Mentored Hunts for Novice Youth
Mentor a hunter!
Hunting with a Mentor is Required
To hunt big game and small game animals in Colorado, youth hunters must be accompanied by a mentor who is 18 or older and also meets hunter education requirements. Youth and mentors must be able to see and hear each other while hunting. Mentors can hunt only if they have a current license valid for the same units and dates the youth will be hunting. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers free mentored hunts for youth hunters who would like to learn to hunt from an experienced mentor.
State Lands Where Youth can Hunt with a Mentor
The following properties offer youths under 18 additional opportunities for youth-mentor hunting. Youth hunters under 16 must be accompanied by a mentor. Mentors must be at least 18 and comply with hunter license and education requirements. All properties allow mentors to hunt along with youth.
The property descriptions and restrictions below are as up-to-date as possible, but they are provided here in a shortened form. You should, therefore, review the State Recreation Lands Brochure. It is a good idea to contact the property's local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office (included with the property description) to learn of any late changes or temporary restrictions.
Escalante State Wildlife Area
Public access is prohibited in the Lower Roubideau tract youth area as posted, Aug. 1–March 14 except for youth fishing and hunting. No more than one mentor per youth hunter may engage in hunting.
Flagler Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Hunting open to youth/mentors only. Only one mentor per youth may hunt.
Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area
Turkey hunting is youth only on the south side of the river and open to all ages on the north side of the river with a reservation. There are several hunting blinds on the property for waterfowl. Saturday is youth and mentor hunting only in the waterfowl blinds.
Melon Valley State Wildlife Area
On weekends, hunting limited to youth/ mentor hunting; only 1 mentor per youth may hunt.
Miller Ranch State Wildlife Area
Hunting prohibited except for youth/mentor hunting by permit. Maximum 4 free permits available daily, first come, first served. Permits available by reservation from CPW’s Gunnison Area Office, 300 W. New York Ave., Gunnison, or call 970-641-7060. Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance but not less than 2 days before requested hunt date. With reservations, youths and mentors will receive map with access points and restrictions.
Sand Draw State Wildlife Area
Hunting open only to youth/mentors. One mentor per youth may hunt.
Whitehorse SWA
Open only for youth/mentor waterfowl hunting when authorized by area wildlife manager as participants in CPW youth hunter program. Youth/mentor required to attend orientation to participate.
Jumping Cow State Wildlife Area
Hunting access by permit only. Must have valid license prior to applying for permit. Permits on Woodard Unit issued with priority given to mobility-impaired hunters and to mentored youth hunters. Permits must be kept on hunter at all times.
Cross Canyon State Wildlife Area
Access during the first two days of the rifle deer and elk seasons is restricted to youth and a non-hunting mentor only.
Elliot State Wildlife Area
From September 1 through regular duck seasons, mandatory check in and check out at check stations. Hunters may check in on first-come, first-served basis after 4 a.m. or after another hunter checks out. Hunters can hunt only the area checked into. Maximum of 4 hunters per hunting area. Hunters must comply with youth-mentor-only area restrictions as posted.
Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area
Oak Ridge Unit open July 16–Nov. 30, except for youth outreach turkey hunts April 1–30 and valid GMU 23 turkey license holders and their companion May 1–31.
Escalante State Wildlife Area
Public access is prohibited in the Lower Roubideau tract youth area as posted, Aug. 1–March 14 except for youth fishing and hunting. No more than one mentor per youth hunter may engage in hunting.
Flagler Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Hunting open to youth/mentors only. Only one mentor per youth may hunt.
Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area
Turkey hunting is youth only on the south side of the river and open to all ages on the north side of the river with a reservation. There are several hunting blinds on the property for waterfowl. Saturday is youth and mentor hunting only in the waterfowl blinds.
Melon Valley State Wildlife Area
On weekends, hunting limited to youth/ mentor hunting; only 1 mentor per youth may hunt.
Miller Ranch State Wildlife Area
Hunting prohibited except for youth/mentor hunting by permit. Maximum 4 free permits available daily, first come, first served. Permits available by reservation from CPW’s Gunnison Area Office, 300 W. New York Ave., Gunnison, or call 970-641-7060. Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance but not less than 2 days before requested hunt date. With reservations, youths and mentors will receive map with access points and restrictions.
