Youths 17 and younger who want an early chance to take a deer with a firearm can venture to the woods this coming Friday through Sunday for the 2019 Youth Deer Gun Season.

This season is designed to allow youths the first opportunity of the fall to use a gun to hunt deer. Deer archery season has been open since Oct. 1; Deer Muzzleloader Season will open Oct. 26; and Deer Gun Season will open Nov. 23.

Youth Deer Gun Season is a great way to introduce new young hunters to the deer hunting tradition. More times than not, the weather is mild and conditions are comfortable for the kids.

All youths hunting this weekend must have the appropriate Youth Deer Gun Season license(s), which are sold online at license.GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com, and must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older who may not have a firearm but may archery hunt with the required license(s). Also, youths 10 and older hunting this weekend must be hunter education certified or use an apprentice-designated license if not certified.

Remember that anyone, including archers and adults who accompany youths, in the woods during any open big-game firearms season is required to abide by the hunter orange clothing regulations. Waterfowl, crow or crane hunters are exempt from hunter orange.

For complete information and license requirements, consult the current Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Regulations Guide found online at wildlifedepartment.com, on the Go Outdoors Oklahoma free mobile app for Apple or Android devices, or in print across the state wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.