Bill > LD1322

This bill establishes a 2-year pilot program run by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) and the Department of Economic and Community Development's Office of Tourism to increase youth participation in hunting during calendar years 2026 and 2027. The program includes several specific components: scheduling a youth spring wild turkey hunting day during a long weekend, establishing a 2-day youth bear hunting season in late summer or early fall, creating a dedicated youth dog hunting day before the regular season, launching a public relations and social media campaign to raise awareness about youth hunting opportunities, collaborating with community organizations and schools to host educational events, and inviting hunting organizations and conservation groups to help shape the program. The DIFW will develop rules for the pilot program, set specific dates, and establish participation guidelines. The department is required to submit two reports (in January 2027 and 2028) detailing participation data, participant feedback, the program's impact on youth engagement, and recommendations for the program's future. Additionally, the department may propose legislation based on the pilot program's findings, which could be submitted to the Legislature for consideration in the Second Regular Session of the 133rd Legislature.