NATCHEZ — Adult hunters had to clear the woods this weekend to make way for their sons and daughters to have their shots at bringing down a prize buck.

Saturday marked the beginning of the youth deer-hunting season, and the first weekend of the season is specifically dedicated to young hunters, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Youth Outreach Coordinator Chris McDonald said.

“We want to let the youth get out there on their own for a weekend that is set aside just for them,” McDonald said. “Hopefully we will recruit new hunters. We want to provide them the means to have their weekend for them to have fun.”

McDonald said allowing the children to go out with their guns before adults gives the young hunters a better opportunity at getting a kill.

“Basically we give them the first opportunity in the woods regarding deer season,” he said. “The deer are not going to be spooked like they would later in the season.”

McDonald said the goal of MDWFP is to encourage younger hunters to take up the sport, and MDWFP does this by relaxing regulations for younger hunters.

MDWFP provides encourages youth hunting by providing a number of hunting opportunities for children, allowing them to use their weapon of choice and giving them relaxed antler criteria, Deer Program Biologist Justin Thayer said in a press release.

The youth weekend is just the kickoff for youth hunting opportunities in Mississippi, however, and expanded opportunities for young hunters exist during the entirety of youth hunting season, which lasts until Jan. 31.

The youth season is open on private and authorized state and federal lands, and each MDWFP Wildlife Management Area that allows deer hunting offers youth hunts.

MDWFP encourages all youth to complete a hunter education course before heading out to hunt, and 12- to 15-year-olds are allowed to hunt alone if they have finished the hunter education course, McDonald said. Hunters under the age of 16 who have not completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a Mississippi-licensed hunter that is at least 21 years of age, McDonald said.

McDonald said the weekend hunt is a very popular event around the state.

“Most hunting camps around the state have events planned for kids,” he said. “They get them out in the woods, cookout for them. It’s a good, family time and good family atmosphere.”

McDonald said there are plenty of opportunities in southwest Mississippi for youth hunters, including Natchez State Park and St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge.

St. Catherine Creek NWR

The St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge offers its youth gun hunt during the first seven days of the statewide youth season.

Children ages 10 to 15 are allowed to participate in the hunt at the refuge, and no other hunting is allowed during the youth hunt with the exception of wheelchair dependent hunters hunting in designated blinds.

The refuge bag limit is one deer per day of either sex. The regulation on antler size is relaxed for the youth hunt, but harvest for antlerless deer remains limited to resident hunters, Strader said.

Refuge Manager Bob Strader said the youth gun hunt is a special time for parents and children at the refuge.

“I think it’s always good to have a special week for kids,” he said. “We haven’t had gun hunting at the refuge, and they can come and get the first shot at the deer before they are more alarmed.

“When I hunted with my kids it was a special time. I couldn’t hunt, so I was just there for the kids. There was no reason for me to be in the woods except to spend time with the kids. It doesn’t take a whole lot for a kid to get excited. A day or morning with dad is a pretty big experience.”

Strader said each participating child must have a Daily Use Permit to hunt on the refuge. Hunters 10- to 15-years-old must have proof of passing a hunter education course, and an adult 21 years or older must stay with hunters under the age of 16.

In addition to opportunities at St. Catherine Creek, Strader said Bayou Cocodrie NWR offers three youth lottery hunts in December. Those hunts are Dec. 19-20, 20-21 and 21-22. All hunts for the 2011 season have been filled, Strader said.

Natchez State Park

Natchez State Park also offers youth hunt lotteries each weekend until Nov. 27, Park Manager Roddy Powell said.

The lottery took place in August, and 20 children, each accompanied by an adult, are allowed to hunt at the state park on Saturday and Sunday each week, Powell said.

For more information about statewide youth hunting opportunities contact MDWFP at www.mdwfp.com or call 601-432-2400. For more information about hunting opportunities at St. Catherine Creek or Bayou Cocodrie refuges call 601-442-6696. For information about opportunities at Natchez State Park call 601-442-2658.