Lowering the age for hunting

I don’t know if anyone has brought this subject up before on this site, but if they haven’t it’s something that will be discussed quite a bit in the next few monthes.

My opinion on the subject is that a 10 yr old is 95% of the time, too small to safely handle a firearm. I was a hunter safety instructor for a number of years. There were kids that were physically too small at the age of 12 to handle a firearm safely. I believe that there will be enough time in a young persons life to enjoy hunting with a firearm from the age of 12 yrs on. If the kid is interested in hunting earlier, he/or she should be allowed to accompany an adult for a few years. I have two boys who grew up doing that for two years prior to carrying a gun.

Let’s hear some comments on this subject.

This is the first I’ve heard of this. Is it a Wisc. only thing?

This is the first I’ve heard of this. Is it a Wisc. only thing?

I believe that this should be up to the parents.All children grow and mature differently and as parents we should decide what is in there best interest.I feel my dad did a good job and he did not use a calender to do it

I believe that this should be up to the parents.All children grow and mature differently and as parents we should decide what is in there best interest.I feel my dad did a good job and he did not use a calender to do it

I had shot a lot of game by the time I was 12. Matter of fact started hunting at age 9 with a 410 single shot and harvested many different critters that first year and the next with that firearm – before graduating to a 12 gauge o/u when I turned 11 – with trap loads (lead was still used for waterfowl) (dad would only let me load 1 barrel at a time).

I don’t think it is a problem for youth to start earlier than 12 if there parent feels it is appropriate – the maturity level is there. Shouldn’t be dictated to us. Now – as a hunter ed instructor for 17 years I will add that those younger ones shouldn’t be hunting without supervision until they pass hunter ed at a minimum of 12 years. And some of course should never hunt without an adult – but that is an entirely different subject. Chuckles

I had shot a lot of game by the time I was 12. Matter of fact started hunting at age 9 with a 410 single shot and harvested many different critters that first year and the next with that firearm – before graduating to a 12 gauge o/u when I turned 11 – with trap loads (lead was still used for waterfowl) (dad would only let me load 1 barrel at a time).

I don’t think it is a problem for youth to start earlier than 12 if there parent feels it is appropriate – the maturity level is there. Shouldn’t be dictated to us. Now – as a hunter ed instructor for 17 years I will add that those younger ones shouldn’t be hunting without supervision until they pass hunter ed at a minimum of 12 years. And some of course should never hunt without an adult – but that is an entirely different subject. Chuckles

Keep the age where it is in Wisconsin. I see many young hunters who are unsure of themselves or think they are king of the world. Those types of attitudes tend to make hunting more dangerous. I’ve seen enough 40+ year old hunters who just don’t seem to understand basic gun safety. I’m glad the people in my hunting crew are all about safety first and foremost. If a huge deer gets away because the hunter though there was a safety problem, no problem.

Keep the age where it is in Wisconsin. I see many young hunters who are unsure of themselves or think they are king of the world. Those types of attitudes tend to make hunting more dangerous. I’ve seen enough 40+ year old hunters who just don’t seem to understand basic gun safety. I’m glad the people in my hunting crew are all about safety first and foremost. If a huge deer gets away because the hunter though there was a safety problem, no problem.

I agree. Many of us that grew up on a farm or small town were plinking swallows with a bb gun at age 7, shooting rabbits and squirels with a 22 at 9 or so, walking with the grownups on pheasant hunts, and getting to carry a 410 by 12-13. There are kids like that today also but there are many more that are clueless about gun safety coming into the classes.
I have helped in gun training also but have advised some parents to have their kids walk with unloaded guns until they see what hunting with a group involves, even if they have passed the course as they did not grow up with the background we were priveleged to have.

I agree. Many of us that grew up on a farm or small town were plinking swallows with a bb gun at age 7, shooting rabbits and squirels with a 22 at 9 or so, walking with the grownups on pheasant hunts, and getting to carry a 410 by 12-13. There are kids like that today also but there are many more that are clueless about gun safety coming into the classes.
I have helped in gun training also but have advised some parents to have their kids walk with unloaded guns until they see what hunting with a group involves, even if they have passed the course as they did not grow up with the background we were priveleged to have.

I don’t know if I can get this to work or not, but this vid fits the topic pretty well

I don’t know if I can get this to work or not, but this vid fits the topic pretty well

I think 10 is too young overall and parents can’t be trusted to make that decision. It’s a given most of you can make that decision since your heavily involved with the outdoors, but many can’t. I was ready to hunt at 10 and did with a BB gun. Those 2 years to 12 were hell for me but you wouldn’t believe what I killed with BB gun and bow in those two years!! I was actually ready years earlier and always tried to use my brothers BB gun. In my family 10 was the age for a BB gun and 12 for a shotgun.

I think 10 is too young overall and parents can’t be trusted to make that decision. It’s a given most of you can make that decision since your heavily involved with the outdoors, but many can’t. I was ready to hunt at 10 and did with a BB gun. Those 2 years to 12 were hell for me but you wouldn’t believe what I killed with BB gun and bow in those two years!! I was actually ready years earlier and always tried to use my brothers BB gun. In my family 10 was the age for a BB gun and 12 for a shotgun.