State of Utah screwed my son!

W

wapitifever

Guest
My 11.5yr old applied and drew a Youth Any Bull hunt in April. We have spent $1000's traveling, scouting, and buy equipment for this hunt and I got a call from the State today telling me I have to turn the tags (elk and deer) in because they screwed up in the application process. My son turns 12 3 weeks after the hunt ends so he is not eligible. This may sound dramatic, but I seriously feel like I have to tell him he has cancer. This kid has dreamed to chasing elk since he was 5 and when he drew that tag in April it was better than a million bucks! I can't believe that two weeks before the season they have the balls to throw out a technicality on us like that.
I sent a pretty nasty email to the Director and told them the least they could do was guarantee him a tag next year.
It's a very sad day. In one phone call all our hunting is wiped out for the year. CJ even gave up football so he could delicate the time to his hunts. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
 
Somethings smells fishy as hell here.

In Utah, as long as you turn 12 WITHIN that same year, you are eligible to hunt, regardless of if the birthday is after the hunt or not.

SUM TING WONG











48288e6577d023b6.jpg
 
You can apply if you turn 12 by the end of the year, but you cannot hunt until the day your turn 12.
So if your hunt is over before he turns 12, then he cannot hunt. Seems like an odd rule, but that is what is says.
 
That sucks. The kid still has plenty of years ahead of him. Hell, I could not even get a tag until I was 16 when I was a kid. Don't ever give up football for hunting. You're boy can hunt his whole life after football. Find a buddy who you can still go out hunting with and have a great time. You don't have to have a tag to enjoy the fall season. Study the proc. too. The DOW doesn't have a clue. They will sell you two deer tags (if you let them) and then fine you later. I almost had that happen to me.
 
Pretty tough deal ,I feel real bad for your son and you as well, but the comparison of telling him this news to cancer is no where near similar, it's not even close. Pretty bad choice of words...
 
No one to blame but yourself. My son turns 12 dec 5 and I caught it before I put him in. Had a neighbor that didn't catch it and was all excited his son was going to get to hunt deer with him this year. He turns 12 in Nov. Lucky he mentioned it to me when he did. Or he probable would've got the same call as you. He went down and turned the tag back in. At least he found out back in May before to much was put into it. Same way in wyoming can't hunt until your 12th birthday. Just bought my boy points there also.
 
>Pretty tough deal ,I feel real
>bad for your son and
>you as well, but the
>comparison of telling him this
>news to cancer is no
>where near similar, it's not
>even close. Pretty bad choice
>of words...


Nutt well said . Prioritys a bit outta wack?
 
>>Pretty tough deal ,I feel real
>>bad for your son and
>>you as well, but the
>>comparison of telling him this
>>news to cancer is no
>>where near similar, it's not
>>even close. Pretty bad choice
>>of words...
>
>
>Nutt well said . Prioritys
>a bit outta wack?


+2 Good news is the kid will draw the tag again.
 
regarding the football comment... I gave it up to hunt as a kid and don't regret it a bit. Had a lot of fun... and my knees still work too!
 
i musta got away with one because i sure hunted before i was 14 cause i turned after the hunts. The CO made it very clear that this was just fine and i would have no problems so maybe it changed
littlebeaver.jpg


Wildlife population control specialist
 
Cancer? I'll bet the dads out there that have actually had to tell their kid they have cancer would disagree on that one. Freakin' insensitve damn comparison.
 
come on guys. He was upset and he used the cancer analogy to get his point across that it is going to devistate this kid when he gets the news. Obviously he is not saying he would be just as disappointed if his kid got cancer. You guys are unbelievable...just looking for reasons to bag on people without using common sense. Just like the left wing groups who are boycotting the movie "Tropic Thunder" because they have a scene in it where the refer to "retards". Nobody can say anything anymore without getting slammed. And the world is worse off because of it instead of better off like they think!
 
Bubbas...I am upset about your referral to the referral and would like you to apologize.
 
We do have to be politically correct, you know that!!!! Give the dude a break, he was just telling us how he feels about what happened, to many "cup is half empty" and not enough "cup is half full" people on here!! Lighten up a bit.

CC
 
I understand what he is trying to say. I'm pretty much about as easy going as it gets here and don't care to sling mud with anyone, but that choice of words and how he used was very wrong, politcally and non.Many of us and probably most of us here have had cancer impact our lives in one fassion or another, and some times , just sometimes theres things that shouldn't be said and this comparison just rubbed me and I can only speak for me, but it struck me wrong because of personal reasons.I know most things aren't to be taken "personal" but then again common sense is also different in everyone.In my opinion, for personal reasons , just a poor choice of words.....


