Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Well, without getting into the specifics of my position, and the where and when of my argument, I wanted to conduct a poll.

What should be the minimum legal age for hunting (whether supervised or not). Put yourself in the shoes of a legislator - your job is to ensure a safe environment for fellow hunters. Remember, hunting isprivilege, not a right.

1.) No minimum age is necessary.

2.) 8-10

3.) 12

4.) no hunting until a driver's license is acquired

5.) no hunting until the child reaches18, and can own land, enter binding contractual agreements, and vote.

Please post your selection number and a brief answer supporting your opinion.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Tuff question.

If they were taught correctly the proper way of gun safety and hunting I'd say 13. However, no childshould ever be unsupervised while hunting regardless.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

i like new york's ages of 12 for small game(supervised), 14 for bow(supervised), and 16 for rifle. I wouldnt go with "no hunting until a drivers license" because it should be age based, if someone doesnt get their license, they shoudl still be able to hunt. I see TV shows where young kids are hunting deer and I was always jealous of them, but 16 isnt really that old. I just dont feel that comfortable about having kids walking aorund the woods with 30-06s, ya know?

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Jersey is 10 , which I think is just right. Wouldnt let my son ( 5 now ) hunt alone till his youth lic. ran out @ 16. Then again , cant drive in NJ till 17 , so how's he gonna get anywhere to hunt alone.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

1............as long as they are supervised by a adult over the age of 18 with a valid hunting liscense until the age of 15 in which at the age of 15 they can buy their own liscense and hunt by themselves

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I wouldn't have a problem with 10 being an acceptable age assuming the parent actually does what he/she is supposed to do at least in regard to PA regs. None of this posting the kid in a spot and then having dad walk 100 yards away and keeping in touch via a walkie talkie garbage.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I agree with PABowhunter.

Being a PA resident and having hunted since I was 12, I feel 10 would be a good age to start having your son or daughter go with you and learn what hunting and theresponsibilities that go with itare all about.

I learned so much from my Father many years ago and I can't wait to pass that on to my children. The real key to it is the role of the parent or gaurdian.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I just read a NAHC survey that analyzed hunter replacement state by state. It turns out that the 10 most restricive states have a far lower hunter replacement rate than the less restrictive States. Factors include age, hunter ed, license reuirements etc. Missouri is replacing each hunter with 1.16 new hunters. West Virginia replaces .98 they are among the ten least restrictive states. On the other hand Pennsylvania is replacing each hunter with only.62 hunter (were losing a full third!!!). Montana is the worst with a replacement rate of .56.

That being said, the future of our sport depends on all of us doing what we can to clear roadblocks to recruiting young hunters. My two boys started going with me by the age of 4. They were capable of shooting a .22 fairly well by 7 and In my opinion would have been capable, responsible, and physically readyto hunt safely by 9 or 10.

I say let it be the parents responsibilty in choosing the age!
(Butkeep it mandatory that they be accompanied by an adult)

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

i am reminded of my aunts brother who was shot in the face by an underage hunter a few eyars ago thanksgiving morning. A kid under new york's legal age of 12 shot a six foot tall man in the face with buckshot because he thought he was a rabbit. His father was right there, at least within sight, i dont know the exact situation. Then the father claimed it was his older son who was legally able to hunt.
Now this is a case of the parent not fufilling his duty to guide the kid, or not allow him to hunt illegally rather. Also, he allowed the child to use illegal ammunition. But dont you think that a child a little older could have better judged his target, even with a terrible adult supervisor?

I say let your kid go hunting with you as young as possible, but dont give them a gun until they are old enough. And we obviously cant leave that up to the parents to decide as some people have said. And then ease them into actually hunting, small game first, then big game. As for an age, i have said that i agree with 12 for small, and 16 for big.
I dont think that we should looka t it as age restriction and educationa re hindering hunter replacement and we shoudl lower it. then we are jsut replacing them with more inexperienced hunters. its better to have them wait a year or two and learn some responsibilty and experience before handing them a lethal firearm.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I am not a big fan of lowering the age to hunt with gun below 14. I just don't think most kids are mature enough at the younger age. I know the push is to get more kids hunting, but whats wrong with them going out with dad (or mom) for a fewyears and seeing how it's done and not having the extra responsibility (pressure) of carrying the gun, making a good shot, etc. I was in the woods with my dad for several years before I was old eough (16) to hunt. Although I was out small game hunting - that is a good time for younger pople to learn about being in the woods with a gun. Just my opinion, but I would say the NY system(see above)is pretty good - possibly lower age for big game gun to 14 w/ supervision.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

We can find an exceptional incident about almost anything. That parent should be held acountable but it's not necessary to punish everyone because of one stupid incident.

