The Great Lakes State is rich in outdoor heritage and hunting remains a tradition that is passed down from generation to generation. But Michigan takes a different approach to youth hunting. In lieu of a hunting permit for kids, Michigan offers the Mentored Youth Hunt.
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The basic premise of the Michigan Youth Mentor Hunt is to allow parents to decide when their child is ready to hunt.
The Mentored Youth Hunt gives kids age 10 and under the opportunity to hunt, trap and fish. As part of the youth hunt, a package license is offered for $7.50. This license gives kids the chance to hunt turkey (spring and fall on private or public land), deer (one tag, any deer) and small game, trap furbearers and fish for all species. This hunt negated the state’s minimum age requirement for hunting.
In the program, youth participants work with hunting mentors who are experienced in the state’s hunting program. Mentors provide youth with hands-on hunting experience, in a safe, monitored environment. For example, at no time in the field is a participant more than arms length from the mentor when actively hunting or handling a firearm.
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Additional regulations apply to what youth can and cannot hunt in the program. Youth participants may only hunt deer with a firearm on private or commercial forest land that meets current firearms law for youth 14 and under. Point restrictions do not apply to deer in the youth hunt, but antlerless deer may only be taken during antlerless-only seasons.
Youth who are aged 10 and older are still required to meet the state’s hunter education requirement.
Though not required for younger than 10, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources encourages all youth to take the course prior to hunting.
If a child is 10 or older and does not want to purchase a regular hunting license because they are missing the education requirement, the apprentice option remains. An apprentice license may be purchased for two years for those ages 10 to 16. The seasons/years do not have to be consecutive. After that time the youth hunter must take the educational course required to obtain a regular Michigan hunting license.
This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.
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