cripples.

[BITE_ME_TOO]

WoodchuckSniper,

I will be doing the same thing for my Godson. I think:confused: the youth hunter will also need a valid hunters safety course card???

I made sure my youth Tyler did this so he can be in the field this year.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks and good luck tomorrow guys and gals......

Jeff- BMT

[idylmoments]

Jeff, starting last year you have two years before you need to get a hunter safety cert. Kid's or otherwise. They're calling it the apprentice program. It's supposed to help introduce people to the sport. All you need is a Jr. Small Game for a buck and you're ready.

Look at the wording for the youth hunt. Even though it does overlap with goose season: "The adult is not allowed to hunt and is not required to have a waterfowl hunting license." Taken right from the online regs.???????????

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

you are CORRECT! the rules state that an ADULT cannot be in possesion what so ever of a weapon during the YOUTH HUNT! someone always tries to circumvent the rules and i hope they get popped if they do it. if you want to goose hunt take the youth with you but he doesn't hunt or THE BEST BET is take the youth hunting and you DON'T HUNT GEESE! heck you already had 14 or 9 days to hunt geese depending on your area of hunting.
this is the same thing that goes down with this early deer youth hunting some of these so called hunters take the gun and pop the big buck!

[Richard6908]

Small game license with the migratory game bird which the migratory game bird add on does not cost anything.Good luck to him hope he has a good time

[warrenwaterfowler]

you are CORRECT! the rules state that an ADULT cannot be in possesion what so ever of a weapon during the YOUTH HUNT! someone always tries to circumvent the rules and i hope they get popped if they do it. if you want to goose hunt take the youth with you but he doesn't hunt or THE BEST BET is take the youth hunting and you DON'T HUNT GEESE! heck you already had 14 or 9 days to hunt geese depending on your area of hunting.
this is the same thing that goes down with this early deer youth hunting some of these so called hunters take the gun and pop the big buck!

I asked about this in the MICHIGAN HUNTING AND FISHING LAWS forum and also called the DNR. It looks like you CAN hunt geese that day(in an area where early goose is still open at that time) with a youth hunter hunting ducks AND geese. There may be some managed areas that this may not be true. But otherwise, it's fine!

I'm not sure how legally trying to make the most out of our brief waterfowl season(s) makes me a "so called hunter"...but whatever.

[warrenwaterfowler]

you are CORRECT! the rules state that an ADULT cannot be in possesion what so ever of a weapon during the YOUTH HUNT! someone always tries to circumvent the rules and i hope they get popped if they do it. if you want to goose hunt take the youth with you but he doesn't hunt or THE BEST BET is take the youth hunting and you DON'T HUNT GEESE! heck you already had 14 or 9 days to hunt geese depending on your area of hunting.
this is the same thing that goes down with this early deer youth hunting some of these so called hunters take the gun and pop the big buck!

THE BEST BET is I can enjoy my sport how I see fit(within the legal limits)without being talked down to by people who don't research thier comments before making them!

From THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT:
3.415a Youth waterfowl hunting weekend, season established, limits defined, adult requirements, hunting hours; exceptions.
Sec. 3.415a. The youth waterfowl hunting weekend shall be 2 consecutive days starting the third Saturday in September and within the guidelines approved by the United States fish and wildlife service. Except for persons taking Canada geese during a concurrent open early September season for Canada geese, the following rules shall apply to a person taking ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, coots, or moorhens (gallinules) on the youth waterfowl hunting weekend:
(1) Youths 12 through 15 years of age may take ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, coots, or moorhens provided the youth is licensed to take waterfowl as required by part 435, hunting and fishing licensing, of the natural resources and environmental protection act, Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994. The daily and possession limit for each species shall be as provided in section 3.416, except the daily and possession limit for persons taking Canada geese in any area concurrently open under the early September Canada geese season shall be as specified in section 3.413.
(2) A parent or legal guardian shall not allow a youth hunter to go afield to hunt ducks, mergansers, Canada geese, coots, or moorhens unless the youth hunter is accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age or older, regardless of property ownership. An adult accompanying a youth waterfowl hunter may take other game for which the season is open while the youth is exercising the privileges of the youth waterfowl hunting weekend.

So, what are you hoping I'll get "popped" for???? Please explain.

The State "hunting guide" is an edited down version of all the laws which covers many, but not all situations. If you'd like to learn more about hunting regulations I'd suggest going to: http://www.michigandnr.com/law/law_book/orders/Wcao.html
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