Neighboring states Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota all offer some type of youth deer hunting season.
Wisconsin started a one-day youth deer hunt in 2002, and recently has offered a two-day hunt in October before the regular nine-day firearms season.
"We didn't really have a lot of opposition," said Todd Schaller of the Wisconsin DNR.
He said the youth hunt has been mostly well received by hunters and that officials don't believe the youth deer harvest has impacted the regular hunting season.
North Dakota has a 9 1/2-day season starting in mid-September before the regular deer season. Youths 12 and 13 can hunt statewide only for antlerless deer. Youths 14 or 15 can hunt statewide for any deer, with some exceptions. Hunters must be under direct supervision of an adult.
South Dakota offers an unlimited number of youth licenses ($5 for residents, $10 for nonresidents) valid statewide for ages 12-17; the season runs from mid-September until January.
Iowa offers a two-week youth hunt that begins in mid-September.
DOUG SMITH
