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32 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA Youngsters in Oklahoma have plenty of opportunities to enjoy hunting during times set aside only for them. Youths Get Their Own Hunting Chances Young hunters have special opportunities in Oklahoma to get into the outdoors and harvest game during times set aside specifically for them. The first “youth only” opportunity of the fall hunting season will be Oct. 5, 2019, which is a Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day in all of Oklahoma’s waterfowl zones. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows two days out- side the regular waterfowl seasons to provide a special hunting opportunity to encourage youth participation in waterfowling. Youth hunters must be 15 or younger, and accompanied by a nonhunting adult at least age 18. The daily bag limit may include ducks, mergansers, coots and geese. Bag limits will be the same as allowed during the regular season. All species and sex specific duck bag limit restrictions remain in effect. A second statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day will be Feb. 1, 2020, giving youngsters a chance for a late season experience. For deer hunting, the most popular pursuit among Oklahoma hunters, youths 17 and younger are given the first shot with modern firearms during Youth Deer Gun Season each year. This year, the season will be Oct. 18-20, 2019. Also on those same days is Youth Elk Gun Season on private lands. Also, hundreds of youngsters are selected by drawing each year for youth-only deer hunts through the Wildlife Department’s Controlled Hunts program. More than 700 permits are issued to youths who submit applica- tions in the spring. The Wildlife Department also offers a limited num- ber of guided youth waterfowl hunts, which are designed to offer youngsters ages 12-15 who don't have a mentor who hunts waterfowl the opportunity to experience the joys of waterfowling. Applications through www.wildlifedepartment.com are due by Nov. 4. Rounding out the slate of youth hunting opportu- nities are the youth spring turkey hunts through the Controlled Hunts program. More than 30 youngsters are selected for these hunts that are held on several wildlife management areas. Oklahoma residents younger than 16 are exempt from the purchase of the general hunting license, federal duck stamp, Oklahoma waterfowl license, Wildlife Conservation Passport, land access permit and HIP requirements. Nonresidents younger than 16 are exempt from the purchase of the federal duck stamp and HIP require- ments. Nonresidents younger than 14 are exempt from the purchase of a general hunting license in Oklahoma. VIA fACEBOOK