New Hampshire’s Youth Turkey Weekend - May 1 and 2, 2010
New Hampshire’s 2010 Youth Turkey Hunt will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2, the weekend before the state’s annual spring turkey season gets underway on May 3rd. This year will be the sixth annual youth turkey hunt weekend in New Hampshire. During the 2009 youth weekend, young hunters took an impressive 570 gobblers, or 14.1 % of the total spring turkey kill in the state. This was very similar to the previous year.
To participate in the special weekend turkey hunt, youth hunters must be age 15 or younger and must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult of age 18 or older. The adult may not carry a firearm or bow and arrow. Youth hunters do not need a hunting license, but must have a valid turkey permit ($16 resident, $31 nonresident). Accompanying adults must have either a current N.H. hunting or archery license, as well as a turkey permit.
Gabrielle Wade shot this 15 pound Jake April 26, 2008 the day before her 15th birthday. She called him
in with
a mouth call. We were set up for him to come across the field and just after
shooting time had come and she
made her first call , we new we were set up wrong he was behind us. He came in so fast I could
not believe
it. In less then 15 minutes He had jump up on the stone wall less then ten yards away from her and stared at her
while her laughed at him. 15 minutes into opening day we were packing up and headed to get it tagged. Last
year she wounded one and was unable to find him, she decided that was her lose for the season. This year
she can't wait to hunt as an adult with the big boys. Her proud Dad, Henry G Camirand.
This special weekend provides youth and mentoring adults a quiet, noncompetitive time in the woods where they can focus on safety, ethics, hunting skills and natural science. “Nothing generates more compliments, letters of thanks and photographs of proud parents and beaming kids than our youth turkey weekend,” stated Mark Ellingwood, Wildlife Programs Administrator for the N.H. Fish and Game Department. “We take great pride and satisfaction in providing young people and mentoring adults with the opportunity to learn safe hunting practices to put lean, healthy, natural food on their family table and to enjoy the spellbinding wonders and beauty of New Hampshire’s spring woodlands.”
Mark says that the youth turkey weekend is a great opportunity for an adult and child to spend time together without the stressful distractions of modern life. “Our spring woods are full of spellbinding, natural beauty, be it spectacular spring flowers, the melodious mystery of feverishly singing migrant warblers, or the thundering reverberations of gobbling turkeys from their ridge-top roosts. Oh yes, bring your shotgun, but also bring along your binoculars, camera and field guide so you won’t be disappointed. It’s a sure-fire way to build bonds with your son or daughter that will last a lifetime.”
In addition to their special turkey hunting weekend, youth can also hunt during the regular spring turkey season (May 3 through 31), when accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older. All youth are required to have a valid turkey permit. New Hampshire Fish and Game urges all who participate in turkey hunting, including all youths, to memorize the following list of ten safety guidelines before going out in the field:
1. Never stalk a turkey. It rarely ever works and it increases the risk of an accident.
2. Never wear red, white, blue or black over or under-clothing as these are prominent colors of displaying turkeys.
3. Never call from a tree that is thinner than the width of your shoulders.
4. Never jump or turn suddenly in response to a suspected turkey.
5. Never call from a site where you can’t see at least 40 yards in all directions.
6. Never imitate a turkey call while concealed in a stand.
7. Never presume that what you hear or what responds to your call is a turkey.
8. Never think that your camouflage makes you totally invisible. To ID yourself to other hunters, wrap a Hunter Orange band around the tree nearest you.
9. Never hide so well that you can’t see what is happening around you.
10. Never move or wave to alert approaching hunters. Instead, shout: “stop” instead.
And, one more thing. When going to or leaving your turkey stand site, wear a Hunter Orange cap or vest. These can be removed once you get to your spot or back to your vehicle.
Hunter Education is not required for youth hunters under age 16. However, youth are encouraged to complete the Hunter Education Course between the age of 12 and their 16th birthday. Many hunter and bow hunter education classes are available in April. To sign up, visit the website:
www.huntnh.com/Hunter_ed.htm.
T here is no doubt that turkey hunting is a real challenge. The results of which will provide a great meal and, if you tie flies, a lot of great feathers for that purpose.
Bob Harris can be
reached via e-mail at:
outwriter2@aol.com
Past
Columns by Bob Harris
>>>
About
Bob Harris
>>>
DISCLAIMER: The opinions
expressed by Mr. Harris are not necessarily those of the
Goffstown Residents Association or its members
Copyright©2010 Goffstown Residents Association. All Rights Reserved. |