I hope this young boy gets to hunt bull elk soon , or just hunt with his dad, believe me , atleast this dad loves his boy enough to pass on a heritage which I appreciate, but more than a hunt, I'm really happy and thank the Lord that this dad doesn't have to share news such as a life threatening illness.This is all I'm saying....Best to all of you ...Larry
 
It really is just a matter of failing to do your homework, (reading the proclamation). My son turns 12 Dec 2, so I had to look for a less than ideal antlerless hunt, but neither of us drew so the point is moot.
 
This kid has dreamed to chasing elk since he was 5 and when he drew that tag in April it was better than a million bucks! I

Wow!
 
Granted he should not have been able to draw, bu the law states on the 12 year hunting that they have to 12 at the time of the hunt, not before the end of the year.
 
Too bad for the kid. But on a much happier note, he doesn't have cancer AND some other 12 year old got called up to go hunting in 2 weeks. Look at it that way. It wouldn't be fair to the other kids who are actually 12 now would it? Take him out to shoot squirrels or something. I don't think Utah screwed your son. Sorry.
 
go buy yourself an OTC elk tag and take the kid hunting. It would be a wonderful scouting trip for what will happen in the next few years......
 
Wapitifever, If he has his heart set on hunting this year, why don't you buy him a nonresident tag and come enjoy a hunt in Idaho.
 
2buckridge I hope you are joking about 12 being too young to hunt? It all depends on the enviroment you are raised in and the training/experience you have with guns! Purely age is NOT a determining factor.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-08 AT 09:49AM (MST)[p]The state didn't scerw your son the rules were there for you to read and understand and you dropped the ball..... Don't compound it by teaching your son to blame everyone around him for his errors rather than how to own up to them. It's not the easiest path but it builds character and Lord knows we're lacking that in society today...... Terry
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-08 AT 10:21AM (MST)[p]I feel for you! It has to be hard to break a kids heart like that. I got screwed by Utah when I was young too. I had to wait until I was 16 to hunt and the year I turned 16 they lowered the age to 14 so my "rite of passage" was sort of taken away and a bunch of punk 14 yr olds and my kid sister all got to hunt the same year I did and didn't have to wait like me. I was looking forward to it too but I got over it.


On the flip side - it is not too late for football! You may have to pay a little extra in late fees to get him in a league but I am sure that most leagues will still let him play. You should talk to the leaue comissioner and see if they will let him.



UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)
 
>i musta got away with one
>because i sure hunted before
>i was 14 cause i
>turned after the hunts.
>The CO made it very
>clear that this was just
>fine and i would have
>no problems so maybe it
>changed
>
littlebeaver.jpg

>
>Wildlife population control specialist


When they changed the rule here in Utah to allow 14 year olds to hunt, you only had to turn 14 before the end of the year. I remeber being very excited as this happend the year before I turned 14 on Oct. 25th. (Prior to this you had to be 16.)I hunted elk and deer that year before I actually turned 14. Even at this time though you had to actually be 12 before you could hunt for small game. (That year I I didn't get to hunt the duck opener but hunted on the pheasant opener) As for Wapiti, When they changed the rules for big game a couple years back it (the proclamation) clearly stated that the hunter had to be 12 before being able to hunt. I feel bad about having to disapoint the kid but this is something that should have been known be fore before sending in the application. He will have plenty of years to hunt in the future. As has been stated, he can go along with you and hopefully learn even more to apply while he is hunting next year.
 
Mnt two buck and i are on the same page, i dont feel that a 12 year old has the maturity or knowledge to be a big game hunter regardless of the environment or skill. Its a priviledge and a responsibility, and should not be used by someone not capable of making well thought out and rational decisions. Now im sure that most fourteen year old kids arent much better but those extra two years can be extrememly valuable to the hunter and those teaching him. Personally i know looking back that i was not ready at twelve to handle a centerfire rifle or a big game animal and both must be done, and done well.
littlebeaver.jpg


Wildlife population control specialist
 
12 is not necessarily too young to hunt IMO (and like I always say.... you know what they say about opinions.... ;-) ). Here in AZ the age is 10, and my boys were definitely ready at that age. Not sure about my 9 year old daughter, but it's looking like she'll be ready as well.

