Provincial Expansion of the Youth Hunting Day Program

The stewardship councils in Elgin, Middlesex and Perth counties want to partner with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Pheasants Forever, Delta Waterfowl, Safari Club International etc. to expand the Youth Hunting Day concept across Ontario.

In this collaborative, the stewardship councils will work with Ontario Stewardship and the Ministry of Natural Resources to secure annual seed money and staffing support. Similarly, we envision that the hunting organizations would match this commitment of resources so Youth Hunting Day events could be implemented across Ontario. The Youth Hunting Day Planning Tool Kit web site should be considered as a valuable tool to facilitate this expansion.

Complimentary to these efforts, the stewardship councils will also want the collaborative to develop recommendations on ways to enhance the province’s Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program. This could include, but not limited to a graduated Apprenticeship Program where during the apprentice period, youth are exposed to a diversity of hunting experiences e.g. ring-necked pheasants, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and waterfowl.

Programs such as these will build on the successes of the Ontario Hunter Apprenticeship Program and Ontario Hunter Education Program by helping to inspire a passion for hunting in our youth that carries on to future generations. Furthermore, it makes a positive statement about our organizations working together on the common issue of hunter recruitment and retention.