MONTPELIER — Vermont’s upcoming youth waterfowl hunting weekend takes place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23 and 24. A youngster’s first hunt can mark the beginning of a lifelong passion for the outdoors and a commitment to wildlife conservation, and youth waterfowl hunt weekend is designed to do just that. 

“Vermont’s youth waterfowl hunting weekend helps ensure that young hunters get the quality training and experiences they need for lifelong participation,” said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick. “By design, the youth weekend hunt reinforces the route of initiation that is critical in recruitment — learning from an experienced adult role model.”

On September 23 and 24,  hunters 17 years of age or younger may hunt ducks and geese in the Lake Champlain and Interior Vermont waterfowl hunting zones. 

The youth hunter must have a Vermont hunting license and must be accompanied by an unarmed adult, 18 years of age or older, who also has a Vermont hunting license. Youths 16 and 17 years of age must have state and federal duck stamps. All youth hunters must also register with the Harvest Information Program (HIP) in each state that they hunt. This can be done on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website or by calling toll-free 877-306-7091. The adult may not hunt waterfowl or carry a firearm while accompanying the youth when the youth is hunting waterfowl. 

Ducks and geese may be taken by youth hunters on Sept. 23 and 24 according to the bag limits set in the 2023-2024 Syllabus of State and Federal Hunting Regulations for Migratory Birds in Vermont, available from Vermont post offices and as a downloadable file from www.vtfishandwildlife.com under Hunt – Waterfowl.