The only reason the DNR has these special youth hunts is because they can see the declining hunter participation and the average age of a license holder. They know that license sales are directly tied to DNR budget and when the budget is smaller, that cuts into their salaries. Its simply math, really. The reason they never had these hunts years ago is because the trend wasn’t there.
Next up: early youth walleye season before opener during the spawn. 
I think the youth hunt is a great idea and the reasons WHY it makes sense to me are first the young hunters get a crack at unpressured deer in an environment where there isn’t an orange coat in every tree and a million other hunters banging around in the woods, driving ATVs to the base of their stands, etc.
Also there can’t be any disputing that the warmer weather is just easier on younger hunters. I can remember at 12 being so damn cold in the stand that I couldn’t unload my rifle to get down. Save the “back in my day we just toughed it out and lost a few toes” BS. If you want to bring kids and especially girls into the hunting fold, you’re going to be a LOT more successful if you don’t make their first experiences miserable.
I have long suspected that most “objections” to the youth hunt are just BS and covering up for the fact that there are guys out there who just can’t stand the thought that some neighbor’s kid might get lucky and get a crack at Mr. Big before the “real” season opens. They consider this buck “their” buck and damned if they want some “papered kid who hasn’t paid their dues” to get to hunt it before they do. Of course, nobody is going to admit to this so they make up other BS excuses to cover for their real reason.
Like it or not, there is strength in numbers when it comes to hunting. If we want the hunting tradition to continue, we have to find ways to keep numbers up. The sport is only as strong as the NEXT generation.
Grouse
You have kids that participate in the youth hunt? If not – then you don’t have any idea…..
Same people that were pouting about letting the kids have an early duck hunting day too. They didn’t get one when they were kids so no one should now either. Letting a kid be in the woods for two days aint gonna ruin your damn life. God forbid you let a young kid have a chance to hunt without having to worry about all the other idiots in the woods.
I have long suspected that most “objections” to the youth hunt are just BS and covering up for the fact that there are guys out there who just can’t stand the thought that some neighbor’s kid might get lucky and get a crack at Mr. Big before the “real” season opens. They consider this buck “their” buck and damned if they want some “papered kid who hasn’t paid their dues” to get to hunt it before they do. Of course, nobody is going to admit to this so they make up other BS excuses to cover for their real reason.
This is, and will always be the real reason. Kids hunt in the woods I bow hunt in on youth weekend. Big deal I do something else that weekend. There is about 14 other weekends to go.
Also there can’t be any disputing that the warmer weather is just easier on younger hunters. I can remember at 12 being so damn cold in the stand that I couldn’t unload my rifle to get down. Save the “back in my day we just toughed it out and lost a few toes” BS. If you want to bring kids and especially girls into the hunting fold, you’re going to be a LOT more successful if you don’t make their first experiences miserable.
I have long suspected that most “objections” to the youth hunt are just BS and covering up for the fact that there are guys out there who just can’t stand the thought that some neighbor’s kid might get lucky and get a crack at Mr. Big before the “real” season opens. They consider this buck “their” buck and damned if they want some “papered kid who hasn’t paid their dues” to get to hunt it before they do. Of course, nobody is going to admit to this so they make up other BS excuses to cover for their real reason.
Like it or not, there is strength in numbers when it comes to hunting. If we want the hunting tradition to continue, we have to find ways to keep numbers up. The sport is only as strong as the NEXT generation.
Grouse
100% agree with this. It it makes those first couple years more enjoyable and “lights the fire” for their passion for deer hunting, then I’m all for it as well. I know that when my daughter is old enough, we will be taking advantage of that weekend. And don’t worry, we hunt a pretty large section of private land so it shouldn’t affect anyone else’s hunt too bad…. 
You have kids that participate in the youth hunt? If not – then you don’t have any idea…..
I DO have a son. He has participated in the special hunt – and had success in it. Personally, I am against it. IMO, it removes the specialness of finally getting to go to camp with the “big” guys and become one of them. I have been bringing many kids with on fish/hunt trips since they could walk, and have always felt that if they wanted success, they should earn a bit of it….not have it handed to them with special regs. My boy admits – shooting a deer during the special hunt was not as satisfying an accomplishment as shooting one during regular season.
So yes, I do have an idea and the experience with the special hunt that forms my opinion which is every bit as valid as yours.
I think the youth hunt is a great idea and the reasons WHY it makes sense to me are first the young hunters get a crack at unpressured deer in an environment where there isn’t an orange coat in every tree and a million other hunters banging around in the woods, driving ATVs to the base of their stands, etc.
