The annual Youth Hunting Day is scheduled for September 22.

Hunters 15 years old younger will have Utah's marshes — and the ducks and geese that go with them — all to themselves on Sept. 22. That's the day Utah hosts its annual Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day.

Several states hold youth waterfowl hunting days, including Utah.

Photo courtesy of Ducks Unllimited

Blair Stringham, migratory game bird coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says taking young hunters into the marsh on Sept. 22 is the perfect way to get them interested in duck and goose hunting.

Stringham says duck numbers peak in Utah in mid-September. "It's the perfect time to be in the marsh," he says. "The kids you take will see plenty of ducks. And they should get plenty of shots."

And the young hunters should also get your undivided attention. "Adults can't hunt on youth day," Stringham says, "so the kids you take will get all of your attention."

Stringham says youth day might be the best day you have in the marsh all season. "Youth day is the perfect way to pass the tradition of waterfowl hunting on to the next generation," he says. "The memories the kids are left with will last a lifetime."

Shooting on Sept. 22 starts at 6:46 a.m.

To participate in the hunt, young hunters must be 15 years old or younger on Sept. 22. They must also be a Hunter Education course graduate, have a current hunting license and Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, and be accompanied by an adult.

Learn more

More information about Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day, including the number of ducks and geese kids can take, is available on page 24 of the 2012 – 2013 Utah Waterfowl Guidebook.