Some states let kids drive a car before 16, most wait till 16 andIbelieve a few have an even higher age. New drivers ofANY age account for a hugely disproportionate percentage of car accidents. It's more about experience and training than it is the age. New adult hunters also do stupid things in the woods. Most kids fresh out of hunter ed that I've been around are far safer than many adults I've seen in the field.

I say that once a kid can pass a hunter ed course and is physically able he should be OK to hunt with an adult.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

That depends on what state you're in , some have right to hunt clauses in their state Constitution .

I'd go with #2 , an 8 year old can hunt safely with supervision .

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I've hunted deer with shotgun since I was 12. Most states are 12 or 14 for deer with gun. I think the 16 with gun is too high for the minimum. 14 is ideal for NY I'd think. 12 for bow, maybe.

At 16, I can't think many boys would be wanting to spend more time sitting in a stand/freezing/etc...when they can be driving cars, doing school sports,and chasing two legged does. You instill the urge to hunt earlier, and I think it reduces the tendency to lose future sportsmen and women.

Just look at the hunter replacement rate. Compared to others, NY is losing faster, and we are the only ones at 16 for big game with a gun, I believe. It's an avennue worth exploring.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I vote for 12 with direct supervision of a parent or guardian only after passing a hunter ed class. 16 to hunt without supervision only after passing the class. I started when I was 8 and just tagged along. I got to go to deer camp with dad when I was 12 but the only hunting I was allowed to do was small game with a .410. Started to hunt deer at 14 and got my first at 16.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I think no child under 19 should hunt unsupervizedwithout an adult. As smart as kids are today they still make inexperianced decisions sometimes. Putting a gun in the hands of an inexperianced child will only make them learn the hard way. By mistakes. There are some children that can hunt better and wizer then some adults. But we have to look at the whole picture. Not all kids mature in there teens.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

951 - I have to say that I largely agree with you (I'd support hunting at 18). When I look back at some of the things I did when I was a kid, I can say without reservation that little kids shouldn't be carousing in the woods with high-powered weaponry.

Hunting, in my opinion, is an ultrahazardous activity, just like driving a car, riding an ATV, handling toxic chemicals orhandling explosives. Let's face it,hunters are responsible for handling a controlled explosive device, capable of inflicting grievous damage ifmisused.

We live in a regime where we, the voters,barred minors from owning land,entering binding contracts, owning companies,enlisting in the armed forcesand to some extent being held criminally liable for their actions. This policy is based on a child's inability to comprehend certain legal principles, properly value human life, and act with "adult" responsibility.

Why, then, should we make this huge exception, just for the sake of "replacing" retiring hunters, and put the rest of the populace at risk? If our federal government says "you're not physically and mentally ready to engage an enemy in combat," it speaks volumes.

Obviously, we screen the kids with hunters' safety programs, but let's face it. Those tests are so easy, it's virtually impossible to fail them. I took my cousin (17)for his, and he didn't study anything, andjust sat through a 2-day course. He missed1 question, and passed. The horrifying part is that kids could missabout13 questions and still pass. This really opened my eyes, and made me wonder "what are we doing here?"

We further control kids by mandating that their hunts are supervised. Well, I've been in the field enough to know that not all youth hunts are "supervised." Instead, it's "Hey kid, you sit here and wait for deer, and I'll be right over there, watching down over the other hollow." Sorry, but that doesn't put me at ease.

Just watching the kids (11-12) at the hunting course and listening to their questions made three things very clear: 1. They are very interested in the outdoors, moreso than I can even put into words; 2. The bulk of them would be physically unable to operate some hunting guns, and would surely be unable to survive one night in below-freezing temperatures; and 3. Most of them have absolutely no clue, they just want to get a deer like the big guys.

