Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day offers opportunity for youth and adults

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites waterfowl hunters to introduce a youth to a Minnesota tradition on Saturday, Sept. 19, during Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day.

“This is a day when the focus is on youth alone. Adults can share their knowledge but can’t shoot,” said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator

Since 1996, hunters age 15 and younger have been allowed to hunt from sunrise to 4 p.m. on the Saturday two weeks before the waterfowl opener if accompanied by an adult. Adult mentors are not allowed to carry firearms.

Neither youths nor adults need to possess a small game license, state duck stamp or federal duck stamp. But they must follow all other waterfowl hunting regulations.

Minnesota has a rich duck hunting heritage. In fact, it was the first state to initiate a state waterfowl stamp. To build the tradition, the DNR continues its partnerships with the state’s waterfowl and conservation groups that promote habitat conservation and mentoring.

“If you just had the opportunity to bring every Minnesotan out to watch the sunrise, the rice, the water and the birds, they’d begin to understand,” Kurre said. “Hunters or not, they’d see that there are so many special and precious resources that Minnesota has to offer.”

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