Youth hunter mentors - YOU NEED A LICENSE

[Woody Williams]

Even though the Hunting Guides says that you don't need a licnese to mentor a youth this weekend - YOU DO NEED A HUNTING LICENSE

I checked with the DNR. It seems that the " new change that should have been in the 6-page hunting guide and on the web regarding the adult that accompanies the youth during the youth deer season", but didn't make it.

IMO - there is absolutely no excuse for leaving out any new changes. Especially one that would involve the youth. The mentor that reads the guide and thinks he doesn't have to have a license could be in for a rude awakening if checked by a CO. That would be double embarassing for him AND the youth he/she is mentoring.

So mentors - you need a hunting license for this weekend.

The email from the DNR

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chad Stewart" <[e-mail]>
To: "Clarence Williams" <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 7:47:30 AM
Subject: RE: Deer Hunting Regulation Summary 2010


Mr. Williams,

Thanks for double checking. Please see the email below I recently received from Kevin Hoffman. The rule has been changed and adults that accompany youths this weekend must be licensed.


Chad Stewart


From: Hoffman, Kevin
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 3:40 PM
To: DFW; Adams, Lora; Davis, Carol L.; Denman, Liza; Fields, Christy D.; Stephens, Deborah
Cc: Farmer, Mark; Stewart, Chad
Subject: FW: Deer Hunting Regulation Summary 2010

The email below is correct. There was a new change that should have been in the 6-page hunting guide and on the web regarding the adult that accompanies the youth during the youth deer season.

The adult must have any type of hunting license,

- except an apprentice

- or if they are hunting their own land and meet the landowner exception, they don’t need a license.


The changes didn’t make it into the 6-page guide. I will have the online version of the 6-page guide updated on the web and have the text updated on the web. The only place it will not get updated is the printed versions of the 6-page guide.

From: Indiana Department of Natural Resources [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 2:15 PM
To: Hoffman, Kevin
Subject: Deer Hunting Regulation Summary 2010

DEER HUNTING REGULATION SUMMARY 2010

Special Youth Deer Hunting Season - Sept. 25 and 26

Last year’s youth weekend harvest was 1,687, a record that, according to deer biologist Chad Stewart, probably coincided with increasing the age restriction from under 16 to under 18, which happened for the first time last year.

Last year, 85 percent of the youth season harvest was female deer, with the remaining 15 percent being button bucks.

The first youth season was 2006. These seasons have been exclusively for antlerless only until this coming season. Youth season typically accounts for about 1% of the season’s total harvest.

More on the regulations:

– Youth under age 18 on the date of hunt can participate.

– Youth hunters can take either a buck or a doe; if a buck is taken, it is the only buck the youth hunter can take that year, except in an urban deer zone; a doe is in addition to all other antlerless deer that can be taken in the regular seasons.

– Resident youth will need a hunting license (apprentice or regular), such as the resident youth comprehensive hunting & trapping license or a comprehensive lifetime hunting license.

– Non-resident youth will need a non-resident youth deer hunting license—firearm, archery, muzzleloader, or bonus antlerless.

– An adult that is at least 18 years of age must accompany the youth hunter during this special season, be licensed to hunt (unless hunting on his/her own farmland), stay in close proximity to the youth while in the field, and not possess a bow and arrow, crossbow, or firearm, and not accompany more than 2 youth at a time in the field.

– Youth hunters must use legal equipment—archery, crossbow, shotgun, rifle or muzzleloader.

– Youth must follow all other deer hunting regulations.

[hunter7x]

Thanks Woody
good info for us also.

[firstwd]

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

My son is hunting on a piece of property a family from church owns. He is spending the weekend on the farm with them and the owner is taking him out since I will be out of town with my daughter. While the farmer is covered by the landowner exemption to be out, what kind of issue can this cause? If the owner could not go, but a neighbor that is a non hunter ofered to go, he couldn't. Just a rambling thought. Probably more good than bad in the rule, but not completely on one side of the fence or the other.

[greghopper]

From the Hunting Guide:
... Youth deer hunting season is Sept. 25 and 26. Youth age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt, and accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age, can take one deer of either sex during this special youth deer season.

If the youth hunter takes an antlerless deer during this season it is in addition to any antlerless deer taken during any other season. If the youth hunter takes an antlered deer during this season, they may
not take another antlered deer during the regular archery, firearm, or muzzleloader seasons.

The youth hunter must possess a valid hunting license (youth or deer), but the accompanying adult does not need to possess a hunting license while in the field with the youth hunter.....

[greghopper]

Sept 21, 2010 12:00:04 GMT -5 firstwd said:

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

My son is hunting on a piece of property a family from church owns. He is spending the weekend on the farm with them and the owner is taking him out since I will be out of town with my daughter. While the farmer is covered by the landowner exemption to be out, what kind of issue can this cause? If the owner could not go, but a neighbor that is a non hunter ofered to go, he couldn't. Just a rambling thought. Probably more good than bad in the rule, but not completely on one side of the fence or the other.

IMHO......non Hunter's should not mentor a youth this weekend....SAFETY should be #1 reason...IMHO

[firstwd]

Sept 21, 2010 12:15:56 GMT -5 greghopper said:

Sept 21, 2010 12:00:04 GMT -5 firstwd said:

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

My son is hunting on a piece of property a family from church owns. He is spending the weekend on the farm with them and the owner is taking him out since I will be out of town with my daughter. While the farmer is covered by the landowner exemption to be out, what kind of issue can this cause? If the owner could not go, but a neighbor that is a non hunter ofered to go, he couldn't. Just a rambling thought. Probably more good than bad in the rule, but not completely on one side of the fence or the other.

