What Is the Minimum Age For Youth Bow Hunting For Bird? 

Youth bow hunting is a great way to introduce children to the outdoors and help them develop an appreciation for wildlife. It also helps to pass along our rich hunting heritage. 

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Hunting is an activity that requires skill and practice, so it’s important to be prepared for a successful hunt. The key is to treat every firearm as if it’s loaded, practice muzzle control, and be sure you are absolutely confident in your shot placement. 

Hunters under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult mentor or supervisor. This person must be a parent or guardian and hold a valid Maine hunting license or have completed a hunter safety course. 

Mentored youth hunters are required to have a valid mentored youth hunter permission form on file with the DNR. This permit must be carried in the hunting area and used by the mentor when assisting a youth hunter. 

The mentor must wear a fluorescent hunter-orange exterior garment or hat when hunting game mammals or upland birds (except turkey) with a firearm. This clothing must be visible from all directions and the hat must have at least 250 square inches of solid or patterned hunter orange or pink. 

Junior hunters must be accompanied by an adult mentor who is at least 18 years of age and is licensed to hunt big games. The mentor must have at least three years of experience in big game hunting. 

During the mentored youth hunt, a hunter may not use any type of tree stand or elevated platform. The mentor and the youth hunter must both remain on the ground during the hunt, except for short periods of time while field dressing an animal. 

An adult mentor who is a licensed big game hunter or has successfully completed a big game hunter education course may assist youth in taking a deer or bear. However, an adult mentor must not possess a firearm, muzzleloader, bow, arrow, or crossbow while in the field with the youth. 

The youth hunter may use a legal rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, air gun, bow, arrow, or crossbow to take the deer or bear. The adult partner cannot take a deer and may not possess a firearm, muzzleloader, or bow and arrow while in the field with the youth, except for a handgun carried lawfully. 

All youth and adult hunters must have a valid hunting license or Harvest Information Program number. During the free youth hunting days, a youth does not need a license or migratory waterfowl stamp to hunt for ducks and geese. 

To ensure a successful and safe hunt, youth hunters under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult mentor or supervisor who holds a valid hunting license or who has completed a hunter safety course. Both mentor and youth must remain on the ground during the hunt and the mentor must wear a fluorescent hunter-orange exterior garment or hat when hunting game mammals or upland birds with a firearm. Junior hunters must be accompanied by an experienced adult mentor who is at least 18 years of age and can guide the youth in all aspects of hunting, helping to pass along our rich hunting heritage. On free youth hunting days, the youth does not need a license or migratory waterfowl stamp to hunt for ducks and geese.