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Get involved in the Youth Turkey Hunt Program (for sportsmen's clubs)

Do your club members want to host a Youth Turkey Hunt class? Getting involved is easy. The commitment and dedication of club volunteers are essential to the success of this program!
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About the Youth Turkey Hunt Program

The Youth Turkey Hunt Program introduces minors (age 12-17) to hunting through a safe and fun program offered by MassWildlife, the Massachusetts State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, and participating Sportsmen's Clubs. The Program consists of a turkey hunting seminar and a mentored turkey hunt. Students can choose between an in-person seminar or an online seminar.  

Clubs can choose to host one of the following:  

  • Learn to Hunt Turkey Seminar: Full day in-person seminar that is open to youth and adults. This option is similar to the traditional youth seminar but is open to new youth participants, families, and new adult turkey hunters (ages 18+).   

  • Youth Turkey Hunt Seminar: Full day in-person seminar that is open to youth only.  

  • Learn to Hunt Turkey Range Day: 2.5-hour class to provide youth and adults with an opportunity to practice shooting. Students who complete the online seminar must spend time practicing on a range. Range days will be made available to youth who complete the online seminar and to new adult hunters who need a location to practice prior to season.
    NOTE: Participating in the range day only does not qualify students to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt Program. This is a supplemental offering a club can choose to provide to online students.   

How to host a Turkey Hunting Seminar at your club

Thank you for your interest in running a Turkey Hunting Seminar at your club. The commitment and dedication of club volunteers are essential to the success of this program!

Required steps for hosting a Turkey Hunting Seminar:  

  1. Establish the Program Coordinator for the club who will be the main point of contact for MassWildlife and for participants.

  2. Review the required lesson plans and agenda for the Massachusetts Youth Turkey Hunting Program. Identify volunteer instructors for each of the seminar topics and adult mentors for the hunt. All volunteers must complete the volunteer registration form. Email John.Gutzeit@mass.gov if you need a copy of the planning guide or volunteer forms.

  3. Complete the Club Registration Form by mid-February. You will be asked to provide information about the seminar including date, location, type of course, names of instructors, and student capacity. The seminar should be held at least 2 weeks prior to the hunt to allow youth participants enough time to obtain their required permits.

  1. When the seminar is complete, the club’s Program Coordinator must submit a list of youth participants who successfully completed the class to MassWildlife.
    Once received and processed, a Youth Turkey Hunt Certificate will be added to the participant’s customer profile enabling them purchase a Youth Turkey Permit (ages 12-14) or a Youth Turkey Hunt Eligibility (ages 15-17).

  1. Connect volunteer mentors with participants who requested a mentor for the hunt. Ensure all mentors and mentees have reviewed the guidelines for the mentored hunt.

Have a safe and successful youth turkey hunt! For questions, please contact John Gutziet at John.Gutzeit@mass.gov  

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