WHY?? Youth Hunt Question

Swamp Puppy · 08-20-2005, 08:15 PM

Does anyone know why the youth waterfowl season is limited to 15yrs and under for the statewide general hunt, but allows 17yrs and under on the WMA's?

This seems completely ridiculous to me to say that it's ok to hunt up to 17yrs of age on public WMA's, but if you want to go out for a REAL hunt you can only enjoy that opportunity (as a youth) until you are 15.

gee, sorry kids...i can't take you out for a real duck hunt this year. instead, let me show you the joys of standing in line and pulling a lottery chip so we can hunt a crappy blind next to some other guys that are encouragin their young hunter to skybust and take his place in the next generation of public WMA idiots.

McBaine · 08-20-2005, 09:28 PM

I would bet money it is just a typo. I'd call them about it.

elkslayer24 · 08-21-2005, 08:38 AM

I DONT THINK ITS A TYPO CAUSE WE ASKED THE BIOLOGIST AT SUMMER LAKE AND HE SAID 15 AND UNDER. BUT MABEY HES JUST GOIN BY THE BOOK.......IF ANYONE KNOWS IF IT IS 15 PLEASE LET US KNOW. I AGREE ITS TOTALLY REDICULOUS TO HAVE IT BE 15 WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IN OREGON DEALING WITH YOUTHS IS 17!

Swamp Puppy · 08-21-2005, 11:21 AM

It's no typo. I checked last season's regs ('04-'05) and they state the same thing. It is apparently some sort of federal guideline, but shouldn't it then be the same everywhere? why can the WMA's hunt the youth to 17yrs old and not the rest of us out on the public land.

Any ODFW people out there care to help clear this up for us?

rimrock · 08-21-2005, 04:53 PM

You�re right on it being a federal restriction. To be more specific federal hunting permits (i.e. the duck stamp). Across the board in all States resident youth hunters (15 years or younger) do not need a federal permit and at 16 years you need a federal stamp.

It�s a matter of definition. Federally a youth hunter is defined as 15 and younger, so in order to hunt on non-state land in a youth hunt one needs to meet this definition. The State of Oregon has defined a youth hunter to be 17 and younger, so on state land (WMA) and only state land a hunter can hunt as a youth up to 17.

Makes a bunch of sense doesn�t it.

In Oregon you�re a youth hunter 17 and younger, but Federally you�re a youth hunter 15 and younger.

Swamp Puppy · 08-21-2005, 05:02 PM

HA HA!! thanks for that clarification. In a way, i guess it makes perfect sense.

I guess it would be too much to hope for that maybe one day the Feds will allow the state to set guidelines for the youth hunters that would allow them to hunt on any available land. it seems to me that we are limiting the number of youth we can introduce to the sport based on the number of available hunting locations open on WMA's.

or maybe...(insert conspiracy theory here)...that's the plan. lol.

rimrock · 08-21-2005, 05:34 PM

0

Swamp Puppy · 08-21-2005, 05:48 PM

I hear ya...i guess what really chaps my hide is that we had 2 hunters "age out" of our youth group this year and it is totally my fault for not catching the regs. i would have never seen that little tidbit of info had the new regs this year not been in red.

now, try telling a 16 yr old hunter that he can't hunt the youth hunt this year after he has busted his butt for the last 3 weekends building blinds and doing repair/grunt work on his last few days of summer vaction.

:blush:

baltz526 · 08-21-2005, 06:36 PM

sounds like a good reason to hit summer lake at the peak of snow goose counts.

waterfowlin101 · 08-21-2005, 07:57 PM

ED...does this mean our plans have been foiled

. Are you still going as scheduled?? I hope so.

But seriously...the kid you are talking about CAN still participate in the youth hunt. He spent time working on blinds...that was a start. He thought he was going to get to shoot, but now he is "of age" to do what we do...to participate with us...as teachers/mentors. He should still come, help set the dekes, maybe call

. It could be an important step in teaching him the tradition of hunting, and what it takes to pass the legacy on. IMO You only truly learn something once you are able to teach it to another.

talk to ya soon!

Jon

Swamp Puppy · 08-21-2005, 08:51 PM

Jon - we are still going. we have some other young guns that can still legally hunt....AND i know what you mean about him "coming of age". truthfully, we take the youngsters out all year. not just the youth season, but the youth season offers such spectacular opportunities for them it's a shame they have to miss it because of a technicality.