WATERBURY- Nonresident young hunters may now participate in Vermont’s special youth hunt weekends for deer and turkey. Vermont’s legislative statute governing youth deer and turkey hunts was amended to include nonresidents as well as residents, effective July 1, 2009.

Anyone under 16 years of age who has successfully completed a hunter safety course and purchased the required licenses may obtain free youth deer hunting or youth turkey hunting tags to participate in Vermont’s special youth hunts for deer and turkey.

The young hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years of age who holds a Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany up to two young hunters. Landowner permission is required in order to hunt on private land during the youth deer and turkey hunt weekends.

Vermont’s youth deer hunting weekend is November 7 and 8 this year, the weekend before the rifle season. A young hunter who has obtained a Vermont hunting license and youth deer tag may take one deer of either sex during youth deer hunting weekend. The antler restriction that applies for other Vermont deer seasons does not apply for youth deer hunting weekend.

The next youth turkey hunting weekend will be April 24 and 25, 2010, the weekend before the May 1 through 31 spring turkey season. Vermont’s youth waterfowl hunt weekend will occur in late September, the dates to be announced later. Youth waterfowl hunting weekend had always been open to nonresidents.

Vermont’s youth hunting licenses are $8 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. Turkey hunting licenses, required in addition to the hunting license, are $17 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.