FORT DRUM, N.Y. - For anyone who has ever wanted to introduce a child to turkey hunting, or hunting in general, there will be an exclusive opportunity for young hunters this weekend throughout New York state, including Fort Drum.
Youths 12-15 are allowed to turkey hunt with an adult the weekend before the statewide spring season, which begins May 1.
"This is a great opportunity to introduce young people to hunting and give them a better chance of bringing something home," said Raymond Rainbolt, Fish and Wildlife Program manager. "It also provides a chance for a parent or relative to spend some quality time in the outdoors with a child."
The bag limit for the youth hunt is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth's regular spring season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken during the regular season beginning May 1.
Eligible hunters are youths 12-15 who hold a junior hunting license and a turkey permit. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult, as required by law for a junior hunting license. Youths 12 or 13 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or relative older than 21, with written permission from their parent or legal guardian; youths 14 or 15 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or an adult more than 18 with written permission from their parent or legal guardian.
The accompanying adult must have a current hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist the youth hunter (including calling), but may not carry a firearm or longbow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth hunt.
For more information about the youth turkey hunt, see the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation web site at www.dec.ny.gov.
Everyone hunting on Fort Drum must possess a valid Fort Drum recreation permit and access pass, and normal check-in procedures apply.
Recreation permits are available at the Natural Resources Permit Office in Bldg. S-2509 off Route 26. The Natural Resources Permit Office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Recreation permits also are available through the mail. Mail-in applications can be downloaded from Fort Drum's Fish and Wildlife Management Program web site.
Recreation permits are free to youths 15 and younger.
On Fort Drum, turkey hunters are required to wear blaze orange while walking to and from their hunting area. Turkey hunters may wear camouflage while sitting in the woods if 144 square inches of blaze orange is placed within sight of their hunting location. See Fort Drum Regulation 420-3 Hunting, Fishing, Trapping and Camping for other regulations that apply.
All first-time hunters, trappers and bowhunters must pass a safety and education course before they can get a license in New York state. Courses are free of charge and are administered by the state DEC. Updated hunter education classes can be downloaded from Fort Drum's Fish and Wildlife Management Program web site.
For more information, see Fort Drum's Fish and Wildlife Management Program Web site at http://www.drum.army.mil/garrison/pw/FishAndWild.html, or call Fort Drum's Fish and Wildlife Management Program at 772-9636 or 772-4999.
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