Initially open only to youth under 12, the Mentored Hunting Program has expanded incrementally in recent years to offer opportunities to unlicensed hunters of all ages. Mentored hunters are not required to take a Hunter-Trapper Education (HTE) class before obtaining a permit to hunt through the program. Mentored hunters ages 12 or older may participate in the program for a maximum of three license years. After that period, they must obtain a license to hunt. Individuals who participate in the mentored program for at least three years before turning 12 are required to get a license at 12 rather than continuing as a mentored hunter. License buyers must first successfully complete an HTE course.
A mentor (licensed hunter at least 21 years old) who serves as a guide to a mentored hunter must possess a valid, current hunting license, or otherwise qualify for a license and fee exemptions.
A mentored hunter must obtain a Mentored Hunting permit, which contains their unique Customer Identification number (CID). A Social Security number is needed for a CID number to be issued. A Mentored Hunting permit can be obtained from any issuing agent or online at www.HuntFish.PA.gov. Other permits and licenses may be required to hunt specific species. Mentored hunters are exempt from requirements to obtain archery and muzzleloader add-on licenses or stamps.
For mentored hunters ages 7 and older, the permit includes antlered deer, fall turkey and spring turkey harvest tags. No big-game harvest tags are issued to mentored hunters who are under 7 years old at the time they buy a permit. Those under 7 must receive harvest tags through transfer from an adult mentor. Mentored bear hunters ages 7 and older must purchase their own bear license. Those under 7 must receive a valid bear harvest tag through transfer from a licensed adult mentor. Mentored hunters ages 7 and older each are eligible to purchase one antlerless deer license, and as many DMAP or Ag Tag permits as other hunters can buy. Those under 7 must receive an antlerless license or DMAP permit harvest tag through transfer from an adult mentor. Ag Tags may not be transferred. Mentored pheasant hunters must obtain a pheasant permit. In addition to a Mentored Hunting permit, a mentored hunter needs a migratory game bird license to hunt doves or waterfowl, and those 16 and older also need a federal duck stamp ($28.97) for waterfowl, and a snow goose permit to hunt in the Conservation Season.
Mentored Hunting permit fees are $2.97 for those under 12; $6.97 for resident applicants 12 to 16; $41.97 for nonresident applicants 12 to 16; $20.97 for residents 17 and older and $101.97 for nonresidents 17 and older.
Mentored hunters must report antlered deer or turkey harvests within 10 days, either online at www.HuntFish.PA.gov, by using the harvest report cards in this digest, or by phone at 1-800-838-4431.
A mentored hunter who participates in any hunting party shall count as a member of the hunting party for maximum allowed numbers.
A mentored hunter can hunt squirrels, rabbits, hares, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasants, waterfowl, crows, doves, porcupines, woodchucks, coyotes, deer, bears and turkeys in any of their respective seasons, and must follow daily and season bag limits for each species (one antlered deer, one fall turkey and one bearded turkey in the spring, per license year). Mentored hunters 16 and under may follow the same deer antler restrictions as junior license holders, which is one antler at least 3 inches long or one antler with at least two points.
A mentor can transfer one valid antlered deer harvest tag to a mentored youth who was under 7 years old at the time the permit was purchased. Only one tag may be received by transfer since the season limit on antlered deer is one. The transfer may not occur until the youth has harvested the deer, and must occur before the deer is tagged. The mentored youth should complete the tag information and attach the tag to the deer’s ear. The mentor must report the deer and check the box on the harvest report card indicating it was taken by a mentored hunter under 7.
A mentor can transfer one spring and one fall turkey harvest tag to a mentored youth who was under 7 at the time the permit was purchased. A mentored hunter under 7 may not receive more than one spring and one fall turkey tag through transfer each license year. Transfer may not occur until the youth has harvested the turkey, and must occur before tagging. The mentored youth should complete the tag information and attach the tag to the turkey’s leg. The mentor must report the turkey and check the box on the harvest report card indicating it was taken by a mentored hunter under 7.
A mentor can transfer one valid antlerless deer license and/or one Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permit to a mentored youth who was under 7 years old at the time the permit was purchased. Antlerless licenses are valid within the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) for which they are issued, and DMAP permits are valid on the specific properties for which they are issued. The transfer of the antlerless license and/or DMAP permit may not occur until the mentored youth has harvested the antlerless deer, and must occur before tagging. The mentored youth should complete the tag information and attach the tag to the deer’s ear. The mentor must report the deer and check the box on the harvest report card indicating it was taken by a mentored hunter under 7. A mentored youth under age 7 is not eligible to buy their own antlerless license or DMAP permit and may not receive by transfer more than one antlerless deer license and one DMAP permit each license year.
A mentored hunter 16 or under is eligible to hunt during any special youth hunting seasons. All mentored hunters may participate in the Special Firearms season for antlerless deer and bears held in October, as well as the Junior Pheasant Hunt.
A mentored hunter 16 or under must be stationary (still, fixed in place or static, indicated by a cessation of all forward, backward or lateral movement, whether in the standing, kneeling, sitting or prone position) and within arm’s reach of the mentor at all times while in possession of any lawful hunting device (any firearm or implement that is lawful to be possessed during the current season and used to harvest the particular species) while engaged in hunting or related activities.
A mentored hunter 17 or older must hunt within eyesight of their mentor, and at a proximity close enough for verbal instruction and guidance to be easily understood without the aid of electronic communication devices or sound-amplification devices.
A mentor hunting with a mentored youth now can accompany up to two additional hunters, be they mentored youth, junior hunters or mentored adults. Previously, no additional junior or mentored hunters could accompany a mentor hunting with a mentored youth.
A mentor and any mentored hunter(s) 16 or under, collectively, may not possess more than one lawful hunting device at any given time while engaged in hunting or related activities. The mentor must carry the lawful device in transit to and from the spot.
A mentor and mentored hunter must be in compliance with fluorescent orange requirements for the species they are hunting.
A mentor is responsible and accountable for all actions of the mentored hunter occurring while engaged in hunting or related activities. A mentor who causes or allows a mentored hunter to engage in an unlawful act shall be punishable as the principal offender.