Posted on 11/28/2005 10:20:39 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Should kids be allowed to hunt?
Hunters disagree over program for children younger than 12
By TERESA ANN BOECKEL Daily Record/Sunday News
Dennis Freed wrapped his arm around his 9-year-old daughter's shoulders at a rifle range in Warrington Township Friday as he taught her how to shoot for the first time.
Julia Freed nestled the .22-caliber rifle to her shoulder, looked through the scope and squeezed the trigger. She pulled the bolt back, popped out the shell, then shot again.
Her 33-year-old dad was impressed when they inspected the target a few minutes later. She didn't hit the bull's eye, but she had a cluster of seven or eight shots in the same spot.
"That's better than what I was doing," Dennis Freed said.
Julia and her 11-year-old sister, Brittnie, can't wait to hunt with their dad, but Pennsylvania law doesn't allow children under the age of 12 to participate in the sport.
That could change, though, if lawmakers approve new legislation for a mentored youth hunting program.
Concerned about the declining number of Pennsylvania hunters, several hunting and wildlife organizations have proposed allowing a child under the age of 12 to hunt with a trained adult who is 21 or older.
The program would have rules, such as that the mentor and child would share one weapon, intended to ensure safety.
Children develop interests early
Supporters say the program would allow children to develop the love of hunting at a younger age and grow with the sport.
By the time children reach the age of 12, they already have developed other interests, such as soccer, and lead busy lives, said Melody Zullinger, executive director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.
The changing family structure - with single-parent households or both parents working - makes it difficult to introduce hunting, too.
For every 100 hunters who leave the sport, the state is gaining only 62 new ones, according to youth hunting report by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance.
It has identified Pennsylvania as a "very restrictive" state, falling below the national average of 69 new hunters for every 100 lost.
The report says if the number of hunters continues to decrease, fewer licenses will be purchased, which will hurt wildlife management efforts. The economy will be affected as well, with hunters spending less money.
Dennis Freed, of Butler Township, Adams County said he thinks the mentored youth hunting program is a good idea. Some states, such as Maryland, already allow younger children to hunt.
An 8-year-old girl there shot the first black bear of the season, according to news reports.
The earlier children get out, the more respect they will have for nature and guns, Freed said.
His girls need more practice shooting, he said, but, "I really think they could go out now."
Julia and Brittnie like the idea, but Julia thinks a line should be drawn for the age.
"I'd say definitely no younger than 8 because some kids are not that responsible with guns," she said.
How low should the age go?
Some hunters think children shouldn't start hunting until they are 12 or older.
Charles Moye Jr. of York is one. At 12 years old, children are starting to mature and can use some judgment.
"You've got some people that are going to bring their kids out as young as they can just to say, 'My kid got one at 6 years old,'" he said. "That's entirely too young."
Charles Smith, 70, of Springettsbury Township, said he quit hunting years ago because he didn't feel it was safe anymore. He thinks the minimum age should be 21.
Hunting organizations argue that the sport is safe. It ranks 29th - behind football, ice hockey and cheerleading - in a comprehensive study of sports injuries in the United States, according to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance's report. The study examined more than 100 sports and activities, and the number of injuries for every 100 participants.
In studying youth hunting shootings in 2002, most occurred without the presence of an adult supervisor, the report says.
Ron Roth, 43, of Arendtsville, Adams County, said he would prefer that youths go through a hunter safety education course before going out with a mentor. That has not been proposed.
While the mentor would be helping to guide the youth, the child should have first-hand knowledge of safety, such as what they are shooting at, what's behind the target and how to use a gun.
Some question where the age limit would be drawn.
Mark Eppley, 39, of Monroe Township, Cumberland County, said he likes the idea, but he doesn't know that anyone under 10 should be out hunting.
"You have to have a little bit of patience to be able to sit for an hour or two in one spot," he said.
