Below are the rule summaries for the Youth Deer Hunting Weekend, Free Youth Hunting Weekend, and 2008 Spring Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend.
There has been confusion between the Youth Deer Hunt and the Free Youth Hunt as to license requirements and so forth, so here's all the summaries together for comparison. If anyone has questions, post'em here...
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2007 Youth Deer Hunt Weekend
A youth deer hunting season will take place Sept. 29 and 30, 2007. Any youth age 15 years or younger on the date of the hunt, and accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age, can take one antlerless deer during this special youth deer season.
This deer is in addition to any deer taken during any other season. While the accompanying adult cannot take a deer when in the field with the youth hunter, both the youth and the adult must wear hunter orange.
The youth hunter must possess a valid youth hunting license, which includes the completion of a hunter education class, but the accompanying adult does not need to possess a hunting license while in the field with the youth hunter.
The youth hunter must comply with all deer hunting regulations including wearing hunter orange, tagging the deer and checking it in to a deer check station within 48 hours of the take. The youth hunter may use a legal shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, or crossbow to take the deer, but may possess only one type of equipment to take a deer while in the field. The accompanying adult cannot possess a firearm, muzzleloader, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field with the youth hunter.
JKD NOTE: (PCR rifles are legal for the 2007 Youth Deer Hunt per IDNR Director Carter. Pistols are not allowed during this hunt.)
2007 Free Youth Hunting Weekend
Two youth free hunting weekends will be offered this year, Sept. 1-2 and Nov. 24-25. Any resident age 15 years or younger on the date of the hunt, and accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age, can take any legal game in season during these youth free hunting weekends.
Young Hoosiers can hunt squirrel or migratory birds such as Canada goose, teal or mourning dove during the first weekend. Seasons open during the second weekend include deer, grouse, quail, rabbit, coyote, raccoon and pheasant.
The youth hunter does not have to possess a hunting license, HIP number or any stamp but must comply with all other hunting regulations.
An accompanying adult must be in close enough proximity in order to monitor and communicate with the youth hunter at all times and may assist the youth hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm or bow and arrow. The accompanying adult must possess a valid hunting license, unless exempted from needing a license.
2008 Spring Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend
A youth wild turkey season will take place on April 19 and 20, 2008. It will allow a youth turkey hunter, fifteen years old or younger to take a bearded or male wild turkey. The youth must be accompanied by an adult of at least eighteen years of age.
The youth hunter may use any legal shotgun, bow and arrow, or crossbow. The adult accompanying the youth hunter must not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field, and does not need to possess a turkey hunting license. The youth hunter may take only one bearded or male wild turkey during the spring season, inclusive of the youth and regular spring turkey seasons. The youth must be properly licensed to take a wild turkey and comply with all tagging and check-in requirements.
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