As far as the original intent of the post; I definitely agree with Zigga, AZstickman, and some of the others. Utah DID NOT screw your kid! Rules are rules and you should not have put him in. You are to blame, and your kid should know that. My $.02.....

S.

:)
 
Sorry to hear you did not understand the regs as some in every state fails to understand them. But he will understand the frustration of not hunting this year but maybe next he will. Good luck next year and hopefully he will be out helping out dad this year with his hunts.

As for the 12 yr old comment. I laugh every time I see someone put this out. I have yet to run into a kid 12 yrs old hunting out by himself. Usually its under close supervision of a parent or relative. I have seen more people acting like immature idiots than the kids I have ran into. I actually enjoy seeing kids at the younger ages out with family. I ran into grown guys this year antelope archery hunting that acted like 2 yr olds with there BS. So I disagree with some of the posts up above. Just my opinion.
 
Mntman, I do not joke about such things. I do not think that a 12 year old is truely capeable of makeing ethical decisions. I do not feel that a 12 year old is grown enough in both mind and stature to be rolling around the mountains with a high powered rifle. I know that when I was 12, I wouldn't have been able to make a good shot on a standing animal, let alone an animal on the run. At least not without stix, or a tree to steady me. And how many of those oppertunities do you get, where you can take the time to find a tree, or unfold your stix before the animal gets away.

Mind you, that this is just my oppinion, I do not think that my thoughts are better or more inline than anyone elses. This is just how I see things.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-08 AT 01:50PM (MST)[p]2buckridge, I do feel it is possible for a 12 year old to do it.
I started hunting whitetails at 12, shot my first buck that year(standing still) the following year I shot a nice 5 point on the run, broadside at 50 yards, 1st shot I was too excited, 2nd shot I calmed down waited till he got to my shooting lane and put the bullet right through his heart.
Then when I was 16 I shot my 1st moose in Minnesota, called him in to 40 yards myself and put 3 shots into the boiler room, 2 of them was when he was on the run.

Does that mean every 12 year old is ready to hunt big game? NO. I had some friends that I don't think should have started hunting till they were in their 20's (no discipline).
I was 8 years old and hunting grouse with just my dog matt and never had any problems, due to my Dad teaching me what was right and wrong and how to treat a firearm.

So as with anything else the few bad apples (kids not being taught properly by their parents make a bad picture for all kids) ruin it for everyone. I feel there should be a more in depth class than firearms safety for 2-3 nights a week and then shoot for 2 hours on saturday. It should be a lot longer in my opinion.


So basically I feel a kid CAN make the right decisions IF correctly taught, don't try and take a 12 year olds oppurtunity away due to him/her just being 12 years old.



oh wapitifever, sorry about getting off topic here. That really sucks that happened. I'm not familar with the laws on that subject but I do feel they did right by correcting their mistake if they were wrong on sending the tag in the 1st place.
Best of luck to you and your son this year hunting and in next years drawings.


Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
YOU SCREWED YOUR SON. NOT THE UTAH DWR!
IF YOU READ OR LOOKED AT THE PROC 1 TIME YOU WOULD HAVE NOT PUT HIM IN.

AS FOR THE CANCER COMPARISON...KARMA IS A DIRTY WHORE. I WOULD NOT WISH TO BE IN YOUR SHOES.

12 IS TOO YOUNG
13 IS TOO YOUNG
14 IS STILL TO DAM YOUNG.

16 WAS JUST ABOUT RIGHT,
I HAD TO WAIT AND I AM OK.

I WOULD RATHER SEE MY DAD WHO IS 70 DRAW ONE LAST TAG BEFORE HE DIES, THAN SOME SMART A22'ED KID WHO DON'T DESERVE IT.

BEEN DREAMING SINCE 5 WOW THAT LONG. I'M 40 AND STILL DREAMING SO TELL YOUR BOY THE TRUTH, YOU SCREWED HIM, GROW UP AND LEARN TO READ.
 
12 year olds in general are not mature enough to be packin a high powered rifle and go on a big game hunt. Now there may be exceptions but in general its too young
 
Hey you could always still go hunt without the gun. If it were me I would do one of two things. Still make the trip to the same place I had planned on hunting, and check it out during the hunt, With the hopes that your son draws the tag again. or you could always go to a premium limited entry elk unit during the peak of the rut and your son will get a taste of some of the best elk hunting in the country.
 
how many things are wrong with this post?

i am not surprised he has not responded, quite a public lynching.
glad i got my new rope ready.

