Junior Deer Hunt

Hunt4more · May 8, 2022

Can my 17 year old apply for a junior deer hunt for 2022? He won't be 18 until March 2023.

Horniac · May 8, 2022

Unfortunately no…

Apprentice Hunt Tags

Applicants must be less than 16 years of age as of July 1, of the license year for which they are applying, and must possess a valid 2022-23 California Junior Hunting License. See page 33 for more information on Apprentice Deer Hunts.

newguy · May 8, 2022

Such a ridiculous rule change. I wonder if any other states caps youth at 16.

Mark

Hunt4more · May 8, 2022

newguy said:
Such a ridiculous rule change. I wonder if any other states caps youth at 16.

Mark

When did they change it to 16? Is it possible to have more than 3 preference points based on the deadline for an apprentice hunt?

newguy · May 8, 2022

Hunt4more said:
When did they change it to 16? Is it possible to have more than 3 preference points based on the deadline for an apprentice hunt?

I believe 3 is max points for juniors but I would confirm that. They changed the age a couple of years ago so that they could start charging full price for licenses at a younger age.

Mark

NVPete · May 8, 2022

Nevada junior hunt age for big game: Must be 12 yrs. of age prior to the beginning of a particular start date. After 16 yrs. of age must apply as an adult.

Swivelneck · May 9, 2022

I read in the Press Democrat (Sonoma County paper)a month ago or so that a bill was proposed to the house to bring the age for youth tags back up to 17 again. The bill also proposed to do away with individual pig tags in lieu of a year long, one time payment, unlimited hog harvest scenario. I haven't heard anything more about if either of these passed or not.

bullskin · May 9, 2022

I think they changed it the year after they neglected to approve any junior hunts at all, thereby depriving an entire group of kids the opportunity they might finally have received with max points.

bpbigperm · May 9, 2022

Swivelneck said:
I read in the Press Democrat (Sonoma County paper)a month ago or so that a bill was proposed to the house to bring the age for youth tags back up to 17 again. The bill also proposed to do away with individual pig tags in lieu of a year long, one time payment, unlimited hog harvest scenario. I haven't heard anything more about if either of these passed or not.

We are lobbying to raise the age to 18. The DFW is pushing back stating it would be too much loss of revenue. The goal is to raise fishing and hunting ages. It is just so expensive to go hunt any more, high school kids should get a break.

canyoncrosser · May 10, 2022

I’m upset because my son will turn 12 in August and he is unable to apply for hunts this year. I think he can buy an over-the-counter tag the day after his birthday but he cannot put in.

buckmster28 · May 10, 2022

canyoncrosser said:
I’m upset because my son will turn 12 in August and he is unable to apply for hunts this year. I think he can buy an over-the-counter tag the day after his birthday but he cannot put in.

That will not hurt him in long run unless they change rules again, my daughters birthday is September so she could not apply the year she turned 12 but could buy an OTC tag when she turned 12 which she did and killed two bucks with two OTC tags. Now she is 15 but wont turn 16 until September so she is eligible to apply with 3(max for kids now) points in this years drawing