how old should a child be able to hunt alone
 

In michigan there trying to get you able to hunt with a firearm at age 12I am 15 teen and even think that is wayto young.

RE: hunting age
 

I took my son to the Hunter Safety Course when he was 12, but 4 months later he turned 13 and I bought him a Winchester "Carbine" .30-30, a Winchester 1300 and a CVA "Eclipise" .50 cal ML. With one condition, he could only use them when he went with me untill he was 16.

RE: hunting age
 

I am with you rebel. Good rule for all the right reasons.

RE: hunting age
 

sounds like a great compromise to me.

RE: hunting age
 

i started hunting around the ages of 11 to 12 with my grandpa and uncle. i had to be with them at all times and they gave me a m1 carbine and a mini 14 to hunt with.

RE: hunting age
 

I did not/could not vote. I believe there should be no minimum age as long as the hunter is within arms reach of an adult until they are 14. I believe that kids will learn a lot more this way, hands on, rather than in a classroom at hunters safety.

RE: hunting age
 

My son is 12 and just started hunting by himself this year. I am always within radio distance of him, usually a few hundred yards. He has not but will be taking the hunters safety course this year although I believe his 1st hand experiences are good. I have watched him without him knowing on every occasion in the woods and am very comforatable how he handles a weapon with respect for himself and others around him. So my vote goes to each child is different, somewhere between 12 and 15, depending on the circumstances.

RE: hunting age
 

Maturity is a better ruler than age in determining whether a young person is "ready" to hunt. Both my sons killed their first deer at 6, but my youngest actually started hunting with me at 5 and was "ready" at that age. My youngest isobsessive about anything hunting or shooting. My oldest, however, actually was probably not ready at 6, but I wanted him to hunt and made it easy for him to be successful. He has since lost interest in hunting, and I blame myself for pushing him too soon. Hind sight 20/20.

RE: hunting age
 

I think 12 with a responsible adult relative is fine. This gives fathers the chance to take their sons hunting before the sons get interested in cars, women, alcohol and think they know everything.;) By yourself, I'd have to say 18. That's the state law in CA for being able to have a rifle or shotgun (not pistols) by yourself.

RE: hunting age
 

They are trying to get the age limit down to 8 in wis. I pray to god that this doesnt happen. Right now its 12.

RE: hunting age
 

I think as a parent it would be irresponsable to let a child under 15 go to the woods with a high powerd rifle andhunt unsupervised...you read EVERY year about someone getting shotbecause a hunter did not recognize what they were shooting at and before I put a long shooting high powered rifle in a childs hands he will have to proove to me he can recognize a target... I do however think that a small gaged shotgun would be the right weapon to start a 12 yr old out with ...as he showed maturity I would let him work into a 22 rifle and then a deer rifle when as a parent I felt he was ready for such a resposability... JMHO.

dd

RE: hunting age
 

Depends on the rules, here in NH, at 16 you are required to get your own license and can hunt on your own, with hunter safety completed of course. Prior to 16 you can hunt, carry a gun, have your own limits etc, but you have to be under the direct physical control of an adult hunter.

RE: hunting age
 

i'm 13 and i started carrying the gun when i was 12 but i have to have a mentor there without a gun till i'm 15

sault

RE: hunting age
 

Why does there HAVE to be a law?

This whole topic is convolouted. Totally not clear. Does this mean supervised or not supervised hunting?. How about amending the poll to give the option of NO Age requirement? Heck, why not 21? They can't smoke or drink till then, obviously that is when the "responsiblilty" hormone kicks in. While I totally agree that a 12 or 13 year old should not be out hunting alone, if you have a law that says they can't hunt at all, well that just hurts people that enjoy the sport together. If you push this, then a parent with a 10 or 11 year old kid that is mature and capable can't hunt, totally supervised, of course, with their parent.

Every kid is different. Mine both killed their first deer at 7 and 9 last year. There is a difference between being able to hunt alone and under the supervision of an adult. If a kid is capable of handling a firearm safely and is mature enuff to listen and learn, there is no reason that they should not be able to go and participate. Of course, it takes allot of investment of time and effort on the behalf of the parent.

