(a) The Saturday and Sunday prior to opening day of spring turkey season shall be youth turkey hunting weekend.

(b) A person who is age 15 or under on the weekend of the hunt, who has successfully completed a hunter safety course, may take one wild turkey during youth turkey hunting weekend in accordance with the rules of the Board. In order to hunt under this section, a young person shall also hold valid hunting and turkey licenses under section 4255 of this title, hold a youth turkey hunting tag, and be accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a valid Vermont hunting license and is over 18 years of age. An adult accompanying a youth under this section shall accompany no more than two young people at one time.

(c) No person shall hunt under this section on privately owned land without first obtaining the permission of the owner or occupant.

(d) The scheduled amount of a fine under section 4555 of this title shall be doubled for a violation of this section, and the fine shall be assessed against the licensed adult who is accompanying the youth pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and who has the youth hunter in his or her charge.

(e) For the purposes of this section, "accompany," "accompanied," or "accompanying" means direct control and supervision, including the ability to see and communicate with the youth hunter without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars, except for medically necessary devices such as hearing aids or eyeglasses. While hunting, an individual who holds a valid hunting license under subsection 4254(b) of this title shall accompany no more than two youth hunters at a time. (Added 2001, No. 4, § 2, eff. April 4, 2001; amended 2009, No. 11, § 3, eff. May 7, 2009; 2009, No. 122 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)