In closing, and I'm not trying to flame here, just stating some points. There are studies that convincingly support the proposition that hunting at too early an age can emotionally damage a child, and those kids can go on to develop deeper psychological problems. Studies also show that children can react irrationally to fear, physical injury and death. I've seen a lot in my years in the woods. Hunting isn't for the faint of heart, and IMO, should be limited to adult individuals with heightened awareness, increased decision-making abilities and a strong stomach. I just don't know why any 8-year-old needs to be out hunting, when he could be socializing with his friends, playing hockey, football or some other socially gainful activity.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

3.) 12.... Start taking them with you when he/her at 8 and teach them weapon safety and nature, also start them shooting at the range when they are 8. Take them to the Hunter Safety Course at 11 and buy him a weapon at 12. If he/her are ready.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

951,
19?
Would you then raise the age minimum for the armed forces to 19?

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I think the minimum age to hunt with a gun under the direct supervision of an adult should be 8 years old. 15 would be the age I would support for unsupervised hunting.As a 9 year old I hunted pheasant with my father and I would not be allowed to place a shell in my single shot shotgun until the dog was on point and I was placed in front of my father. Many here would take that kind of opportunity away from kids and parents?Trying to legislate for bad parenting is just plain stupid in my book and limiting the childrenof responsible parents because "I heard some kid with a bad parent did.."just hurts the sport.

I hear some of the comments posted here and wonder why people believe making a "law" against something thatonly would stop behavior from people who if they would do that behavior wouldn't care the least about the lawanyway. How about lay off the legislation and step up and correct the meatball you witness passing on or exhibitingbad behavior. Thankfully they are the minority.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Here in Massachusetts, they allow children to hunt under a licensed adult at 12 (completing a hunter education course is needed) and unsupervised with a hunting license and Firearms ID Card (with parent's permission) at 15.

I think hunting under a licensed adult should be lowered to 10, maybe 8. A child should be allowed to get an FID card and a hunting license at 13, with parents permission. C

Currently, Mass. requires the child to complete a hunter education course in addition to having the parent's permission in order to obtain both an FID card and hunting license. I do not think that should change. I learned a lot through the hunter education course and I don't think I would be as safe as a hunter if I didn't take it.

We need to get this country's youth introduced to hunting at as young of age as possible. Everyone knows that there are less and less children getting involved with hunting. A lot don't want anything to do with hunting because their friends don't like the idea of killing animals. If you can show them at a young age that hunting is not what they make it out to be, they will hopefully pass the word on for a better chance of preserving our heritage.

For the slow or uninformed, hunting is rated the safest sport based on how often someone gets injured.

Quiksilver, if you want to relate it to driving a car, why is the minimum age allowed for someone to drive in most, if not all, states lower than the age you think children should be allowed to hunt? Why are kids allowed to ride atv's under 16? I think you and 951 overrate how dangerous hunting is.

Quiksilver, maybe it hasn't sunk into your head that the reason why the hunter education tests are so easyis because safety is mostly common sense and it is based on what they have in the books.

You are right that some kids don't have the ability to handle some hunting guns. They should test a childs ability to handle firearms and other means of taking an animal. If someone has to think hard about what their next move is to be safe in a practice scenario or be told what the next move they should make is, they shouldn't be graduating the course. Safety should be second nature to you before you are safe enough to be in the woods. The only way for someone to get that way is have lots of practice and experience under supervision to point out your mistakes.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

djgj200 - In my home states, as well as many others, a learner's permit is issued from at age 16, at the earliest. That requires an adult to be present, and expires at midnight. A regular driver's license isn't generally issued until 18.

About the ATV's - several of the posters on here have heard my opinion of children and ATV use. I'll save that for another time. The fact is, children would already be barred from operating said vehicles but for the lobbying of companies like Honda, Yamaha and Polaris, that depend on child-riders to put food on their tables. All of this comes at the expense of the American youths who continue to be maimeddue to careless and improper usage fo the same.

