PATH has mentored youth hunting opportunities over holidays

Plenty of holiday break mentored hunting opportunities exist for youth aged 17 or younger through the Passing Along the Heritage Program.

Lake Wanahoo, a mile north of Wahoo in Saunders County, has seven hunting sites totaling 1,067 acres available for mentored youth hunting. They are available during the Thanksgiving and Christmas school breaks.

PATH provides Nebraska youth and their mentors access to hunting on private lands and selected public lands. Only youth aged 17 or younger may hunt on these sites. The mentor is there to “pass along” their knowledge to youth and ensure a safe hunting experience.

Interested mentors must create an account at apps.outdoornebraska.gov/PATH before they can reserve a PATH site. After choosing an available PATH property and reserving a date, a mentor will be able to print a permission slip, which must be carried during the hunt. Mentors may have no more than five reservations per youth hunter annually.

The Lower Platte North Natural Resources District owns and manages the habitat in cooperation with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. There are five upland sites that allow for hunting of deer, upland birds, and waterfowl and two waterfowl-only sites. Sites range in size from 135 to 200 acres.

Learn more about PATH and its other hunting sites, including Chat Canyon Wildlife Management Area in Cherry County and Rowe Sanctuary in Buffalo County, at the program’s website.

The program is made possible by a partnership between the Game and Parks, National Audubon Society and Nebraska landowners.