HAVE YOU GUYS WATCHED THE NEWS LATELY?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354505,00.html

I guess those folks don't live like we do here, I have several guns and wouldn't hesitate to use them in a situation like that. We don't use traps here in my neck of the woods....

The state of California has ruined hunting in that state. I'm sure glad my father moved us to Oklahoma from L.A.when he worked for Zebco. One of the best things he ever did.

I just heard last night that Canadians are not allowed to let their children hunt until they reach the age of 12yrs.

By that time.....something else has become their "passion". It's a sad state of affairs....and it lends credence to my assertion that hunting is being bred out of the modern man in many instances.

I see the day coming when our way of life is not recognized as "noble" by the masses. It may even become "unacceptable"....."shunned upon"....and in many places I feel it already is.

I don't think "more hunters" would help that coyote problem. Thephenomenon they're experiencing is suburban sprawl, displacing wild animals, forcing them to adapt their lifestyle and attempt to come to some kind of symbiotic relatioship with all the humans now living on their homeland.

An increasing number of hunters only makes our hunting situation worse. We're already crowding each other out and leasing/buying land out from under each others' feet. Acreage depletion is at alarming levels, especially in states with high license sales volume.

In sum, we're rapidly approaching a point of saturation, where there just isn't enough good hunting acreage to meet demand.

We need people to stop hunting - and as a group, we should re-focus our efforts on stopping suburban sprawl and conservation of the land that's still available.

Jeff: God Bless Canada. Hunting age restrictions make sense. Would you trust a 5-year-old kid on the opposite side of the field armed with a semi-auto SKS? Even if his dad was "supervising" the hunt. (I use the term "supervise" veryloosely). I've seen/experienced it first-hand, and it's scary. You shouldn't have to fear for your life while you're trying to enjoy a day afield.

Agreed, Fran.....but TWELVE?[:@]

I would seriously kill the damn yote with my bare hands if it tried to grab one of my kids period! I always supervise my kids in the yard at all times. I feel bad for these kids getting attacked. I would rip the damn adams apple out of there throat! Of course my dog would probably beat me to it.

That'shistorically been the threshold agehere in PA - and I'm still afraid of the kids. Granted, the apples don't fall far from the tree... So...

I've just seen and experienced enough to know that: If you can't trust a kid with a motor vehicle, you shouldn't trust one with a high-powered rifle.

I just don't trust the kids or the parents as far as I could throw 'em.

Obviously, there are always exceptions... But generally... I'm no advocate of little kids with guns. Adults with guns is scary enough.
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Just speaking from my local perspective: The thing that happens around here is Scumball Dadloads up the kids and drives out to Gander Mountain to buy huntinglicenses for little Suzy and little Johnny (ages 5 and 7). Next thing you know, Suzy and Johnny are applying for doe tags and Dad is back with them a couple weeks later, and they're all buying bow licenses...

Wouldn't ya know, as luck would have it - little Suzy and Johnny both happen to kill a buck and/or several doesthat magicallysurface at the local butcher shop - in Archery Season, no less. Making matters worse, youth hunters aren't subject to the antler restrictions - so "Suzy and Johnny" can shoot whatever they please. A yearling spike. A scrubrack forkie. Anything.

So, when you let them legallybuy tags for the toddlers, you just give these people more latitude to become even bigger criminals than they already were to begin with.

I had my boy out last year with a rifle he is 8. Now he could not carry it but he could shoot a buck if we saw one! He was so excited. He could also hold the weapon when we were stationary. He felt like he was king chit out there hunting with dad. Then we saw a deer and he went nuts but it was a doe. I think 12 is a good age, but I do like how we here in Pa. can take them out now at the age of 8 without a license to get them exposed to hunting.

Fran:

NC law states that a child hunting with a parent at any age is "OK". Until that child reaches the age of 13yrs.....he MUST be within reach of the parent/guardian. Once they've passed their hunter's safety course (mandatory for all NC license holders).....they can hunt alone at 13yrs.

I like our rules.....but understand your concern. I don't trust the parents, either.