Aug. 31, 2010
 
Youth Waterfowl Season and Youth Small Game Season Dates Announced
 
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
 
South Charleston, WV (HNN) – West Virginia’s youth waterfowl season has been set for Sept. 25, 2010, and the youth small game season is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2010, according to Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the Division of Natural Resources (DNR).
 
“These special youth hunts provide an excellent opportunity to introduce youngsters to our state’s strong hunting heritage,” said Taylor. “The mild days of early fall are a great time to be afield with our youth, and provide an excellent opportunity for experienced hunters to mentor our youngsters on the various aspects of hunting such as the safe handling of firearms, hunter ethics and wildlife conservation.”
 
Youth waterfowl hunters must be 15 years of age or younger on the day of the hunt to participate in the youth waterfowl season (Sept. 25, 2010). Resident youth hunters age 14 and younger are not required to have a hunting license. Those who have reached their 15th birthday must possess a valid state hunting license (A, XJ, XXJ, AB-L or A-L) and HIP registration card, or be a qualified resident landowner. Nonresident youth need to have an XXJ license and HIP registration card. All youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years of age. Landowners over 15 years of age are not exempt from the requirement to carry a valid migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp, commonly called the duck stamp. The daily bag limit for the waterfowl hunt is the same as during the regular season with several species restrictions.
 
New for 2010, the youth small game season to be held on Oct. 2, 2010 enables youth hunters to take any small game species which have a legal hunting season, excluding migratory game birds. Youth small game hunters must be 17 years of age or younger on the day of the hunt to participate in the youth small game season. All licensing requirements remain in effect for ages 15-17. Resident youth hunters age 14 and younger are not required to have a hunting license. Nonresident youth need to have an XXJ license. All youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older. The supervising adult may not hunt or carry a firearm or bow and must remain near enough to the youth to render advice and assistance. The daily bag limits for the youth small game season are the same as the bag limits for the statewide small game seasons.
 
For additional information, hunters should check the 2010-2011 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2010-2011 West Virginia Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations. These publications are available at all license agents, DNR offices and the DNR’s website at www.wvdnr.gov.