Blaming the DWR for your mistake. thats BS. all you are doing (have done) is teach yet another hunter that if you screw up it is OK to blame someone else. never accept responsibility.

comparing a tag to cancer is just wrong, i hope telling your son about the tag is the worse thing that you ever tell him. EVER.

there is always next year, cancer does not always give a next year.


and 12 is too young anyway, who draws the 1st time? thats just setting him up for heartbreak every year that he does not draw.

and the state should have NEVER changed it to 12 in the 1st place, it should have went back to 16!

there is maybe 1 out of 100 12 year old kids i would trust with a rifle. maybe 1.

i know quite a few. guess how many can pull o bow with 45 lbs? ZEEEEEROOOOOOO. i have told my friend that i would turn him and his boy in if they went, .......but 35lbs is close enough!..
NO IT IS NOT.

ok muzzle loader guys. right...this will be fun.

and the rifle hunt...oh god don't get me started.

so i guess this is what i have to say.
your boy will learn from this, take him out and get close to some elk with a camera. get in the field, maybe it will do some good.


and i also agree with one post up there.

I would much rather see my dad draw one more tag before he can't hunt any more.

some 12 year old kid.......they have a lifetime of waiting with the rest of us.
get used to it


live life one mule deer at a time.
 
>
>As for the 12 yr old
>comment. I laugh every time
>I see someone put this
>out. I have yet to
>run into a kid 12
>yrs old hunting out by
>himself. Usually its under close
>supervision of a parent or
>relative. I have seen more
>people acting like immature idiots
>than the kids I have
>ran into. I actually enjoy
>seeing kids at the younger
>ages out with family. I
>ran into grown guys this
>year antelope archery hunting that
>acted like 2 yr olds
>with there BS. So I
>disagree with some of the
>posts up above. Just my
>opinion.

Wow! Somebody with some common sense!
 
+1

Blaming the DWR for your mistake. thats BS. all you are doing (have done) is teach yet another hunter that if you screw up it is OK to blame someone else. never accept responsibility.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-30-08 AT 09:22AM (MST)[p]Welcome to MM! If you were expecting a bunch of agreement, you have just had a crash course in this websites unvarnished approach to letting you know what they really think! Takes some getting used to, but in the long run, I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes it makes me rethink my position, sometimes we just agree to dissagree.

But that is why I come here, not to be rubberstamped, but to be challenged. If you think we are wrong, then challenge us back.

Bottom line is that Utah screwed up, but you screwed up more. I can't tell you what to do, but if I were in your shoes, I would try and teach my son that it was US that screwed up and we can blame no one but ourselves.

As far as where this thread turned: is a 12 year old ready to hunt? Some are and some arent. However, even the ones who are should only hunt with a grown up. Buck fever can be too much for even the most mature 12 year olds until they get the hang of it. That has nothing to do with you or your original post, since you were obviously going to be with him on his hunt, just one of the quirky twists on these kind of threads.

That doesn't even get in to the question: Are 12 year olds old enough to play football................LOL.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Hey wapitifever, sorry to hear about the mistake at your sons expense, but teach him right and learn from it. Kids do have the chance to hunt with adults at a young age these days and he can hunt this year in several other states and Utah next year.

I took my oldest son to Idaho deer hunting when he was twelve because Utah was fourteen at the time and we had a great time. Last year I had twins that turned twelve and I planned to take them on a yearly bear hunt in the state of Idaho. We planned the hunt and when we went to purchase the liecense we could not figure out right off way the computor would not issue permits to them. After thinking about it I relized that they was not yet twelve for the May bear season, but would be for the deer season in October. Oh well we went on the planned trip and my twins had a great time and still talk about the trip and the bear we bagged to this day.

Infact last year my twins could not hunt buck deer in Utah because the legistator did not change the law until March. However, they did get to put in for controlled hunts which were after the legislative change and lucked out and drew a couple doe tags and had a great and sucessful time. This year will be their first buck hunt in Utah - their home state and yes they are excited!!! However they are currently thirteen - Oh well, times change and rules change.

All I'm saying is that we all do whatever we can for our children and sometimes as adults we get alittle excited and overlook the rules in our excitment. I don't want to make you fill any worst about the situation, but I would like you to know that my twins never had a bad experience because of my oversite on the bear hunt last year. I made the best of it and made up for it down the road. Sometimes we as adults want and/or push our children to hunt more then their own expectation!!! My children (5) have all enjoyed hunting, lucky for me, but they have always been there for the hunt and the kill is not what it is always all about!!!

