RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

14 to bow hunt and 16 to gun hunt in NY. wish they`d change it here

RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

The real prob thatI see is these "mentors" taking advantage of it. They can shoot a buck and not tag it. What is preventing the mentor from shooting a buck and having a youth with them say they shot it? This is just going to result in false tagging of deer. Same thing happens with youths being allowed to shoot spikes, the older guys just shoot anything and then say it was the youth who killed it. 12 is old enough to hunt. I think I started when I was almost 13 and I was raised around guns my whole life.

RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

In VT your kids can hunt as soon as they pass the hunters safety course there is no age limit. Besides why should you care if my kid is with me and I let him shoot a deer with my tag. I mean sitting right next to me under my direct supervision. Does it really matter that I didn't shoot it? I figure the deer has a lot better chance of survival if my kid shoots than if I do.I was planning on taking my 11 yr old squirrell hunting this year and letting him shoot my limit of squirrels. I know this is legally wrong but does it really matter if we only shoot the legal limit of squirrels for one person? He already passed his hunters safety course when we lived in VT and would be allowed to hunt if we still lived there.

RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

I agree with Smokeman, I just introduced my daughter to shooting .22 this summer and she's 6. Each day at the range involves a refresher in gun safety, mechanics, sight picture, ect. It has always been a positive experience for her. I plan on taking her with me this year in the treestand, but don't plan on taking advantage of the mentor program for 2 or 3 more years. I will take on the responsiblity that she will be ready before ever taking her into the woods, I know that some people will use the program to increase their own harvest, but all rules have their violators.

RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

Exactly and we all know damn well it's going to happen more than the PGC will ever know. Too many little kids being dragged into the woods with the intention of the father shooting extra bucks.

RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

Man, you would have to be a real piece of crap to shoot your kids deer. I go out of my way to give my kids every opportunity to get a deer or catch a fish before I think of my self. My son shot his first deer last year during the kids doe season. It was the best hunt I have ever been on. I wouldn't think of taking that opportunity away from my kids. I want to believe that most parents would do the right thing and let their kids shoot.

RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

I think most parents would do the right thing.Chances are if they're taking the time to mentor a youngster,they're doing it for the right reasons.That's not to say a few morons won't take advantage of the program but chabces are,they'd find another way.Congradulations on your son's first deer.

RE: Children under 12 hunt deer next year without tags?
 

I'd say that the guy that will take a little kid under the age of 12 outand teach him that poaching is OK probably didnt need a change in the law to do his dirty deeds. A guy with his moralities that bent would probably just as soon take the kid out jacklighting deer.