2026 North Zone Youth Weekend Recap
North Zone Youth Weekend was a success in so many ways!
The Youth Hunt Program in Okeechobee at Grassy Island—hosted by FSCA and FL Camo—continues to provide young hunters with an incredible opportunity to harvest their first birds while learning woodsmanship, safety, and respect for the outdoors on a beautifully managed state property. This program goes far beyond just giving kids a chance to take an animal; it instills values of safety, stewardship, responsibility, patience, and lifelong lessons that only the outdoors can offer.
This year’s two-day youth hunt, held Saturday and Sunday of North Zone Youth Weekend, brought together family, friends, and several new faces for an unforgettable experience both in camp and in the field.
We settled into camp on Friday, kicking things off with safety discussions and outlining our hunting plans for the weekend. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) also brought out a K-9 unit, giving everyone a great demonstration as the dog worked a mock scenario to locate a spent shotgun shell. After a group dinner, guides were paired with families, and everyone settled in for the night.
Above: Officer Patrick Madsen and K9 Cypress show off their skills.
Saturday morning greeted us with warm, muggy conditions, but the action didn’t disappoint. Three groups had opportunities early. One group encountered two gobblers but couldn’t get a shot off, while another worked three gobblers into range, giving a young hunter the chance to connect and harvest a bird. The afternoon hunt produced again, and by the end of the day, two youth hunters had successfully harvested birds.
One of the standout moments of the weekend came when young JJ harvested an Osceola of a lifetime—sporting four beards totaling an incredible 19 7/8 inches! His sister, Leah, showed impressive patience as two gobblers strutted around the decoy in the afternoon sunlight. She stayed composed, waited for the right moment, and made it count.
Above and below Images: JJ's quadruple bearded Osceola Gobbler taken on the youth hunt. (Photo: FL Camo)
As always, hunting with kids brings its challenges—but it also makes all of us better hunters. There were a few mishaps and missed opportunities that turned into valuable lessons. On Sunday, one young hunter had another chance at gobblers but unfortunately missed. Still, the time spent in camp and in the turkey woods leave a lasting impact, regardless of whether a bird is harvested. These experiences build respect, confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the outdoors.
Above: Leah's Afternoon Gobbler lit up in the Sunlight
A huge thank you to FWC for continuing to support and grow this program, and to all the volunteers who make weekends like this possible.
If you're interested in getting your youth hunter involved, be sure to complete their hunter safety certification and sign up through FWC's Youth Hunting Program of Florida. Click Here for more information
