February 2 and 3 mark a two-day season for up-and-coming duck hunters. To help pass the duck-hunting tradition on to future generations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, crafted a statewide, two-day season that allows children younger than 16 years old to hunt with an adult supervisor (at least 18 years old), for waterfowl, coots and common moorhens.

Supervisors must be present, and may assist, but are prohibited from hunting. Licenses, permits and federal duck stamps are not required for the youth hunters.

The FWC notes specific regulations for certain species of ducks, coots, common moorhens and Canadian geese.

The daily bag limit of ducks is six, with no more than one black duck, one mottled duck, one fulvous whistling duck, one pintail, two canvasback, two redheads, two wood ducks, two scaup, four scoters and four mallards, of which only two can be female. Brant or harlequin ducks are illegal to hunt.

The daily limit on coots and common moorhens is 15, and there is a 5-bird limit on mergansers, only two of which may be hooded.

Light geese may be hunted statewide. Light geese include snow, blue and Ross’ geese. There is a 15-bird daily bag limit on any combination of these geese. Canadian Geese can only be taken in Lake Seminole—the daily bag limit is 5. All other regulations for hunting waterfowl apply to this two-day season; visit MyFWC.com/hunting to brush up on any cloudy rules.

Three events are scheduled for Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days: Camp Blackbelly waterfowl youth hunt is on Friday, Feb. 1, at the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area in Brevard County.

The South Region members of United Waterfowlers of Florida will host its annual waterfowl youth hunt on Sunday, Feb. 3, at Stormwater Treatment Area 5 in Hendry County.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, duck hunting will be available to about 30 youths between the ages of 12-15 at the Beau Turner Conservation Center in Jefferson County.

Food, instruction and other activities are included with each event. Camping is available at some events, as well as skeet shooting. Again, participating youth hunters must be under the age of 16.

For more information contact Kent Harvey at Kent.Harvey@MyFWC.com.