Hunting Age
 

New York is not a very good place for hunting for 2 main reasons,

1. You have to be 14 to hunt with a bow for deer.

2. There are many regulations that are non existant in other states.

I watch TV shows and see kids like 6 years old hunting deer with muzzleloaders. It drives me crazy because i have been waiting for 4 years to hunt with a bow.

With my set like my dad doesn't hunt but my uncle does i dont get out much and in new york u have to be with an adult till ur 16.

What is the minimum hunting age for deer in your state?

RE: Hunting Age
 

In North Dakota you have to be 14. I think thats a good age. I think alot of places are twelve I think thats ok. I dont really agree with letting people under 12 deer hunt.

RE: Hunting Age
 

12 for big game here in oregon

RE: Hunting Age
 

I know it seems like forever, but its well worth the wait. What area of NY are you from?


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RE: Hunting Age
 

In P.A. it's 12, but you have to be with an adult 18 or older until you're 16

RE: Hunting Age
 

bow hunt deer at 10 and gun hunt at 12 in Michigan. New laws as of last year. It was 12 and 14

RE: Hunting Age
 

It is 10 to hunt here provided you are with an adult until the age of 16. At 16 you have to go through a hunters safety course for archery or gun hunting as they have seperate courses..

RE: Hunting Age
 

No minimum legal age in Texas. But the catch is you have to have a hunter ed certificate to get a license and you aren't eligible for certification until you're 12.

RE: Hunting Age
 

Im in Western New York. There are some big deer but my trophy this year will be any animal i take with my bow.

RE: Hunting Age
 

In Fla. I don't think there is any age for bow and as long as they are under adult supervision,any age with gun. You have to be 16 for hunter safty course so once your 16 you have to pass that to go huntin.

RE: Hunting Age
 

bowhunterjim,

I believe there is legislation in the works to try to change the minimum age to bowhunt big game to 12. I believe there is also some more attempts to change some crossbow laws.

RE: Hunting Age
 

Here in kentucky you have to hunt with an adult until your 16 which I think is pretty fair. Plus you have to take the hunters safetly course or you cant hunt AT ALL.

RE: Hunting Age
 

Yeah but see i already waited my 2 extra years so this year it will be changed to 12

RE: Hunting Age
 

Last year there was legislation to lower the age, but I haven't heard anything about it this year. My son will be able to bow hunt this year. I too think the age is too high and that we will lose future hunters because of it. By the time they are 14, they are into so many other things that it is hard to keep their interest in hunting. My son still has the interest, but as a family we are heavily involved in, but others may not have that.

RE: Hunting Age
 

I'd say 14-16 for bowhunting, 12 (at the lowest) for any other form of hunting.

Now, I'm sure there are 12 year olds out there who can pull heavy enough draw weights to hunt big game efficiently with a bow, can handle themselves alone, in the woods, in the dark, and can appreciate the danger associated with climbing 15-25' off the ground - I've just never met one.

RE: Hunting Age
 

NO minimum age here in IL to deer hunt and the only requirement to bowhunt is that you must draw 40#

My Daughter has been hunting since she was 10 and by the looks of it, my sons will be hunting even younger. :)

RE: Hunting Age
 

um.......the day you can hold a gunin texas you can shoot a deer. (or have to draw #40 lbs)

RE: Hunting Age
 

They have the same rule in West Virginia - I used to rifle hunt down there, but not anymore. It's totally terrifying.

I was down there one year - 2nd day of gun season - There was some country bumpkin kid - maybe 7 or 8(with his dad encouraging him, no less) whaling rapid fire at does at dark on a field horizon in the moonlightwith an SKS. It was frickin' scary. Shame, but I really don't expect anything less out of people.

RE: Hunting Age
 

When I clicked on this I thought it said "Hunting Ape". Oh well.

RE: Hunting Age
 

U didn't catch the country of origin on tat sks did you?

Been looking to buy one

RE: Hunting Age
 

You can get a youth license under 12 BUT you have to be hunting with a licensed adult. We took our nephew last year and he got his first deer -- but not with a bow. I don't think he could draw back 40 pounds and he doesn't have anyone at his house to teach him. I am thinking that we will outfit him with a bow and teach him when he turns 12. That way it will be a big year for him -- I'll sit with him during the hunter's ed course and hubby will work with him on the bow. (Actually, I may give him my bow -- which will be several years old by then -- and get a new one for me!!!)

RE: Hunting Age
 

In NC there is no age requirement but you have to pass the hunter's ed course and you also must pull back 35# on your bow.
They suggest age 12 as a guideline for unsupervised hunts.

I disagee with any state that will not allow kids to go on SUPERVISED hunts with properly licensed adults.
Some are mature enough to hunt at age 6.
My son got his first deer last year at the age of 6. He was supervised and had assistance with the rifle, but did all the aiming and pulling the trigger by himself.

RE: Hunting Age
 

On public permit hunts in Texas the minimum age is 8...no hunter ed certificate, you have to be under the immediate control of an adult (18 or older) with a hunting license. I don't believe a hunting license is required for someone under 16, but I may be mistaken.

RE: Hunting Age
 

.

you have to have a hunting license but you dont have to have duck stamps, bow stamp, ect. when you turn 16 you must purchus them and thats when it starts getting expensive

RE: Hunting Age
 

well i guess 14 is fine but my dad dont hunt

RE: Hunting Age
 

Yep, you are right. I checked the TPWD website and they came up with this.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/general/hunt_licenses/

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/youth_hunting/drawn_hunts/

I guess the confusing part for me is if the ages for youth hunts is 8-16, and the youth are required to have a license, how do you get it when the minimum age for hunter's ed is 12?:eek: