YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNTING DAYS COMING UP, FEB. 4-5

January 19, 2006
Mark A. Trainor (850) 488-8842

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days are quickly approaching. This event provides a special time for experienced waterfowl hunters to take youths afield to teach them the techniques and ethics of duck hunting.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has established Feb. 4-5 as this year’s Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days to help pass on the duck hunting tradition.

This statewide, two-day season allows children under 16 years old to hunt waterfowl, coots and common moorhens. Adult supervisors (18 years or older) must be present and can assist but are prohibited from hunting. Licenses, permits and federal ducks stamps are not required for youth hunters under 16 years of age.

The daily bag limit of ducks is six. The six-duck limit may consist of no more than one black duck, one mottled duck, one fulvous whistling-duck, one pintail, one canvasback, two redheads, two wood ducks, two scaup, four scoters and four mallards (of which only two can be female).  Taking or attempting to take harlequin ducks is illegal. All other species of ducks may be taken up to the six-bird limit.

The daily limit on coots and common moorhens is 15, and there is a five-bird limit on mergansers, only one of which may be hooded.           

In the Panhandle north and west of the Suwannee River, light geese may be taken. Light geese include snow, blue and Ross’ geese.  There is a 15-bird, daily bag limit on any combination of these geese.

 In the Florida waters of Lake Seminole, which is south of SR 2, north of the Jim Woodruff Dam and east of CR 271, Canada geese may be taken.  The daily bag limit on Canada geese is five.           

 All other regulations for hunting waterfowl apply to these youth hunting days and the regulations are at MyFWC.com/hunting or in the FWC’s waterfowl and coot seasons brochure, available at county tax collectors’ offices.

Two Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day events are scheduled where young hunters will learn about waterfowl and waterfowl hunting from experts, and will have the opportunity to hunt with experienced mentors to put the skills they learn into practice.