I agree with your evaluation of the Hunter's Safety Exam - it is much too simple. That said, I respectfully disagree with your blanket assertion that safety is "common sense." What may seem "common sense" to an adult isn't "common sense" to a child.

Not only would I support increased testing standards for infants (minors), but testsadministered toadults as well.

There's no place for the "we need to get kids into hunting" argument when we're discussing safety. They either get it, or they don't. A 12 year old, "doesn't get it," if you ask me.

I don't care if we don't recruit a single new hunter in the next twenty years, as long as the ones that we do grant this privilege are capable, responsible and ethical. The object of the game here isn't to provide entertainment to kids, it's to keep hunters safe.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

IfI did than we wouldn't have as many inlisting. They would become wiser;). 18 is a mile stone for a youth. Out of high school and undicided is what out goverment is looking for. I don't thinkour goverment would give that up. Now backto topic.

Don't get me wrong! I am all for youth hunters with adult supervision as early as 12 year old. It's probably wise to bring a child hunting with you (unarmed) as early as 10 years old. The experience of being in the woods will start to teach them. I'm sureif they like the outdoor experience they will return to the woods. If it takes the lure of arming them to make it more tempting than maybe they aren't cut out to beoutdoorsman after all.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

About driving, the minimum age in MA for Learner's Permit is 16. The Learner's Permit will not let the Learner operate from 12am to 5am except being accompanied by a parent. Minimum about of time needed with a Learner's Permit before a Driver's License can be issued is 6 months. So if a kid gets his learner's permit on his 16th birthday, he can get his license at 16_1/2.

Getting back to the topic, we need young hunters to keep the tradition of hunting going. No matter how desperate the need is for young hunters, I would never say to bypass testing their safety.

I agree with quiksilver about stricter testing and also testing for adults. I have the same feeling with driving too. Being tested every five years sounds like a good plan. A lot of drivers forget what they learned in driver's ed after they get their permit. Being tested five years will keep that fresh, but it may be long enough to get some habits sunk into them that may cause them to lose their license. We don't need those kind of drivers on the road.

I disagree with minimum age being an unarmed hunter, sort to speak, being 8. I started tagging along with my dad when I was 5.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

There is another issue that comes up with the youth being supervised by the adult rule.

In WV, just because I am an old fart, i don't have to take a hunters safety course to get a license. I am allowed to take my 13 year old, who also does not need a license or a hunters safety course because she is with me, out into the woods and hunt. HUH??
Until last year I never held a gun in my hand. So now the law permits me to take a high powered rifle into the woods with a kid while there are others around me hoping thatI know what I'm doing?????

Fortunatey, for myself and everyone I am in the woods with, I was responsible enough to do the right thing and go through the safety course. The point is I didn't have to and that is perfectly alright with the state of WV. That's scary

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I respectfully disagree completely with this statement. Many, if not all 12 year olds I have met in the field of this age have been responsible and safe hunters. All of them were accompanied by family as well.

Safety is such an over used reason to strip peoples rights. It has been mentioned that someone would risk not recruiting a single new hunter for the guarantee of safety, obviously not taking into account that safety is a completely arbitrary thing. Accidents happen and people get hurt all the time, and often to people who were doing everything right. If you you are looking for sterility, hunting is not an option. Hunting is a very safe thing to do. In comparison to other outdoor activities it is one of the safest things you could take up. Yes, every year of the millions of people who hunt a few will be hurt and maybe dieand we all should do our best to be and act safe. But if all of us were riding bikes instead of hunting even more would be killed, or if we hunters took up kayaking or canoeing even more would be killed. See my point? There is some measure of risk in driving to work, and you accept it. Who in their right mind would attempt to legislate away the hunting opportunities of young people to avoid just a tiny few bad people out there, who more than likely will be just as dangerous when they are older?

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Not quite. First of all this discussion was about a minimum age. No one said that bypassing safety was an acceptable trade to get kids into hunting.As DannyD said Lots of adults aren't trained enough and lots that have been trained are still too irresponsible to be in the woods.

Safety training and testing...... YES :D

Arbtrary age restrictions.......NO [:'(]

Shouldn't that statement be more like: We need to find more creative ways to keep bringing in new hunters but we need to make sure we don't sacrifice safety for numbers?