Sand Draw State Wildlife Area
Hunting open only to youth/mentors. One mentor per youth may hunt.
Whitehorse SWA
Open only for youth/mentor waterfowl hunting when authorized by area wildlife manager as participants in CPW youth hunter program. Youth/mentor required to attend orientation to participate.
Jumping Cow State Wildlife Area
Hunting access by permit only. Must have valid license prior to applying for permit. Permits on Woodard Unit issued with priority given to mobility-impaired hunters and to mentored youth hunters. Permits must be kept on hunter at all times.
Cross Canyon State Wildlife Area
Access during the first two days of the rifle deer and elk seasons is restricted to youth and a non-hunting mentor only.
Elliot State Wildlife Area
From September 1 through regular duck seasons, mandatory check in and check out at check stations. Hunters may check in on first-come, first-served basis after 4 a.m. or after another hunter checks out. Hunters can hunt only the area checked into. Maximum of 4 hunters per hunting area. Hunters must comply with youth-mentor-only area restrictions as posted.
Oak Ridge State Wildlife Area
Oak Ridge Unit open July 16–Nov. 30, except for youth outreach turkey hunts April 1–30 and valid GMU 23 turkey license holders and their companion May 1–31.
Beddows Mountain State Trust Land
All hunting except youth mentor hunting is restricted to bows, muzzleloaders or shotguns. Rifle hunting restricted to youth mentor hunting only. Mentors cannot use rifles.
Coal Bank Gulch State Trust Land
Only youth/mentor hunting allowed, only one mentor per youth may hunt. Hunting with archery, muzzleloaders, shotguns firing single slug and rimfire rifles only.
Fly Gulch State Trust Land
Open for youth/mentor hunting only.
Beddows Mountain State Trust Land
All hunting except youth mentor hunting is restricted to bows, muzzleloaders or shotguns. Rifle hunting restricted to youth mentor hunting only. Mentors cannot use rifles.
Coal Bank Gulch State Trust Land
Only youth/mentor hunting allowed, only one mentor per youth may hunt. Hunting with archery, muzzleloaders, shotguns firing single slug and rimfire rifles only.
Fly Gulch State Trust Land
Open for youth/mentor hunting only.
Apply for Mentored Hunts
Trained and experienced staff and/or volunteers lead participants through clinics, seminars and hunts in the field. Because the program prioritizes educating novice hunters in the field, it may not necessarily lead to harvesting an animal during the hunt. If you have participated in a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunter Outreach Program for a specific species, you are not eligible to apply for that same species but you may apply for additional youth hunting opportunities.
All applicants, including youth with hunting experience will be considered for program participation; however, priority will be given to novice participants that meet eligibility requirements.
Youth that meet the following requirements can apply for a mentored hunt:
- Youth need to be between ages 12-17 only to apply for big game
- Youth 17 and under can apply for turkey, small game, or waterfowl.
- Must have completed a hunter education course. Apprentice certiicates will not be accepted.
Small Game Mentored Hunt
These hunts provide education on firearm safety and skills, field skills, and habitat and biology of small game. Hunts are day trips that start early! This hunt application is open April 15 to July 15 annually.
Big Game Mentored Hunt
Young hunters engage in an outdoor classroom experience encompassing firearm safety training, field safety, hunting skills, techniques, hunter ethics and responsibility, and camp chores. Big game hunts usually span three days, and lodging (in heated canvas wall tents) and meals are integrated into these hunts as key components of the broader educational experience. This hunt application is open June 1 to 30 annually.
Waterfowl Mentored Hunt
Youth must have prior shotgun experience and be able to safely handle a minimum of a 20 gauge shotgun. Safety, calling and tactics are taught in the field by experienced staff and/or volunteers. Hunts are typically day trips that can run from before sunrise until after sunset. This hunt application is open April 15 to July 15 annually.
Turkey Mentored Hunt
The program is designed to provide basic education in turkey hunting. Turkey biology, habitat and tactics are taught in the field during the spring turkey hunting season. This hunt application is open February 12 to 28.
Jim Bulger Memorial Cow Moose Hunt
Each year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in partnership with Silver Spur Ranches and Spur Outfitters, offers one youth hunter a free guided cow moose hunt near Walden, Colorado. This hunt application is open June 1 to July 15 annually.