1/24/2008
 

Contact: Mark A. Trainor 850-488-8842

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days set for Feb. 2-3

“Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days” are quickly approaching. This opportunity provides a chance for experienced waterfowl hunters to take youths afield to teach them duck hunting techniques and ethics.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has established Feb. 2-3 as “Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days” to help pass on the duck hunting tradition.

This statewide, two-day season allows children younger than 16 years old to hunt, with adult supervision, waterfowl, coots and common moorhens.  Supervisors (18 years or older) must be present and may assist but are prohibited from hunting.  Licenses, permits and federal duck stamps are not required for youth hunters younger than 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, two 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 brant or 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 two of which may be hooded.  Light geese may be hunted statewide.  Light geese include snow, blue and Ross’ geese.  There is a 15-bird daily bag limit on any combination of these geese.

Canada geese may be taken in the Florida waters of Lake Seminole, which is south of State Road 2, north of the Jim Woodruff Dam and east of County Road 271. The daily bag limit is five geese.   

All other regulations for hunting waterfowl apply to this two-day season.  Hunting regulations can be found online at MyFWC.com/hunting or in the FWC’s waterfowl and coot seasons brochure, available at county tax collectors’ offices.

Note:  Three Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day events are scheduled, where young hunters will learn about waterfowl and waterfowl hunting from experts.  The youths will have the opportunity to hunt with experienced mentors to put the skills they learn into practice at the following locations.