Oregon's Mentored Youth Hunter Program

The Mentored Youth Hunter Program

Youth 9 through 13 years of age now have another opportunity to gain hunting experience and learn about Oregon’s rich hunting heritage. The Mentored Youth Hunter Program allows youth 9 through 13 years of age to hunt without first passing an approved hunter education program. It gives unlicensed youngsters the opportunity to receive mentored, one-on-one field experience and training on the ethics, safety, responsibility, and enjoyment of the hunting while closely supervised by a licensed adult.
As an incentive to participate in the mentored youth hunting program, youth will receive one mentored youth preference point for each year the youth registers for the program. Once the department receives the youth’s registration form, if the youth does not have a hunter identification number, a number will be assigned and a mentored youth preference point updated in the system.
The time shared between a youngster and a mentor is invaluable. There simply is no better way to introduce a young person to safe, ethical and responsible aspects of hunting than with the close supervision of an adult mentor that the Mentored Youth Hunter Program provides.
Contact Us

e-mail questions to: mailto:mentored.youth@state.oror call 503-947-6027

General Information
Youth Participation
A youth may participate in the mentored youth hunter program, without first passing an approved hunter education program, provided the youth:

1. Is 9 through 13 years of age. At age 14, a youth is no longer eligible to participate in the mentored youth hunting program. From age 14 through 17, a youth must pass an approved hunter education program and possess his or her own license and/or tags.
2. Hunts while accompanied by a supervising hunter who is 21 years of age or older and who has a valid license and tag(s) for the dates, area and species being hunted.

3. Noah Frank with his first buck. -Oregon Fish and Wildlife-

   Annual registration is required.
4. Has in possession proof of registration.
5. Reviews and acknowledges understanding of material on safe hunting practices provided by the department by signing form.
6. Follows all regulations regarding hunting in the given wildlife management unit, management area or location
7. Remains under the immediate control of the supervising hunter at all times while the youth is in possession of any legal weapon for the hunt

Supervising hunter

            The supervising hunter shall:

1. Have a valid hunting license and tag(s) valid for the dates, area and species being hunted.

2. Maddy Donovan, 11 years old, got her first deer. She was Mentored by her Great Grandpa Bernard L. Straight.  -Photo provided by John B. Straight.-

   Maintain immediate control of the mentored youth hunter at all times while the youth is in possession of any legal weapon for the hunt.
3. Ensure that all Oregon hunting regulations are followed. The supervising hunter shall be responsible and accountable for all actions of the mentored youth hunter while engaged in hunting.
4. Supervise only one mentored youth hunter at any given time while engaged in hunting.
5. Review information on safe hunting practices provided by the department with the youth. 

Safety

            While engaged in mentored youth hunting activities:

1. The supervising hunter shall maintain immediate control of the mentored youth hunter at all times while the mentored youth hunter is in possession of any legal weapon for the hunt.
2. The supervising hunter shall not accompany more than one mentored youth hunter at any given time while engaged in hunting.
3. The supervising hunter and the mentored youth hunter shall not collectively possess more than one weapon legal for the hunt at any given time while engaged in hunting.

Seasons and bag limits

1. Hunter Pariani with his first long beard Turkey. The hunt was mentored by his uncle, Fred Pariani. -Photo provided by Fred Pariani-

   Any wildlife harvested by the mentored youth hunter shall be counted towards the supervising hunter’s bag limit.
2. A youth is not eligible to participate in the mentored youth hunting program if the youth possesses their own valid hunting license and/or tag(s) valid for the dates, area and species being hunted. 
3. The mentored youth hunting program is not applicable to designated youth only seasons and hunts.

Mentored Youth Preference Points

• Youth participating in the mentored youth hunting program will receive one mentored youth preference point for each year the youth registers for the program.
• The mentored youth preference points will be “banked” and held in the licensing system with no expiration date. To redeem banked points, the mentored youth will be required to fill out a form supplied by the department’s License Services Section that clearly states what species the mentored youth wants their mentored youth preference points moved to.
• You can now view “banked” mentored youth preference points on the My Hunter Information link.
• Points must be used at one time and may not be split among species.
• Once Mentored Youth Preference Points are redeemed, they are converted to the Preference Point System and are subject to the Oregon Administrative Rules that govern preference points.

Redeem Mentor Youth Preference Points
Mentored youth preference point(s) must be converted into regular preference point(s) before they can be used on a controlled hunt draw. When you decide to convert your point(s), all of the mentored youth preference point(s) that you have accumulated to that date must be used towards one specific controlled hunt series. You must submit a controlled hunt application for the hunt series that you have chosen before your points can be converted, application deadline to apply for Spring Bear is February 10th and Big Game is May 15th. Your mentored youth preference point(s) do not expire, however decisions to convert mentored youth preference point(s) are permanent and will remain in the system until successful in a draw. Converting mentored youth preference point(s) is done by submitting the Request to Redeem Mentored Youth Preference Point(s) (pdf). If you have questions about your point(s) please contact ODFW License services at 800-708-1782.

Mail or fax the completed form to:
ODFW, License Services
3406 Cherry Ave. NE
Salem, OR 97303-4924
Fax Number 503-947-6113