Youth, ages 15 and younger, can go waterfowl hunting Saturday, Sept. 8, on Youth Waterfowl Day, when accompanied by an adult who is not hunting, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“This hunt is a fantastic way for parents and guardians to introduce youth to waterfowl hunting in Minnesota, where we have these outdoor opportunities available all across the state,” said James Burnham, DNR hunter and angler recruitment, retention and reactivation coordinator.

During Youth Waterfowl Day, hunters ages 15 and younger may take regular season bag limits of ducks, and five Canada geese statewide, when accompanied by an adult 18 or older who is not hunting. The accompanying adult does not need a license.

Hunters, ages 13 to 15, must have a firearms safety certificate or apprentice hunter validation in their possession. Ducks, Canada geese, mergansers, coots and moorhens may be taken from a half-hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. Motorized decoys may not be used. All other migratory bird hunting regulations apply.

“Overall, public support for having Youth Waterfowl Day is the highest it’s ever been, looking back at DNR hunter surveys from last year,” Burnham said.

Out of 1,611 hunters surveyed across the state last year, 73 percent of respondents supported the youth hunting day with 46 percent strongly supporting it. In contrast, 17 percent opposed the hunt, with 10 percent strongly opposing it.

Parent or guardians with limited equipment and knowledge about waterfowl hunting are encouraged to contact their local outdoor sports clubs for resources and potential local hunting opportunities. Anyone interested in additional hunting resources can contact James Burnham at 651-259-5191 or james.burnham@state.mn.us.