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Special hunts open to youths give them incentive
by David Thompson
A new "crop" of young hunters is already hunting game this year and those age 16 with a junior hunting license are permitted to hunt alone for the first time.
That means grandson Samuel, who turned 16 in July, may hunt squirrels by himself in the junior squirrel hunt that opened Sept. 12 and ends Sept. 27. More than that, it means he won't need me to take him hunting anymore. If I were his age, I would want to hunt alone instead of have an ancient adult tag along giving instructions.
When a teenager turns 16, he is likely to have a driver's license that gives him additional freedom and independence. If he has access to a vehicle with gas in the tank, he can go hunting whenever and wherever he wants. That opens a new world for a young hunter who has numerous opportunities in the modern era.
The new world also presents chances to make mistakes by hunting unsafely and not knowing hunting regulations. No mentor is along to say, "Don't shoot in that direction" or "Tag your deer right away."
Many regulations are general and apply to all hunting situations, while other regulations are specific and apply to certain methods of hunting and to certain species of game. Most hunters do not know all the regulations because they do not hunt all legal game to hunt. It is advisable for a young hunter on his own to refer often to the current "Pennsylvania Hunting and Trapping Digest" that includes regulations.
The junior squirrel hunt that Samuel, at age 16 can participate in alone is familiar to him as he has hunted squirrels practically since he was strong enough to hold a lightweight .22-caliber rifle. The last time we hunted together, when he was younger, his bolt-action rifle held just one cartridge. To hold the rifle steady while aiming, he rested it or propped his upper body against a tree for support.
Once, he made an impressive 40-yard shot at a gray squirrel on the side of an oak tree. He harvested two more on that outing. At home, his game always ended up on the supper table. Now at age 16, he and not a mentor is responsible for cleaning game that he harvests.
The junior rabbit hunt this year is Oct. 3-18. The statewide rabbit season for adults doesn't open until Oct. 17 and has two long seasons. Juniors get an early start hunting rabbits, though it makes much difference. Because of high weeds and numerous leaves on low shrubs, a rabbit flushed while hunting is difficult to see before it disappears.
Better rabbit hunting comes later in fall and winter. A young hunter with a beagle or other rabbit dog is anxious to make at least a short hunt before the dog becomes overheated in early October. If the dog is experienced, it may trail a rabbit that runs in a circle to return to where the teenager with his shotgun stands watching. If the land where he stands is somewhat open, he might see the rabbit.
I want to meet the teenager that was just described. Youths these days are said to have too many other interests and things to do. Like what? It is both interesting and an accomplishment to spot that rabbit sneaking ahead of the beagle on its trail. I'd be surprised if any of you ever had that experience. Of course, you have better things to do than stand still and watch for a rabbit that may never appear.
Next on tap is the junior pheasant hunt Oct. 10-18. The statewide pheasant season for adults doesn't open until Oct. 24. All special hunts held specifically for young hunters are open to mentored youths and youths age 12 and older who have a junior hunting license. To qualify for a license that costs $6.97, a youth must first complete the hunter and trapper education course available online from the Pennsylvania Game Commission for a fee or by attending a free course commonly held at a local sportsman's club.
To hunt pheasants, junior hunters with a license and mentored youths with a permit must obtain a free pheasant hunting permit from the game commission. This free permit is noteworthy because adult pheasant hunters age 17 and older are required to purchase a pheasant hunting permit that costs $26.97.
The game commission offers youths the opportunity to hunt stocked pheasants for free to encourage them to become and remain hunters. It costs money to raise pheasants. Adult hunters help pay for those costs, but youths hunt for free.
Pheasants stocked for the junior pheasant hunt are released at specific locations on state game lands. Stocking locations are listed online at pa.gov/pgc or can be obtained by contacting the commission's Centralized Dispatch Center at 1-833-742-4868.
A junior hunter age 16, who can hunt pheasants and other game by himself or with other hunters old enough to hunt alone, has nine days to hunt without competition from adult hunters. This is a good opportunity for juniors to find and flush pheasants as opposed to possibly not finding pheasants due to the heavy hunting pressure that results when all hunters are afield at the same time on and after Oct. 24.
Also coming for junior license holders and mentored permit holders is a special firearms season Oct. 22-25 for antlerless deer and bears. To hunt antlerless deer, an antlerless deer licensed is required for the wildlife management area being hunted. To hunt bears statewide, a bear license is required. This four-day season gives youths an opportunity to hunt before the regular seasons open to all hunters.
The special firearms season is also open to licensed seniors, qualified active-duty military personnel, and persons with a permit to use a vehicle as a blind.
A youth-only, statewide hunt was held Sept. 19 for ducks, mergansers, coots, gallinules, Canada geese and brant. In the nearby South Zone for waterfowl hunting, youths have a special day on Nov. 7. All hunters must have a migratory game bird license. Hunters age 16 and older also need a federal duck stamp to hunt waterfowl.
These special seasons for youths, including teenagers old enough to hunt alone if they wish, are available to modern youths but were not held when I was young. I am not complaining. I will point out, however, that "back in the day" we young hunters did not need special incentives and programs to become and remain hunters. We were glad to hunt during the regular seasons open to adults.