ODFW is offering 10 youth hunters (ages 17 and under) the chance to win a guided turkey hunt on a private ranch in Jackson County during the spring 2017 turkey season.

Ten hunts will be raffled off on March 31, 2017. Winners will receive one day of turkey hunting on the C2 Ranch in Jackson County, accompanied by a guide who will help locate wild turkeys. A parent or other family member may also accompany the youth on the hunt.

“The ranch has a lot of oak savannah and brushy areas, which makes for good wild turkey habitat,” says ODFW wildlife biologist Vince Oredson.

Spring turkey season runs April 15-May 31 statewide, and youth hunters also get their own two-day season April 8-9.

Hunt applications are available at the ODFW Central Point office, 1495 East Gregory Rd., or online under A&H Hunting Opportunities.

Applications must be received at the Central Point ODFW office by 5 p.m., March 31, and may be submitted by mail, in person, or email. There is no cost to enter the raffle, though winners are still responsible for purchasing a hunting license and turkey tag before hunting. Winners will be notified on April 3.

Youth without hunter education certification may apply and hunt under the Mentored Youth Hunter program, but only during the regular spring turkey season (April 15-May 31), not the two-day youth season.

For more information, contact Vince Oredson at (541) 826-8774, Vince.J.Oredson@state.or.us.