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

[blockquote]quote:

Remember, hunting is privilege, not a right. [/blockquote]

That depends on what state you're in , some have right to hunt clauses in their state Constitution .

i for one dont agree hunting is a privelage. its my god given right to provide food for my family by harvesting game, i just have to pay the state for the right to do so.

on the matter of kids ages there should be no minimuim requirement. my son has been hunting in maryland with me since he was 10. he has harvested dove geese ducks deer and squirrel. lots of my hunting associates enjoy hunting with him and one reason is because he is a safe hunter. iv seen adults that i wouldnt dream of hunting with because they display careless attitudes in the field. yet iv hunted with kids who knew more about saftey and sportsmanship than adults ever will.



quicksilver says:
There's no place for the "we need to get kids into hunting" argument when we're discussing safety. They either get it, or they don't. A 12 year old, "doesn't get it," if you ask me.

obviously you havent a clue by making that biased statement

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

In Vermont no age limit. My sons passed hunter safety last year (2004) at the age of 7 and 9. They passed hunter safety on there own. My oldest had failed the written test at age 7 by 2 questions in 2002. Does this mean they can hunt on there OWN ? as far as VT law goes Yes. As far as My law goes ?...NO WAY !....What this means is they can go hunting with Dad/Mom & Uncles.
My 7 year old got two shots off during Youth day on a doe, I was right next to him, He did everything right, just missed. At what age will they hunt on there own........answer when they are ready. Every child or young adult is different. As Adults there is no room for error, when young hunter starts hunting. A good mentor beats age limit, any day. Kids aren't shooting people everyday in the woods, Stupid adults are pulling most of the boners.
The biggest problem with young hunters, is finding guns small enough( youth guns) that fit them. A short arm young hunter needs a very compact rifle......What upsets and scares me the most, is all the adults that send there young hunters in the woods with NO REAL BINOCULARS, cheap 10x20
tasco don't count. What do you think a large number of hunters do when they see something, don't know 100% what it is and they don't have Binoculars, but they have a scoped rifle ?
I think they should teach gun safety in school at age 8 and again at age
12. Does your 8 to 15 year old really know what to do, if he is around a gun without a Adult ? Mine do.......I get a kick out of parents that teach they're sons & daughters about Sex,Drugs & Alcohol, But nothing about guns. All four of those can kill, and three of them can kill you..

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I have a nine year old daughter that we raised in TX before coming home to NY. She can use a 22 real well but I would not let her hunt unsupervised until she was at least 16. Supervised I would say 12. I take her with me now and she carries a video camera to keep her patient and quiet during the hunt. When we get home we play her movie and this adds an element of accomplishment for her.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

these pics were taken during last years hunting seasons. at the time he just turned 11 yrs old. the smiles alone say a thousand words, this boy loves to hunt. who says he`s not ready ?

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3738/IMG_1639.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9477/IMG_2103.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9720/IMG_2083.jpg
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7997/img22570eg.jpg

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7997/img22570eg.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9720/IMG_2083.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9477/IMG_2103.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3738/IMG_1639.jpg

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Hunting ages are a crock.

My son was ready at an early age to hunt safely. I see adults in the woods that are idiots.

I notice QS is still using infants as a slight on young hunters. It shows alot about his attitude and charector.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

An infant is a minor, Charlie. A minor. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has defined the term "infant" to mean a "legally dependent child." In layman's terms - a minor. Check the Juvenile Code if you don't believe me.

Come on guys, I'm giving you all an opportunity to convince me that infants belong in the deerwoods, and you're not doing a very good job of it. All I'm getting is blasted because I've provided an opposing viewpoint. None of your arguments have been very moving so far.

