NEW Fall Turkey Hunting Opportunities under the Mentored Hunting Program

Effective September 1, 2009, just in time for the fall 2009 turkey hunting season, hunters age 10 or older, born on or after January 1, 1973 can obtain a hunting license and/or permit and hunt, without first completing hunter education, provided they hunt with a mentor and comply with all of the requirements under the Mentored Hunting Program.

For additional information, please visit the Mentored Hunting Program website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the adult whom is accompanying the mentored hunter need to be licensed?

Answer: Generally, a license is not required to accompany another hunter or call for another hunter. However, if the hunter is age 10 or 11, or has not completed hunter education, then they must hunt with a mentor who would need to possess a current year’s license to hunt any game species. However, if the mentor is mentoring a youth on the mentor’s own land, then a license is not required.

I didn’t receive a permit through the preference drawing, how can I still participate in the fall hunt?

Answer: Fall turkey permits that remain after the preference drawing will be made available for purchase until the zone quotas are met. Leftover permit typically go on sale in early September. To participate in the fall hunt a permit, license, and stamp must be purchased. You may only hunt in the Turkey Management Zone your permit was issued for.

The only other option is if a person who received a turkey permit through the cumulative preference drawing process was to transfer their turkey permit and license to the youth by submitting a “Transfer of License or Permit to Youth” form 9400-403Y to the DNR. The application must be received at least 15 days before the season opens. This is a once in a lifetime transfer.

How close do the adult mentor and youth or mentored hunter need to be while hunting?

Answer: "Accompany" for the purpose of youth who have completed hunter education means within visual and voice contact without the aid of any mechanical or electronically amplified device, except for a hearing aid. For those hunting under the Mentored Hunting Program requirements, you must be “mentored” by an adult who is within arm’s reach at all times during the hunt. Please keep in mind turkey hunting is a unique sport and requires extra safety precautions.

For more information on this topic, send mail to: Assistant Upland Ecologist

Questions for Wildlife Management