Todays is the youth gun hunt here in soggy ole Ky. Be several toddlers kill their first buck today !!!!

I think youth seasons are a great idea. I get it that some people don't like youth seasons because it's abused by adults in some areas, I think a lot of that is because of whitetail Mania. I really don't have any sympathy in that regards. However, what I don't understand is why they relegate youth to hunting antlerless deer. Is it because the antlered deer are supposed to be reserved for the adults? I think it's great when I see a kid shoot a monster buck; or any buck for that matter..

In Missouri we have an antler restriction in most counties. Have to have at least 4 points on one side, for bow and gun season. Youth season, that's lifted. The kids can take whatever they choose to

Today starts youth week for Georgia. Hoping a few youth that I know are going will get a deer!! Haven’t heard of any yet. A balmy 75 this morning, lol.

I'm not against the youth weekend but I don't think it's as effective as people would hope.


My nephew used to do the youth weekend and the youth weekend only. It was boring and only got one shot in the years.

He was nearly done with hunting until I took him squirrel and bird hunting. Now the kid is hooked. The youth weekend should just be one small fraction of the youth experience.

My daughters are hunting the Illinois youth shotgun season this weekend. Didnt see any this morning, heading back out tonight.

I like that MO youth aren’t restricted and can take what comes. Helps keep their interest
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I agree. Almost everyone started on squirrels and doves when I was young.

Indiana doesn’t have any restrictions but it’s only a two day season. It would be nice if it was a week, you can get two days of terrible weather and youth season is over.

Couple statez out west have good programs for youth. Some have reduced cost and some special draws.
Or does mentored youth where those 9 thru 11 can legally fill the adulrz tag and a special youth draw with some decent hunts.
Nv does youth deer draw for 12 to 17 year olds any deer hunt all 3 seasons.

Just need a minimum age imo

I don't know if it is still the case, but Idaho 14 years or so had a youth deer season, and out of State youth just paid the resident license and tag fee. It was (and still may be) one of the best kept secrets in the Country.

Any deer is fair game here !!! Ones I question is like the pic I posted 3 years old and under killing a deer !! REALLy ?????

I have wondered how many kids get up early and sit in the ground blind with dad, brother or uncle and see a buck appear only to have the rifle snatched from their hands before they can shoot and only get to watch as the deer is taken. They hear something like “ You would have missed it”. I know it happens here some. I used to teach hunter education and would ask the kids who was going to hunt the youth deer season, of course, that’s why most were there. I’d tell them good, that’s their season and if dad, uncle or brother takes the shot he’s poaching. Boy you should have seen the kids heads turn and the angry looks on dads faces. I too am having second thoughts on how much recruitment and retention we’re getting, especially in the trapping aspect. We’ve took time with so many kids, gave them stuff, took them trapping and they won’t pay 25.00 to join our association. I think if the kid is the right mettle any time you give them is great and are our future. I fear too many are done with the experience as soon as it hits Facebook.

But can't they still hunt during regular season ? Not like they have to wait until next year again....

My two boys have been having a great time all weekend have only seen two deer and the shot wasn't ideal so they passed, I'm proud of them its hard when your young but their making good decisions and handling their firearms safely I think that's the important thing. We have seen plenty of other things like a Fisher that hung out for 30 min right in front of us just a good weekend in the woods

I haven't even heard a shot around where I live for this KY youth season. Didn't hear any last year either. Twenty years ago it sounded like a war. Same thing with opening day of gun season - very few shots these days. We seem to set a new deer harvest record for the state every year but I am not seeing the hunting pressure I saw 20 years ago. I trap a ton of public land and might run into five hunters a year and most of them are after ducks which we have very few of in this area.

Yes they can hunt regular season, just my opinion but i think kids should get a week long season before the woods blow up.

Was camping this weekend. Saw a few people and heard a few shots. Really weird seeing orange this early in the year.

Seeing how it was 87 degrees here this weekend and I only went out in the mornings, I didn’t expect to hear much. Most kids around here have already killed deer in their young lives and are selective about what they shoot. I know of one young man who saw 11 does and 2 spikes. He was waiting for his first buck...with a rack. Cooler weather would really help out a little.