State Rep. Bruce Smith, R-Dillsburg, said he wants to see the wording of the proposed legislation before making a decision. He, too, is concerned about the age limit and how it could affect the perception of the game commission and hunting. Smith is head of the House of Representatives' Game and Fisheries Committee.
The Board of the Pennsylvania Game Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution this month in support of a mentored youth hunting program.
Jerry Feaser, Game Commission spokesman, said the program isn't just about bagging game.
It's about teaching children to look for buck rubs, how to track animals and even distinguishing between a red oak leaf and a white one, he said.
Program facts Here are some quick facts about what is being proposed for a Mentored Youth Hunting Program:
· To create a one-on-one hunting experience, the program would consist of one adult, one child and one weapon.
· The parent would determine when a child is ready.
· The minimum age of the mentor would be 21.
· The youth would have to be within arm's length of the mentor at all times while hunting.
· The mentor would carry the weapon while walking.
· What children would be able to hunt - deer, squirrels, turkey or other animals - has not been determined. Seasons and bag limits likely would be set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
· Two videos explaining the program would be produced - one for a public service announcement and the other for mentors.
Rifle deer season
Where: Statewide When: Monday through Dec. 10 What can be harvested: One antlered deer (with restrictions) per hunting license. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license. Antler restrictions: This is the fourth year of antler restrictions. In most of the state, for an antlered deer to be shot legally, it must have three or more points on one antler. In the Wildlife Management Units in western Pennsylvania, a deer must have four or more points on one antler. A point is defined as any antler projection (including the brow tine) at least 1 inch in length from base to tip. The main beam tip is counted as a point, regardless of length. Last year's Pennsylvania harvest: 409,320 deer Report your kill tothe Daily Record/Sunday News To have your deer kill published, send a fax to 771-2009, an e-mail to cotto@ydr.com or call 771-2064. Please include the hunter's full name and hometown, a short description of the deer, including number of points, and when and where the animal was shot.
"Should kids be allowed to hunt?"
In PA? Ask that down here in MS and you will be laughed out of the room.
In Tennessee kids younger than 12 get to hunt without a license, as an incentive:)
Take your boy huntin' instead of huntin' for your boy..........
Should kids be allowed to hunt?
HELL YES!
DITTO
No school today, first day of Buck season.
PETA and Earth First! don't fund sh*t other than their own sorry agendas.
When very young, with an adult....after that...read Kill'em n Grill'em...then own their own!
Every American boy should take a gun safety course, including shooting a pistol, rifle and shotgun, by age 14.
Every American girl should take a wild game dressing course, including dressing a fish, rabbit and pat, by age 14.
Right. Early training for future careers. My best friend's son is now a sniper in the Marines. He used to pop up at us from the most unlikely places when we were out in the garden - the kid had learned to be nearly invisible.
I wish I had been taught to hunt - if nothing else for the outdoor training and the familiarity with guns.
Some kids are just too fidgety to hunt. It isn't just how well they can shoot or knowing the safety rules.
That's how it was when I was growing up in Minnesota--not sure how it is now with the creeping liberalism up there.
(1) How to handle a firearm safely and properly.
(2) Appropriate hunting ethics. ("Character" has do to with what you do when no one is looking.)
(3) Where that McDonalds' hamburger comes from.
(4) What "death" really means, as opposed to the video games version of "death".
(5) Respect for the environment and the out-of-doors.
(6) Knowledge of hunting and animals including: reading sign, understanding wind direction, picking a stand location, placing decoys, calling, and picking your shot.
I'm sure there is more to say on this topic, but that's a good start.
Definitely! My friend teaches a hunter safety class for kids so they can get their license to hunt. He teaches them everything they need to know so they will be cautious, intelligent hunters. THAT is exactly how it should be. I go snake hunting and do a little plinking with his son. He just turned 13 and we've been doing it since he was 9, but he has been going with his dad for a few years before that.
Allowed? Encouraged!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.