Outdoor News / Outdoor News September 2008 / Deadlines for youth hunt applications getting near

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Deadlines for youth hunt applications getting near

Springfield - Young hunters in Illinois are facing deadlines for participating in the fall youth hunting seasons.

Waterfowlers ages 10-15 have until Oct. 10 to apply for one of the state's youth duck or goose hunts. Youth waterfowl hunt applications are available online at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/waterfowl.htm.

For young deer hunters, those not receiving a permit or not applying in the first lottery can apply Sept. 15-19. Random daily drawings will be held up to Sept. 19. A random daily drawing means all applications from one day are randomly processed before applications from the next day are randomly processed.

The Youth Deer Hunt, which will be Oct. 11-12 statewide, is open only to Illinois residents who have not reached their 16th birthday by the hunt dates.

All applications for the Youth Deer Permit program must be made via the Internet accessible at www.dnr/state.il.us.

All counties are open to youth deer hunting except Cook, DuPage, Lake and that portion of Kane County east of Route 47.

As part of the youth waterfowl hunt, hunters age 15 or younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers as long as they are accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. The accompanying adult cannot hunt these species, but may participate in other open seasons.

Youth hunters must have a hunting license. The youth hunter or his or her accompanying adult must have a valid FOID card. The supervising adult does not need to have a hunting license if they are not hunting other species. Youth hunters age 15 or younger are not required to have a state or federal duck stamp.

All waterfowl hunters, including those participating in the youth hunt, are required to register with the Harvest Information Program.

At most public sites, regulations that apply during the regular waterfowl hunting season apply during the youth hunts, and bag limits are the same as during regular seasons. The youth hunt is also open on all private land or waters where a hunter has permission to hunt.

The 2008 youth waterfowl seasons are: north zone, Oct. 11-12; central zone, Oct. 18-19; south zone, Nov. 15-Nov. 16.

DNR's permit office can be reached at (217) 782-7305.