Just one more opportunity for the government to intrude in our lives and to make it even harder to get young people involved in the sport.

Hank

RE: hunting age
 

12 is appropriate for most and younger is even better for some. I be;leive 8-10 will work as long as the adult is also trained and within arms distance of the younger hunter. I saw 20 year olds I did not want to be inn the woods with and 10 year olds who practiced great hunter safety. One of the biggest problems is using the appropriate firearm or bow. Most kids a re gun shy and sticking a 12 gauge or 30-06 in their hands will not produce a very experienced hunter. He/she will never want to shoot it.

RE: hunting age
 

I'm glad a few weeks ago I could take my youngest son (10) hunting with me for a memory of a lifetime. I think the key is that the child is supervised. My 12 year old son has shot three bucks.

One problem of exposing children to hunting at 16 or so is that you might have to much competition at that age. Girls and cars. There is a fascination in a boys eyes at a early age that might not be there later. I'm really not a big hunter. I have never shot at a deer myself.

One thing that helped us was being at a club that provided guidelines. I would have felt very uncomfortable on public land or at a club without a board to check in at before the hunt. We hunt out of box stands which allow for great conversation and mentoring/relational parenting.

I really wish this were left open for the parents who want to invest the time to do it right. There is nothing like walking up to a buck with your son and saying "Son, you have what it takes!" Those are the words every young boy wants to hear from his dad.

RE: hunting age
 

I took my son to the Hunter Safety Course when he was 12, but 4 months later he turned 13 and I bought him a Winchester "Carbine" .30-30, a Winchester 1300 and a CVA "Eclipise" .50 cal ML. With one condition, he could only use them when he went with me untill he was 16.

< Message edited by Rebel Hog -- 12/26/2005 6:01:54 PM >


Yes jaylong, I started taking my son when he was 8yrs old and had 8yrs of expirence before I let him go on his own!;)

RE: hunting age
 

I pray to God it does.

Can you please explain why it shouldn't be. I will restate what I said before.

I believe there should be no minimum age as long as the hunter is within arms reach of an adult until they are 14. I believe that kids will learn a lot more this way, hands on, rather than in a classroom at hunters safety.

And I am saying this as a person who has been shot by a 14 year old with a 30-06, and yes, nearly died.

RE: hunting age
 

Not trying to be argumentivebut I suppose with this logic that we should lower the driving age down to 12 or maybe not have an age just as long as they can reach the peddles and have had training from their parent? There must be a reason that there is a legal age to opperate a vehicle (a deadly weapon in the wrong hands)wonder what that reason might be ...

dd

RE: hunting age
 

Way to go Jay, you are doing it right.



There is a huge difference between sitting in a box blind with a child, teaching and in complete control of the situation and being in a car on a public highway. Learning about behavior and game choice is just the beginning.There is so much thatgoes into the preparation for the actual hunt, not to mention the basics. Range time, education, safety etc.
Any moron can see the difference.
Let a 12 year old out on his/her own, no way.
Teach a 7 or 8 year old everything you know and completely control the hunt where they are allowed to take game, absoloutly.

Hank

dd
 

There is also a drinking limit and limits set for the military. They are all different. I do see how you can compare hunting with driving as far as age limits but that is all. If you need a hunting limit then good for you.

We have one in NC. It says you can hunt with a supervised adult and at the age 16 you can hunt by yourself.
A youth under age 16 accompanied by a properly licensed adult may enjoy those privileges conveyed by the licenses held by the accompanying adult.*

If you need a rule or a law then there you go. Welcome to NC.

RE: hunting age
 

Come on DD, reread what I wrote. Comparing a gun to a car is like camparing apples to oranges. There is a lot less outside influnce while using a gun than there are operating a car. i.e. stop signs/lights, speed limits, pedestrian crossings, and especially other drivers, the list can go on and on. Hands on teaching a kid the 3 basic rules of a firearm is a lot easier and more effective than teaching a kid to drive.
Your arguement holds no water. Sorry.

