4/9/2007
Media Contact: Chris Saunders, VTF&W, 802-241-3700

Vermont's Youth Turkey Hunting Opportunities

WATERBURY, VT - Vermont's youth turkey hunting weekend is April 28-29 this year.

Anyone under 16 years of age, with at least one parent or guardian who is a resident of Vermont, may take one bearded turkey during the youth turkey hunting weekend. It's a great way to introduce a youngster to hunting, but there's a catch. They must successfully complete a hunter education course first.

Several Vermont hunter education courses will be held in April. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is also offering a special, last-chance home study course in Waterbury on April 21st from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required since the students are responsible for reading the manual and completing the workbook prior to the course. For more information, contact Ann Shangraw at (802) 241-3720.

In addition to the course, the young hunter must have a Vermont hunting license and a turkey hunting license, and be accompanied by an unarmed adult, over 18 years of age, who holds a Vermont hunting license. The adult may guide two youths at one time. Like the regular season, hunting hours are one half hour before sunrise to noon.

Please note landowner permission is required to hunt on private land during youth turkey hunting weekend even if the land is not posted. So after you've signed up for a class, start knocking on doors.

Anyone who needs to take a hunter education course can check the list of upcoming courses by going to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) or by contacting Ann Shangraw at (802) 241-3720.

Young people who would like to learn turkey hunting skills have two unique upcoming opportunities to learn from the experts. A Youth Turkey Calling Contest will be held April 15 in Pawlet, Vermont and a 'Jakes Day Event' will be held May 20th in Guilford, Vermont.

The Bart Jacob Memorial Youth Turkey Calling Contest starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 15 at the Pawlet Fire Department. Turkey calling competition will be held in three divisions: Ages 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15. Registration is $10 with an April 8 deadline to apply. Trophies and prizes are awarded for first, second and third in each division. Call 802-325-3200 or 645-0341 (p.m.) for more information. Proceeds will benefit the Oxbow Mountain Chapter 4-H Shooting Sports.

Sportsmen Inc. and the Tri-State Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold a Jakes Day Event on Sunday, May 20th at the sportsman club facilities in Guilford. Open to kids 15 and under with their parents, this event will offer instruction in trap shooting, 22 rifle shooting, as well as other activities. Patterned after other Jakes Days held by chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, this event is designed to introduce young people to turkey hunting basics with careful supervision. Contact Don Rosinski in Vernon at 802-257-5442.

Vermont's regular spring turkey hunting season is May 1-31. Two bearded turkeys are allowed. Last year, Vermont hunters took a record 4,672 turkeys. See the Digest of Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Laws for more details, and go to www.vtfishandwildlife.com for a copy of the 2006 turkey hunting season report. Under Hunting and Trapping, click on Big Game Harvest Reports.

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