The Mountain Island Educational State Forest (MIESF) is working with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) to conduct two Youth Hunts a year on the MIESF property. The Youth Hunts allow kids between the ages of 12 and 16 the opportunity to hunt without adult competition. Interested parties apply through NCWRC Special Hunt Opportunities and a fixed number are randomly chosen to participate. While only the youth are allowed to hunt, parents or guardians do accompany them for support and guidance.

This cooperative program of Young Hunter Education began in 1999 through the efforts of the Lincolnton Sportsmans Club, NCWildlife Resources Commision's Division of Conservation Education and the NC Division of Forest Resources Mountain Island Educational State Forest. These agencies identified a need for “in-the-field” hunter educational opportunities in the south-western piedmont, and the partnership has been so effective that the number of applicants for the deer hunt have exceeded the slots available for the last four years. While originally just staging a deer hunt, the program has recently been expanded to offer a dove hunt in the fall.

In 2004 two educational hunts were conducted. The first was the Youth Dove Hunt in September and the second was the Youth Deer Hunt held in October. The Youth Deer Hunt actually takes place on 2 consecutive Saturdays, with the first day devoted to orientation. During orientation, participants learned about good shot placement, taking ethical shots, orienteering and tree stand safety.

The hunts are an effective way to give limited access to the 1,800 acre Mountain Island ESF while it is still under development, and at the same time expose people in the area to the concepts of responsible wildlife and forest management.