IMHO......non Hunter's should not mentor a youth this weekend....SAFETY should be #1 reason...IMHO

I see that point. My son is 15 and has been deer hunting since he was 8, so my case is a bit different, but I absolutely see the point.

[DEERTRACKS]

Total BS!!!!! Just a money maker for the state. Experienced hunters that deer hunt only don't need a hunting license, just their deer tags...

[freedomhunter]

wow, how can they enforce it if the guide is screwed up? sad

[JBDiNos]

I got a lifetime license, no worries for me but I do see how this could cause problems. My wife does not hunt but she does know all the safety you would need to hunt. So if she wanted to take my kids out, she would have to buy a license.. hmmm Any idiot adult could buy a license though but that doesn't make them more safe than a non hunter with some common sense.

[cleetus]

Okay sorry if this is a dumb question but are they talking just a regular hunting license or do then mean a deer tag for the mentor? I always buy a hunt/fishing combo at the bigging of the year so am I covered to take my daughter?

[tickman1961]

A hunting license would include the hunt/fish combo Cleetus.........you are ready to go.

[Woody Williams]

Sept 21, 2010 12:09:59 GMT -5 greghopper said:

From the Hunting Guide:
... Youth deer hunting season is Sept. 25 and 26. Youth age 17 or younger on the date of the hunt, and accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age, can take one deer of either sex during this special youth deer season.

If the youth hunter takes an antlerless deer during this season it is in addition to any antlerless deer taken during any other season. If the youth hunter takes an antlered deer during this season, they may
not take another antlered deer during the regular archery, firearm, or muzzleloader seasons.

The youth hunter must possess a valid hunting license (youth or deer), but the accompanying adult does not need to possess a hunting license while in the field with the youth hunter.....

Yep...the DNR screwed up..

[Woody Williams]

Guys,

It says.....

The adult must have any type of hunting license,

- except an apprentice

- or if they are hunting their own land and meet the landowner exception, they don’t need a license.

[Ahawkeye]

This is cr@p! I have a LTL but my brother in law does not hunt we were both going to take my nephew and I told him he didn't need a license. Now I have to tell him he has to buy one just to go sit with me and his son and he won't even hunt another day this year total BS!

[Woody Williams]

Sept 21, 2010 20:06:39 GMT -5 Ahawkeye said:

This is cr@p! I have a LTL but my brother in law does not hunt we were both going to take my nephew and I told him he didn't need a license. Now I have to tell him he has to buy one just to go sit with me and his son and he won't even hunt another day this year total BS!

Not sure about that.

If you are the mentor then the BIL might not need a license too.

Check with your local CO.

[jgrimm]

Sept 21, 2010 13:55:03 GMT -5 freedomhunter said:

wow, how can they enforce it if the guide is screwed up? sad

Ditto, total B.S !!

[firstwd]

Sept 21, 2010 20:12:26 GMT -5 Woody Williams said:

Sept 21, 2010 20:06:39 GMT -5 Ahawkeye said:

This is cr@p! I have a LTL but my brother in law does not hunt we were both going to take my nephew and I told him he didn't need a license. Now I have to tell him he has to buy one just to go sit with me and his son and he won't even hunt another day this year total BS!

Not sure about that.

If you are the mentor then the BIL might not need a license too.

Check with your local CO.

Adults can accompany no more than 2 youth hunters. That means the BIL is an observer at that point.

[mrfixit]

Sept 21, 2010 20:40:29 GMT -5 firstwd said:

Sept 21, 2010 20:12:26 GMT -5 Woody Williams said:

Not sure about that.

If you are the mentor then the BIL might not need a license too.

Check with your local CO.

Adults can accompany no more than 2 youth hunters. That means the BIL is an observer at that point.

Yep, a BIL that's probably going to get a ticket just for a little extra cash for the county unless the BIL takes time off work etc to actually go to court and help the Judge sort it out. Either way it's cheaper to buy the license.

The bigger question here is how can they enforce something that isn't in the guide?

[greghopper]

(from another site)

after my barrage of calls to the IN Deer Hotline, IN DNR Customer Service Center, and District DNR Headquarters, it appears that the licensing requirements HAVE changed, effective with yesterday's email. I had looked over that little tidbit of information last night, and when I read it today, I though to myself "this has got to be a misprint." Apparently, it's not a misprint.

Two of the above sources verified that is has, in fact, changed; these were the Deer Hotline and the DNR Customer Service Department (Kevin Hoffman). I was told that this was a last minute change, and that the information was sent out to all District Headquarters and CO's yesterday, which coincides with the information that many of us received yesterday in our email boxes as well.

Regardless of this, my call to my local DNR District Headquarters (District 7) revealed the fact that they have no idea that this requirement has changed, and are advising the public to "go by what's printed in the current guide and on the DNR website." Neither of those sources have not been updated and still say that the adult does NOT need to be licensed. This information came both from the receptionist/secretary directly, and also was verified by her again after she phoned one of the CO's who told her the same thing.

When asked what type of license the adult must have, both the Deer Hotline and Customer Service Department said "any type of hunting license". I then proceeded to clarify that the adult does not need a deer hunting license, and was told that again that any license would suffice, be it a deer license for archery, firearm, or muzzleloader, an urban deer license, a bonus antlerless license, or even a basic hunting license.

[hunter7x]

Just spoke to our local CO and she hasn't had any info on this change as of 2 minutes ago. She also said it wasnt enforceable if its not printed.

Bad timing on the DNR's part with all the hoopla already stirred up for a mess up like this to come about less than a week before the youth season!