Where are you hunting??? Or should I ask, what decade are you hunting? I’m somewhat joking but is this honestly still a thing?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>TheFamousGrouse wrote:</div>
I think the youth hunt is a great idea and the reasons WHY it makes sense to me are first the young hunters get a crack at unpressured deer in an environment where there isn’t an orange coat in every tree and a million other hunters banging around in the woods, driving ATVs to the base of their stands, etc.Where are you hunting??? Or should I ask, what decade are you hunting? I’m somewhat joking but is this honestly still a thing?
I don’t understand the question. Is what still a thing?
I hunt in east central MN north of the Cities, same place I’ve hinted for over 35 years.
I take it you’ve never seen the traffic on 35 or 169 northbound on the Friday before the firearms season opens.
Grouse
I’m fine with a youth hunt for a couple days on a weekend as long as the special hunt ends when they collect a deer. After that they hunt like dad. 7 years of special hunts doesn’t cut it with me.
Aside from the youth hunt the only other “special hunt” that I’d support prior to the regular gun seasons would be a “wounded/handicapped veteran hunt” in State Parks in mid-October for 4 days, Thurs-Sun.
This early doe hunt with a 5 deer limit will attract only the game pigs and slob hunters. I don’t give a rip who you are or what you are, nobody needs to kill 5 deer. If one does, buy some out of state tags.
As far as atv’s driving up to stands….they should be out-lawed during any big-game season, period.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Selfishclown wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>TheFamousGrouse wrote:</div>
I think the youth hunt is a great idea and the reasons WHY it makes sense to me are first the young hunters get a crack at unpressured deer in an environment where there isn’t an orange coat in every tree and a million other hunters banging around in the woods, driving ATVs to the base of their stands, etc.Where are you hunting??? Or should I ask, what decade are you hunting? I’m somewhat joking but is this honestly still a thing?
I don’t understand the question. Is what still a thing?
I hunt in east central MN north of the Cities, same place I’ve hinted for over 35 years.
I take it you’ve never seen the traffic on 35 or 169 northbound on the Friday before the firearms season opens.
Grouse
Pretty straight forward question (“orange coat in ever tree and a million hunters”) but I see you chose not to answer. I’m not looking to get into a cock fight here, seriously asking if hunting pressure is “that” bad. I hunt central MN 2 hrs north of the metro and on popular land(or once was) and It’s dead to say the least. The entire parking lot, campers, and ATV would even fill the road 10 years ago…now I see maybe 5 vehicles and 1 camper…by Monday it’s basically me until Thur. And to answer your question, I take 169 up…and I’m sure you can attest that traffic is waaaay lighter once you get out of the metro vs 10 yrs ago.
I’m not against youth hunting. In fact, I encourage it. Teaching them to be safe, be patient, and work to fill a tag or a limit is the responsible thing to do. This is how I was taught growing up if I wanted to participate. Some days it was cold. Bitter cold. And windy. I still went and it taught me that some days just suck being out there so you try again another day.
Handing someone a special privileged season is not something I support whether its for deer, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, walleyes, etc.
I am for fair chase among EVERYONE. Whether you are 12, 51, or 75. You buy a license, hunt during the season, and obey the rules. There is nothing that says a 13 year old teenager can’t hunt during the regular firearms season, yet, there is now a special season that states a 42 year old can’t hunt during the early youth season. I am not for the early antleress season either. We don’t need anyone shooting rifles or slugs at deer before the primary season starts. And we definitely don’t need to harvest 4 or 5 deer per hunter. A guy can only eat so much of that stuff anyways.
So a little insight. I have three sons that are all within a year of each other. Every day they rotate, during the youth hunt, with I, and their god parents (who are avid bow hunters who put their bows down to partake). Their godparents say the same thing – it is worth every single minute in the tree with them teaching them the ins and outs, rights and wrongs, the safe and not so safe discussions. This would be next to impossible to do during the regular seasons and have the same enjoyment and teaching attributes.
And I totally agree with the statements that it should included handicapped, etc. individuals also. Many states – including Iowa do this. Hasn’t changed Iowa as being the premier state to hunt in many minds.
Just because something works for you, may not work for another. The Youth hunt is a positive experience. There are no negatives for the people that participate – just for the many back seat drivers that don’t or can’t participate and make assumptions based on their own bias.
So a little insight. I have three sons that are all within a year of each other. Every day they rotate, during the youth hunt, with I, and their god parents (who are avid bow hunters who put their bows down to partake). Their godparents say the same thing – it is worth every single minute in the tree with them teaching them the ins and outs, rights and wrongs, the safe and not so safe discussions. This would be next to impossible to do during the regular seasons and have the same enjoyment and teaching attributes.
And I totally agree with the statements that it should included handicapped, etc. individuals also. Many states – including Iowa do this. Hasn’t changed Iowa as being the premier state to hunt in many minds.
