[neverdem]

The prominence that the story now has on the NY Times' homepage makes me think it will be the front page not too long from now. The NY Times, who'd a thunk it?

Jodi Hilton for The New York Times
Samantha Marley, 9, on a “dream hunt”for bear in Vermont this month, organized by Kevin Hoyt, left.

Jodi Hilton for The New York Times
Chris LaFlamme, left, and Bobby Phillips released their hounds after the dogs sniffed out a bear trail.

[cyborg]

I don't agree with this but I can't believe this on the cover of the Slimes.

[neverdem]

Excellent! Teaching the kids to go BANG!

[mmercier]

My brothers daughter (11 years old) can shoot your eye out at 250 yards.

She hits stuff I can't even see with this little .22lr rifle I can't even get my finger into.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Yo! Ethel! Git over here!!!

glock...go GET her!!! :)

[1rudeboy]

Is hunting bear with a 20 gauge advisable?

[mmercier]

That is one fine hound there.

People get upset about this for some reason; that dog lives for the hunt and you can see he knows he is going to have his day.

[struggle]

Wait until a major social disruption happens. Then we'll see whether it's good or not to have a gun, NYT.

[strategofr]

"The NY Times, who'd a thunk it?"

The NYT sees this as the opposite from the way you do.

[rjp2005]

Great. And the "boy with his mother learning how to make curtains and fluff drapes article with photo" is right next to it. Time to get back to teaching our boys to protect and our girls to nurture.

[DouglasKC]

It kills me that a story like this even makes the news. Happens every year in Michigan. My brother-in-law had his two daughters deer hunting at an early age.

[DouglasKC]

It kills me that a story like this even makes the news. Happens every year in Michigan. My brother-in-law had his two daughters deer hunting at an early age.

[Eastbound]

The security and future of our Republic rests with kids like that. I'd rather kids grow up knowing how to handle a weapon recoil than growing up recoiling in fear everytime someone mentions the word, 'gun.'

I also believe it is far safer to learn how to navigate through a dangerous environment, regardless if it's on a hunting trip or through a 'gangsta' neighborhood without spooking the herd before you get a chance to pull the trigger.

[Dan from Michigan]

I like the pictures, especially the dogs.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

I'm not so sure this is a great idea. Now, at the age of 9 also, my dad (who grew up during the Depression) was out every morning before school with his rifle or running his traplines or doing some form of hunting. BUT he had to clean and dress everything he killed, and he brought it home for his family to eat. He understood what he was doing. I question whether this youngster really understands what killing is about. Bet you she didn't even watch the bear be gutted and skinned, let along do it herself. I'm not sure people should go hunting unless they really understand the consequences of what they're doing.

[R. Scott]

but a real one for black bears that live in the woods of southwestern Vermont and can weigh 150 pounds or more.

Them Yankee bears are a bit scrawny – or maybe they're including cubs.

[Junior]

My problem is, most people don't eat bear. I've never liked trophy hunting; I've always believed if you killed it you should eat it. Otherwise, it seems like a waste.

[Dustbunny]

Girls and Boys, Meet Nature. Bring Your Gun.

Excellent, all our children and grandchildren learned to hunt and enjoy the outdoors. I am sure the great grandchilden will also learn but they are just a little to young right now.

[School of Rational Thought]

Treeing a bear with dogs is unsportsmanlike. It is closer to an execution than hunting.

[gakrak]

Great, I started teaching my boy's to hunt with a bow at 14 and with gun at 16. They had to take hunter safety and spent time with me in the woods to learn. This is America and we get to have this as our heritage. Amen.

[stevio]

She's a cutie. Big time kudos to Kevin Hoyt, I wonder if he's a Freeper?