Look at your situation and make the best of it for your son. Explain to him the rules and the priviledges he will have from this point on starting at twelve years old. I know this is not easy for you, but don't make the situation any worst for your son then it needs to be. HUNTING IS GREAT AND IT IS EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FATHER, GRANDFATHER & CHILDREN DOING IT WITH YOU!!!!

As for the age of twelve, ten or whatever it may be. I would much rather children began hunting when thier parents believe they are ready and if that is at ten or twelve, my opinion is that they will have adult supervision for four to six years prior to being able to hunt on their own at the age of sixteen. That is more then I had and alot more then I have seen other have. Some young teen age kids have borrowed weapons and went with their freinds with no adult supervision on their first hunt. I have a problem with that, although it is legal once they are of age. My opinion is that the more years and experience a child can get hunting with direct supervision the better they will be (safety, ethics, rules and experince). The young children are the future of hunting!!!

Best of luck and happy hunting to all!!!
 
Hello Wapitifever,
I would try to turn this honest mistake into a positive learning experience, , , for you and the boy!
Yes, you probably missed something in the regulations.
Yes, the state of Utah should make the regulations more clear to keep this from happening again to someone else.

Doesn't make it any easier to swallow does it?

When my son was seven (he is now twenty six), he and I took the AZ hunters safety course together. I fully understood that this would not allow him to hunt but I felt the training would be good for us both. Seemed like a good idea!

The AZ Game & Fish Dept. encourages all people with an interest in hunting or firearms, regardless of age, to take this course.
Again, seems like a good idea!

What the regs don't say is that, he could not recieve his Hunter Safety Certificate until he was ten.

Imagine how a seven year old felt at the graduation ceremony when all the other "graduates" recieved their fancy little diploma and he recieved NOTHING!

We took the course again when he was ten but he never forgot the disappointment and embarrasment.

I later taught that course for about five years but I had to stop. I couldn't stomach the fraud and abuse that goes on in that program and the AZ Game & Fish Department.

Live and learn!

Elkchaser
 
The good news is, now we all can learn from the mistake.

Don't worry about the comments about kids not mature enough, both my boys killed their first deer at 8! My oldest boy is now on his 20th at age 12. But yea HE IS NOT MATURE ENOUGH...WHAT A JOKE!

My hats off to you fo STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE and trying to get your son a tag!
 
I feel sorry for you and the boy and understand the dissapointment. But, he still has nowhere to go but up.

I also feel sorry for those of you who didn't know how to handle a rifle by the age of 12, and feel extra sorry for the parents that don't teach their children how to handle a rifle by the age of 12, and feel extra extra sorry for the kids that have to put up with parents that won't teach them how to handle firearms before the age of 12..........

I'm glad I have the Dad I have....

Todd
 
Hey Junior....wtf??

You said in your post, and i quote-
"both my boys killed their first deer at 8! My oldest boy is now on his 20th at age 12. But yea HE IS NOT MATURE ENOUGH...WHAT A JOKE!"

Are you saying your son has killed 20 deer in 4 years, starting at age 8?

Dude, your asking for a war admitting something like that!!!!















48288e6577d023b6.jpg
 
After reading this thread you have two choices.

1. Deal with the crap sandwitch you have in your lunch box by leading by example taking the responsibility of it all and talking to your son about it making the best of it and hunting something.

2. Quit hunting and whine about it until everyone is sick of hearing about it.


Since your the leader of your family you have to make a decision and go with it.

Good luck
 
+ 1 read the damn proc. that's why it's there.

+ 1 12 is too young, although I have seen some grown men that should not be packin either.

+ 1 A 12 year old has no right to complain when some of us have been waiting for a tag longer than the lad's been alive.

12 years old is a good time to learn life isn't fair.........
 
>+ 1 read the damn proc.
>that's why it's there.
>
>+ 1 12 is too young,
>although I have seen some
>grown men that should not
>be packin either.
>
>+ 1 A 12 year old
>has no right to complain
>when some of us have
>been waiting for a tag
>longer than the lad's been
>alive.
>
>12 years old is a good
>time to learn life isn't
>fair.........


That sums up this WHOLE topic

++100 to the whole post!
I live life one mule deer at a time.
 
Anyone ever thought about the kid that didn't draw (who was old enough) because the state gave his tag to this guys son? Now they get the tag and have ZERO time to scout :( So who realy got screwed?

buck1.gif


Later, Brandon
 
Just returned from a great weekend up in the hills and after reading these posts I leaned many valuable lessons.

