Snow Goose Conservation Order closed for youth hunt

DOVER – To promote and provide additional hunting opportunities for youth hunters, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has designated Saturday, Feb. 11 as the second of two special youth waterfowl hunting days for ages 10 through 15 to be held on both public and private lands during the 2016/17 hunting season.*

“These special youth hunting days are an excellent opportunity for experienced adult hunters to share their knowledge and experience with the next generation, thereby continuing one of Delaware’s great conservation and outdoor recreation traditions,” said David Saveikis, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Director. “Hunting is an exciting outdoor activity for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.”

Normal daily waterfowl bag limits and hunting regulations apply on youth waterfowl hunting days for the harvest of ducks, snow geese and Canada geese. On state wildlife areas, a lottery drawing for waterfowl blinds will be held 1.5 hours before legal shooting time at Augustine, Cedar Swamp, Woodland Beach, Ted Harvey and Assawoman wildlife areas; the lottery will be held two hours before legal shooting time at the Little Creek Wildlife Area. Hunters should plan to arrive in time to sign up for the drawing. All other state wildlife areas that do not have lotteries but allow waterfowl hunting are also open on youth waterfowl hunting day. Hunters also should check each wildlife area’s rules before hunting. To promote youth hunting, the Division is waiving blind fees for youth hunters on state wildlife areas on youth hunting days. Blind fees apply at all other times.

Youth hunters must be of sufficient physical size and strength to safely handle a firearm, and must be accompanied by a licensed or license-exempt adult hunter age 21 or older who cannot possess a firearm during the youth waterfowl hunt. Youth hunters age 13 through 15 must have completed a hunter education course, obtained a hunter education certification card and purchased a Delaware junior hunting license, which costs $5. Youth hunters age 10 through 12 must possess a License Exempt Number (LEN) and may take a hunter education course. Youth waterfowl hunters under the age of 16 must also have a federally-required Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. No state or federal waterfowl stamps are required for youth hunters.

Delaware hunting licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. LEN and HIP numbers can be obtained through the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Hunter and Trapper Registration System (HTR). This free, easy-to-use system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To use the HTR system, please visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/delhunt. If you prefer to talk to a live customer service representative, please call 855-DELHUNT (855-335-4868).

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk and from license agents throughout the state.

*Reminder: The Snow Goose Conservation Order will be closed Feb. 11 on the youth waterfowl hunt day due to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service restrictions not allowing the Snow Goose Conservation Order to be open during waterfowl hunting seasons. The Conservation Order will be in effect Monday, Feb. 6 through Friday, Feb. 10 and Monday, Feb. 13 through Friday, April 7.

This program is part of Delaware’s Children in Nature Initiative, a statewide effort to improve environmental literacy in Delaware, create opportunities for children to participate in enriching outdoor experiences, combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Delaware’s multi-agency initiative, which partners state and federal agencies with community organizations, is part of the national No Child Left Inside program.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 26

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