At the risk of whizzing off those who like this idea, I hope I can express my view as well without coming under attack. I think this youth special youth stuff is BS. Having grown up without a father in the home, it was my uncles who introduced me to hunting and fishing. The time we sent together was some of the most meaningful of my life and I looked forward to each opening day "trout season", "pike season", "bass season", wood chuck hunting, "squirrel season", "bow season for deer", "gun season for deer" and then beagles for "rabbit season".
It was not only the "hunting" aspect but also the time with caring adults, their support and encouragement, the stories and laughing, the entire experience that came with the preparation for and buildup to the experience of the coming "season". Fishing since about seven years old and hunting since about age 13, I am as active and excited each year at 53 for the coming of each "season". With my own kids grown and gone, now days I have nephews to keep pumped up, and we hunt on the land I now own. I have come a long way from the little kid growing up in the middle of the city, who likely without the influence of my grandfather and uncles, would have had an entirely different life than I do. I have been an active game club member over the years, a county level sportsmen representative and introduced both kids and adults to the joy of hunting.
After all this chatter, I guess I don't understand the need to carve out a few days to put young kids along with their adult "companion" in the woods for additional opportunity to take deer or turkeys. I guess I'm a bit jaded in my older years, because I see this driven as much by adults wanting to get an upper hand to take game early under the guise of doing something for "kids" than actually doing anything for young hunters.
I just don't see the need for special seasons, when for me every season has always been "special", and with almost three month long deer season's in New York, there seems plenty of time and opportunity to help shape and mentor new hunters both young and old to experience hunting season as something "special" and not just a chance to shoot an animal.
Peace,
NYH