PHOENIX – Young people interested in honing their hunting skills, or in just learning how to hunt, are invited to take part in an annual juniors dove hunt this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2 and 3, at the Robbins Butte Wildlife Area southwest of Buckeye. The event is sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Chandler Rod and Gun Club.

“The juniors hunt is a great opportunity for youth to learn how to hunt, or to pick up tips to help further their hunting skills,” says Phil Smith, the Robbins Butte manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The dove populations are abundant this year.”

The juniors hunt is open to anyone 17 years of age and younger. No reservations are required, but young hunters and their mentors need to arrive at Robbins Butte by 4 a.m., which is when shooting stations will be assigned. Volunteers will be on hand to help mentor.

“Even if a kid, or his or her mom or dad, has never hunted before, we still encourage anyone with an interest in learning how to hunt to come out,” says Smith. “We’ll have volunteer hunter education instructors available to assist kids of all experience levels.”

Youths from ages 14-17 must have a valid Arizona hunting license, and those age 16 and older must also purchase an Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp. Those under 14 can hunt without a license when accompanied by a licensed adult (the volunteer mentors will be licensed adults).

The Chandler Rod and Gun Club will provide a pancake and sausage breakfast for all the youth hunt participants at the wildlife area, and they will also conduct a raffle each day for a youth-model shotgun.

Participants are encouraged to pick up a copy of the 2006-2007 Arizona dove hunting regulations in advance of the hunt. The regulations are available at license dealers statewide or can be downloaded from the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at azgfd.gov.

Robbins Butte is located about 40 miles west of Phoenix. Take I-10 to Highway 85, drive south on Highway 85 about eight miles, and follow the signs to the west for Robbins Butte. For more information, contact Robbins Butte Wildlife Area Manager Phil Smith at (602) 290-2237.