NEw MI age requirements

[buckhunter14]

I just over hear the news, but not quiet sure of the details. It said something about the age restrictions being changed to 10 and 12. Has anyone hear this and what are your thoughts?

[rcgerchow]

Two new bills are being worked on, the first is SB1105 that wouldallow a first time hunter to hunt with another hunter with a license without having passed a hunter safety course. HB5192 isa bill that would lower the minimum age from 12 to 10 for small game and from 14 to 12 for big game as long as the young hunter is accompanied by an adult mentor.
Hunters in Michigan born before 1960 are exempt from hunter safety courses, so you could have someone 46 years old that has never hunted decide they would like to take a young hunter out and you would have two inexperienced hunters with firearms in the woods together, this seems to be one of the major concerns being brought up.

[buckhunter14]

what do you think of this?

[Black Eagle Archer]

From the Michigan DNR website: www.michigan.gov/dnr







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DNR Welcomes New Laws to Increase Hunter Participation
Contact: Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014
Agency: Natural Resources




July 11, 2006
Two new laws signed by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm yesterday will remove barriers to hunter participation and help the Department of Natural Resources recruit more hunters and educate a new generation of conservationists, said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries.
Governor Granholm signed into law legislation that lowers the age for hunting deer, bear and elk with a firearm on private land from age 14 to 12. Also, it lowered the age of hunting other game from 12 to 10 years old. Additionally, the Governor signed legislation that creates a hunter apprentice program in Michigan. The program would allow apprentice hunters to hunt without the required hunter education course if accompanied and closely monitored by a licensed hunter 21 and older who is mentoring them in the sport.
"Michigan's abundant natural resources are conserved and protected each day by the men and women in this state who enjoy hunting and angling," Humphries said. "Studies show that children display their interest in leisure activities by age 12, and by lowering the hunting age in our state, we can attract these youth hunters at the perfect age to get them interested in a lifetime of hunting and conserving our natural resources."
Under the new hunting age law, youth hunters must be supervised in the field by a licensed adult hunter who must maintain unaided visual and auditory contact with the younger hunter at all times. Children under the age of 14 hunting for big game - deer, bear or elk - can only hunt on private land. Children under the age of 14 hunting for small game could hunt on both public and private land.
"Experience in other states with youth hunters shows that the presence of a responsible, attentive adult is a major safety factor," Humphries said. "These new laws let parents determine whether or not their children are ready to hunt. Parents heavily involved with their children's hunting experience will provide for a safe, responsible hunting experience."
Humphries added that the apprentice hunter program would serve to attract new participants to the sport. An apprentice hunter may participate in the program for two years before being required to take a hunter safety course.
"The apprentice program is especially exciting to us because it will help attract adults who may not have had an opportunity to hunt with a parent or grandparent while growing up," Humphries said. "This will give them a chance to be mentored by an experienced hunter, so they can try the sport first before making a substantial commitment."



**Note: although it isn't directly mentioned in the bill or on the DNR website--Bowhunting age has now dropped to 10yrs old as well**