RE: hunting age
 

i agree that maturaity is better determination than age. I started when I was 15 going by myself with no license. I didn't know any better. What I ddi know was the basics from my grandparents. Always shoot a deer in the kill zone so he won't run. Always set still. And always take a pistol or a sidearm for dogs or yotes. I've seen grown men that shouldn't even own a gun due to a low maturaity level.

RE: hunting age
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: ahankster

Way to go Jay, you are doing it right.



There is a huge difference between sitting in a box blind with a child, teaching and in complete control of the situation and being in a car on a public highway. Learning about behavior and game choice is just the beginning.There is so much thatgoes into the preparation for the actual hunt, not to mention the basics. Range time, education, safety etc.
Any moron can see the difference.
Let a 12 year old out on his/her own, no way.
Teach a 7 or 8 year old everything you know and completely control the hunt where they are allowed to take game, absoloutly.

Hank


Hank lets make sure we are talking about the same issue ...My point was that if you lower the age so kindergarden kids can carry a high powerd rifle into the woods and set in "seperate" blinds or treestand by themself (I.E. within radio distance I think someone said earlier) the comparrison I was trying to make was it would seem to be just as dangerious as letting a 12 year old drive a car even if a parent were setting in the next seat...I just do not think they are ready at that age ..but thats JUST MY personal opinion ... so if I am a "moron" in your eyes then so be it ... I have a 34 year old son that I taught how to shoot a bow and use a shotgun before he was 12 but I did not allow him to take a rifle in the woods alone until he was 16 ...

dd

RE: hunting age
 

In N.Y. the age is 16yrs. i and others would like to see this changed to 12yrs. i know some will say to young, but there are only a few years that we still have some control over our children and thats when there young and impressionable. When they get much older theres that boy or girl around the corner thats a lot more important than ma and dad. School is also the killer football, basket ball etc. there not with us any more. This why i think we should get them while there young. Rich

RE: hunting age
 

RWK I can agree with you as long as a parent is within arms length of a minor with a hunting rifle ..I think its our heritage to teach our children about the outdoors ..how to hunt ..safty of a firearm ..no question about that ...the only problem I have would be for them to carry a high powered rifile in the woods and hunt in a stand unsupervised by an adult and preferably a parent ... but as I said earlier thats just a morons opinion.

dd

RE: hunting age
 

12 with an adult near by (in stand or close enough to see).

RE: hunting age
 

DD,
Once again, the ambiguity of the whole post strikes. YOU are talking about ALONE. I am talking about DIRECT SUPERVISION. The question was talking about ALLOWED to hunt, period, not with an adult, supervised or alone. Just allowed to hunt.
Here is where I totally disagree, don't take the ability of myself and many other parents in the south (where there generally is no age limit) to take their kids hunting and teach them with practical field knowledge down to the actual taking of game. Heck, in Mississippi and Alabama they actually have state sponsored youth WEEKS, not just days like some places (before the regular season)for deer, ducks and doves where parents can take their kids hunting with no competition from other adults.
You and I probably agree for the most part. My kids probably won'tbe allowed to hunt alone until they are 14 or 15. They will be allowed when, in my opinion (which is pretty critical) they are ready. Not by some arbitrary proposed law. One of them will probably be ready at 13 or 14, the other at ... well, who knows. But that is just it, we don't need a law to tell us as parents when they are ready. I am responsible for their every action until they are of age. Difference between people like me, and people that just have to have a law, is that I recognize this and have no problem shouldering the responsibility and manning up to it.
So, like I said, the poll should read, "how old should a child be to hunt ALONE" .

R
Hank

RE: hunting age
 

In some parts of the world, 12, or 13 is considered adulthood!
That said, in our society, I'd say that 12 ,or 13 would be the MINIMUM age, PROVIDING, they are reponsible enough to be trusted with the responsibility of hunting alone, with a high-powered weapon!