Youth hunting seasons tomorrow and Sunday

Tomorrow and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22, is the youth hunting season for several bird species, including ducks, coot, geese, pheasant, California quail along with Chukar and Huns.

These seasons are for hunters under 16 years old and who must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not hunting.

This is an opportunity to take a youth into the Great Outdoors for two full days of hunting a variety of birds. Imagine taking a daughter or niece on their first hunt. First throw out a few duck decoys on Crab Creek above Road 10 for an early morning duck hunt, with the idea perhaps a goose might appear.

Next travel to one of the pheasant release sites and hunt pheasants, but be aware quail may also appear. After lunch on the tailgate, hunt another release site and another and ...until the sun goes down.

Yes, hunting all day, with appropriate rest periods, might be appropriate for a 14- or 15-year-old, but the 12-year-old might enjoy the early duck hunt and a hike through part of the release site.

Don't overdue the hunt. The hunt should end when the youth is tired to the point continuing would not be enjoyable.

It is a shame when this chance is missed. Don't let the two-day youth hunting opportunity slip away.

Fall turkey season

Tomorrow, Sept. 21, also is the beginning of the early fall turkey season, open to all hunters. This season will continue through Oct. 11 in Game Management Units 105 through 142. The limit is two beardless turkeys in addition to other fall turkey harvest.

The season, with the same dates, is also in GMUs 101 and 124 through 154 and 162 through 186. The limit is one turkey of either sex, in addition to other fall turkey harvest.

This means in overlapping GMUs, three turkeys can be tagged. An example is GMU 124, Mount Spokane, where a hunter may take two beardless turkeys and one of either sex or three beardless birds.