Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days a Hit on DFG Wildlife Areas

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Young hunters from San Diego to Eureka took to the marsh the weekend of Feb. 5-6 for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. The hunt affords a special opportunity for young people to enjoy a hunt, learn more about the sport and be mentored by non-hunting adults. Youth hunters must be 15 years of age or younger, have completed the state hunter education course, possess a valid hunting license and be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days are scheduled for two days prior to the start of the waterfowl season in the Northeastern California waterfowl hunting zone and two days after the closure of the general waterfowl hunting season in the remainder of the state. Regulations for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days are established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Code of Federal Regulations. All states conducting Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days must conform to these regulations.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days offer a unique experience for young hunters to enjoy a quality hunting experience with a family member or hunting mentor as set forth under federal law. The memories may last a lifetime for many youths, and may be their introduction to a lifelong favorite pastime or the continuance of a family tradition.

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) manages wildlife areas and hunting programs throughout the state, many of which participate in Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. Special youth programs and events are held in conjunction with the hunting days to educate and mentor youths about hunting safety, waterfowl identification, hunting regulations and wildlife conservation.

At San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Southern California, 66 youth hunters gathered for the hunt along with their mentors. Youths hunted in both assigned hunting blinds and free-roam areas. They averaged two ducks per hunter on Saturday. DFG partnered with private individuals, conservation groups like the California Waterfowl Association and corporations such as Bass Pro to host the event and a lunch for youth hunters and their mentors.

Emily Thomas, 14, of San Jacinto, was hunting with her father in a blind at and had decoys set up well before the sunrise the first morning. She bagged two ducks — a northern shoveler and a green-winged teal — and missed several other opportunities to bag a bird.

“The best thing about this hunt is hunting with my dad,” said Emily.  “We practice at the trap range on Thursday nights because ducks are hard to hit.”

On another pond a quarter mile away Diego Herrera, 11, of Norwalk, was trying to get his first duck. He had several shots but did not connect. His mother Brandi, an avid duck hunter, handled their two-year-old lab and called ducks.

“Diego started out tagging along hunting with us as soon as he could walk. Normally his dad takes him duck hunting but this was a special day for us to share,” said Brandi.

Additional special youth programs were available at a number of wildlife areas. Programs ranged from waterfowl identification and hunting ethics to lunches with free drawings for gifts provide by donors.

One of the best duck-per-hunter averages from state wildlife areas came from Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, where on Saturday hunters averaged 5.5 waterfowl each. Merced National Wildlife Area averaged 4.9 birds per youth hunter on Saturday. At Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, hunters averaged 3.7 on Saturday and 4.2 on Sunday. At Mendota, the Saturday average was 3.3 and at Los Banos the average was 2.6. At Imperial Wildlife Area on the Wister Unity hunters averaged two birds each. Also on Saturday, the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuges reported averages of 6.8 at Delevan, 4.1 at Sacramento and 4.9 at Colusa.

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