Just because something works for you, may not work for another. The Youth hunt is a positive experience. There are no negatives for the people that participate – just for the many back seat drivers that don’t or can’t participate and make assumptions based on their own bias.
I am for fair chase among EVERYONE. Whether you are 12, 51, or 75. You buy a license, hunt during the season, and obey the rules.
I guess my idea of fair chase for a 12 year old must be different then yours. A 12 year old has to go to school every morning and then hope when they have a little free time so does dad to take them. You can sit your ass in a tree sun up to sundown everyday of the week if you want. To even the score maybe you should only be allowed a few hours a week not of your choosing. Quit being a Richard and let a kid shoot a deer its not gonna affect you. When do you have time to worry about deer with all the worrying about youth waterfowl day.
I have a kid. Every season is youth season now for the foreseeable future no matter when it is or what the calendar says. I’d trade never shooting another deer for my child/ren to enjoy it and have it become a custom they pass down.
I also do not have an issue with the antlerless season if it serves its purpose in those areas.
This seems like a classic example of making a mountain out of something that isn’t even a mole hill.
Quit being a Richard and let a kid shoot a deer its not gonna affect you. When do you have time to worry about deer with all the worrying about youth waterfowl day.
You’re right it’s not. Having an early antlerless season won’t affect Jimmy either but he was against it anyways and started a thread.
You have made it very clear gimruis you are against all youth hunts. I am not. Again – do you have kids that participate in youth hunts?? If not – then you will not understand.
I’m not looking to get into a cock fight here, seriously asking if hunting pressure is “that” bad.
Whether the hunting pressure is that bad or this bad, the point that any idiot can understand is that there is a HELL of a lot more hunting pressure on the regular opening weekend and a hell of a lot LESS pressure during the youth hunt. That’s one of the main reasons why states started having a youth hunt and eventually, MN followed.
If you happen to hunt in a place where there’s less pressure, good for you. But in the case where you have so little pressure in the first place, how then would a youth hunt impact you at all? It’s not like the kids are going to shoot all those deer that nobody else is hunting in the first place.
Grouse
You’re right it’s not. Having an early antlerless season won’t affect Jimmy either but he was against it anyways and started a thread.
Don’t think he said he was against an antlerless season just against it being the same weekend.
My girls are to little yet but I still go out for a drive on the youth weekends just to see hopefully lots of kids out. Not to switch gears but my dads neighbor across the lake used to complain about the youth waterfowl day scaring all the local ducks away yet him and his buddies would shoot clay pigeons next to the lake the few weekends prior to opener. Makes sense.
I know my daughter and her friends love the youth season. Her best friend (girl) deer hunts and other boys In her grade do as well. It’s become somewhat of a competition between them all with fun taunting, teasing, etc. Not just during the youth season but regular season too.
With the luck and good fortune my daughter had last year, she has become the envy of the others, especially the boys who say there’s no way a girl can shoot a deer that big. 
It’s been a fun way for her to connect with classmates who before that, she never connected with on a friendship level.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Pailofperch wrote:</div>
Weekender, if every parent hunter was of your mindset, we wouldn’t need a youth season!Thank you! This is the exact reason everyone, old and young, black and white, etc has the same opportunity to hunt something. When I started hunting at 12 I went on opener just like everyone else. I walked to my stand in the dark, sat there for hours on end, and waited for a deer. My Father never sat with me in the same stand. All you’re doing is hunting the same deer if you’re in the same stand.
To me it isn’t about hunting, its about the experience I will get to have with my kids. I like the youth hunt because it really gives me a chance to fully sit and enjoy the time with my son. I can do this during the regular season as well but when he is the only focus it eases the mind just a little.
Also my son is only 9 so im a couple years out yet. Was just my 2 cents. Im for it not against it. Makes the kid really also feel special. As for my son and I, that would happen regular or youth season.
My 2 youth hunters are pumped! They’ve been counting down the days for awhile now.
There’s no question the # of hunters has dropped and continues to drop for years. I’m all for anything that encourages young hunters to fall in love with the sport that we all love and have a strong passion for.
I have all the private land I need. But what about the kids that don’t? Would you not like to bring your child into state land for the experience without another (or as many)hunters running through the woods? I think the experience would be much more conducive to a first time experience. Just voicing my opinion. Youth Deer Hunt pictures to follow….
. Hey Jimmy i am with you all the way on these issues. Another good reason to have the youth hunt in mid Oct. Is the kids can hunt in more tolerable temps in Oct. rather than zero or below in Nov. Lets not try to introduced new young hunters to deer hunting when they would freeze there butts.! . rrr
Is the kids can hunt in more tolerable temps in Oct. rather than zero or below in Nov. Lets not try to introduced new young hunters to deer hunting when they would freeze there butts.! . rrr
See…now that’s a good reason, never really thought about that.
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