Take your kids duck hunting on Saturday

Waterfowl hunters between the ages of 12 and 15, and their adult companions, will have an opportunity to have a marsh all to themselves on Saturday when Utah hosts its annual Youth Hunting Day. Those hunters who are 11, but reach 12 by Dec. 31, may also hunt.

The Youth Hunting Day is a unique chance to introduce young people to waterfowl hunting.

"Holding this day is important to the future of waterfowl hunting and the future of Utah's wetlands," says Tom Aldrich, migratory game bird coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

"The number of young people participating in all types of hunting has declined in recent years. If that trend continues, the funding hunters provide to conserve wetlands will also decline, and that will affect everyone who enjoys visiting these areas.

"Letting young people hunt waterfowl, without all the adult hunters out there and when waterfowl numbers are high, is a great way to get them interested in, and excited about, waterfowl hunting. And, since adults can't hunt that day, it gives them more time to teach young hunters good hunting skills, safety and ethics."

All of the state's waterfowl management areas, and certain areas on the three federal migratory bird refuges in Utah, will be open to youth hunters on Saturday.

Youth hunters must be a Hunter Education safety course graduate, possess a small game or combination license and be accompanied by their parent or an adult who's at least 21 years of age.

The adult may not hunt or possess a firearm, and must supervise the young people they take into the field. An adult may take as many young people as they'd like, provided the hunters are the proper age and possess the proper licenses.

Shooting will begin at 8 a.m. Youth hunters may take ducks, geese, coots and mergansers and must stay within general season limits.

The 2005 - 2006 daily duck bag limit is seven ducks, including not more than two hen mallards, one pintail, one canvasback, two redheads and

three scaups.

The daily Canada goose bag limit is three.

Snipe and swans may not be taken on Youth Hunting Day.

For more information call DWR's Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.