*BCC Approved 8/27/2024

How to Participate: 
Step 1: Review the FWC Youth Hunt Rules and locate an event on the FWC Youth Hunt Calendar. Submit an application for a chance to be selected to participate. Youth Hunt opportunities are advertised a few months in advance of scheduled youth hunts. All prospective participants must apply to be selected.
Step 2: Review your youth hunter's hunter safety certification status. All youth participants must have their FWC Hunter Safety Certification completed prior to participating on a Youth Hunt weekend. Hunter Safety Certification can include an online learning component and a scheduled field day and can take several weeks to complete. Hunter safety certification requires advanced planning as the field day schedule is limited. The next available field day portion of the Hunter Safety Certification in Collier County is listed on the FWC Hunter Safety Registration Website as October 15, 2024. 
Step 3: If your youth hunter is selected for a youth hunt opportunity after submitting an application through the FWC website, the coordinating hunt master will reach out with more information on how to prep for the weekend and how to complete payment of the required $75 application fee. This fee covers campsite reservation for the youth and guardian for two nights, food, and supplies for the hunt weekend. Scholarships are available for qualifying youth and can assist with covering the cost of the youth hunt fee as needed. 
Step 4: Youth hunters and their guardian join FWC volunteer mentors for a weekend at Pepper Ranch Preserve learning lifelong skills such as safe firearm handling and marksmanship, hunter safety practices, field id/wildlife tracking and calls, hunting blind construction and positioning, scouting, harvest, field dressing, camping, and conservation practices.

Contact Us:
PepperRanchHunts@CollierCountyFL.gov
239-252-2961 (M-F), 239-657-1999 (hunt weekends)
www.PepperRanchHunts.com 

General Resources for Hunting in Southwest Florida