IMO infants shouldn't be carrying high-powered rifles.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

i cant believe you are trying to defend your views qouting the archaic laws of the penn. game commission. please dont insult my intelligence, everyone knows when it comes to hunting pennsylvania is as backwards as it gets. and yes i live in pa so i can say i know what im talking about. my son is the main reason i hunt mostly in maryland.

most kids by the time they are 16 have no interest in hunting if they are not brought into the sport early. theyre main interest at that agr will be cars and girls. are you willing to lose our younger generation to other things because of your views? as iv said before kids are a joy to hunt with because they open your eyes to things we as older hunters take for granted. watching the excitement of a kid as he sees his first fox cross the field or as mallards start to circle your dekes is what this great sport is all about. try it once, just take a kid along and see the smile as he walks up to his first deer he just harvested and youl see what i mean

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

As much of you know, I am surrounded by liberals.When things are runned by liberals, things are bound to fail. Just give it time.

EXAMPLE:
I don't remember when it was, but there was a trapping bill passed in MA that forbade the use of certain traps. Now in the Boston area, beavers are F'ing up the place. Itis a real disaster and now everyone is going nuts that nothing can be done about it because of the bill. FYI - 90% of people that live in a 30 mile radius of Boston are diehard liberals, it is also where the bulk of the state's population is. Now you see what the power of a liberal mind can do.

JUST AN OBSERVATION OF THE CHARACTERISTIC.

There are a couple bills coming up this year to be voted on that will reverse the trapping bill. Hopefully they pass, but then again I would love to see the liberals eat their words.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I wasn't trying to "insult your intelligence." The definition that I cited was from the 2005 Pa Code.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

How many 12 yr old have you hunted with or been around lately?You have kids of your own?

What are you basing your opinion on?

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Supervised -- no specific age limit.

Unsupervised -- parents discretion.

They should be required to pass hunter education.

I also support special " youth " hunts.


If an age limit is established on hunting, then a similar limit should be established on allowing anti hunting factions pushing their agenda.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

Charlie - I'm basing my opinion on what I did when I was 12, and what the kids in my family do when they're 12 years old. I've taken plenty of kids hunting. The fact is that they are wholly unable to appreciate the danger and power that they're holding in their hands. They walk around with the muzzle pointing all over the place, they don't know how to handle an emergency situation. They get so excited when they see a deer, that they just point and fire. These aren't first-timers, these are kids that have been shooting BB guns and .22's since they were six.

I've hunted in states with no age limit, and it's disgraceful. I saw a kid not a day over 8, 50 pounds soaking wet, shoot a deer, with no adults around. Sure he was happy, but he was totally helpless. Igut the thing, and dragged it out for him. All the while, it occurs to me:why does an 8-year-old need to be out there? Shouldn't this kid be playing basketball or soccer? This isn't just about kids being unsafe, it's about good parenting.

Obviously, if you're standing over a kid, watching his every move, you can keep him from shooting another person, or a farm animal. That's pretty simple. The fact is, unfortunately, that not all derelict parents do that. Some view that "Hunters' Safety Card" as a license to kill - carte blanche. Just because they took the kid to the rifle range one day, they say "Hey Junior, you watch that way, and I'll be over on this hill watching the other side. If you need anything, just come over and get me..." Fill in the rest of the story.

IMO, if you have to stand over them, it's probably because they'rea danger to themselves and othersif left alone. Sometimes the truth hurts, but as I've said in the past, and I'll say it again. "The Simplest Solution is Sometimes the Best Solution." We live in a nation full of horrible parents, and sadly, sometimes the rights of the good must be trampled in the name of safety.

RE: Poll - Legal hunting age
 

I'm sure your point could be counter pointed by many parents who's 12 yr old kids CAN handle a weapon under any hunting circumstance as well as any adult hunter. The world doesn't start and end in your neck of the woods. There is a broad spectrum of young hunters out there in other parts/regions of this country that I have hunted with from 13-16 yrs of age that are fully capable of unsupervised hunting activities - Granted there are many that are NOT.

I would not attempt to compare the abilities of a 10-16 yr old in NY,NJ,Balt Md,Wash DC,Pitts Pa etc... etc... to that of a kid of same age group in the deep south or even remote areas of the west.Some of these kids put food on the table for the family! You do not make such destinction or allowances. Your Black and White - Tunnel Vision. Fine.

Seems your on a fishing expedition to justify your own view on how the world should be - Hey thats fine and dandy.

BTW back on topic for the poll

I choose none of the above