A statewide youth deer hunt will be held the weekend of October 6-7 in Wisconsin. The hunt is designed to give youth hunters ages 10-15 an opportunity to hunt deer and gain valuable hunting experience at a time when other hunters are not authorized to hunt deer with a firearm.

Since 2009, young hunters have been able to participate in the youth gun deer hunt, which is open to both resident and non-resident youth hunters.

The bag limit is one buck with a gun buck deer carcass tag, plus an additional antlerless deer per antlerless deer carcass tag valid for the DMU or a junior antlerless deer tag, which is valid statewide. Archery deer hunters are required to wear blaze orange clothing whenever any gun deer hunt is open, including during the youth deer hunt. Those venturing into the woods those days are encouraged to wear blaze orange clothing.

Youth hunters do not have to have a hunter safety certificate, but are subject to certain restrictions depending on their age. Youth ages 10 and 11 and youth ages 12 through 15 years who do not possess a hunter education certificate can participate if they are mentored by an adult who is within arm’s reach at all times during the hunt. Only one firearm, bow or crossbow may be possessed jointly between the mentor and youth who is age 10 or 11, or who has not completed hunter education, if participating in the youth gun deer hunt.