1- I did miss an important point in the regs, but to my defense I called the DWR in January and discussed my options for my son and they encouraged my to put him him. Doesn't change the law but it was the blind leading the blind.

2- I apologize for comparing the feeling telling my son to cancer and if I offended anyone it was not intentional. It was a figure of speech. I too have been affected directly by the disease multiple times, so lighten up.

And by the way, as expected, he was devastated, but he already realizes the mistake and will move on.

3- The biggest mistake I made was sharing my feelings on this form while I was mad. It's the old 80/20 rule. 80% saw exactly were I was coming from, and saw past the mistakes, I made and understood that I was just feeling really bad for my son. The other 20% come from a place that the rest of us don't care to reside. One little slip and your a loser.

I wish the best of luck to you all this season!
 
A lot of us see where you're coming from.
I would certainly lobby the DWR for next years tag. Not much chance of getting it but the most they will do is say "no".
 
"One little slip and your a loser."

Not really.... Every one of us slips up from time to time.... It's how you handle the slips that counts....I've made the same mistake you did but knew it was my screw up and moved on... I didn't even think about blaming G&F....I guess it's all in how you're raised.... I was never given the idea I had a right to a sense of entitlement by my folks when I was growing up.....They took responsibility for their actions and I do the same.... Good Luck to you this season and I hope your son gets another chance next year,,,,, Chalk it up to lessons learned..... Terry
 
All I see is a father that cares very much for his son,nothing to be ashamed of..I wish you and your son the best!
 
Thanks 360Bull for the kind words. All I care about are my kids. This season will pass and we have many, many more to look forward to. I told my son that we would take the tag $ we get back from the State and head down to Cabela's and put a nice bow on lay away for his birthday 11/4. One way or another we will make lemonaid out of lemons and dream of seasons to come!
 
Wapitifever, Your response was very classy. Thanks for owning up to you're own short comings and being accountable. Not enough people like that in the world. Lord knows we all make mistakes. Sorry your son doesn't get to hunt elk this year. Keep at it. He will get another tag before you know it. By the way, my son has been hunting in AZ since he was 10 (he's now 17). I'd much rather hunt with him then several adults I've met in the field. It's all on how you teach them. At that age they are not alone anyway, an adult has to be with them. He's taken two coues whitetails and has passed on several oppourtunites waiting for one bigger than his last. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
Fever, Nice clean-up. Style!! I hope you realize that most of us just read and didn't dog pile on. Not much satisfaction kickin someone who's down.

As far as 12 year olds huntin, no 12 year old will be as good a hunter as most here profess to be but a lil forked horn @ 50 yards will be a trophy for them. I took my first deer @ 15 with a bow. The next year I took a deer in Kali, a deer and cow elk in Co, all with a bow. Did I make an unethical decision?? Yea, I shot a forked horn running and gut shot him. Passed up several more shots before I got the quality shot I connected on. Life time lesson. @ 12 I could out shoot all my dad's friends @ deer camp since I shot all day, every day, all summer. But I missed numerous bucks those first few years cause of "buck fever." (and that damned recurve) I Learned, "Aim small, miss small" and life wasn't the same again. Plus I got a compound for my 16th birthday instead of that old recurve I took my first one with.
 
The 12 yr old thing stirs up a whole lot of debate for sure. I feel, I know, that my son is more than capable of handling himself in the field. He has been by my side for 6 years and been in many difficult situations. He has put his time in on his weapon and would hang with 90% of the people on the hill. I have worked security on private property during the deer hunt and year in and year out I am amazed at the quality of people out there. I have seriously thought of writing a book on the stupid things that people do. Two years ago I offered to guide a gentleman (35yr old)on a spike elk hunt and he showed up with a wind breaker and a borrowed gun with bullets that were 30 years old and the wrong caliber bullets? I would wager a months mortgage that my my 11 3/4 year old is far more prepared to be on the hill than a minority of the men out there.
We have to come to the realization that the youth are the future of our sport. There are a lot of negative forces working out there against these kids today and the earlier we can get them involved the better. IF it were up to some political groups out there we would never have the opportunity to be out there at all ! I have three young boys myself and I am doing everything I can to get them out there and involved.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-02-08 AT 09:24AM (MST)[p]Update-

I just got off the phone with Bryan in licensing at the DWR and we had a very good conversation about the whole ordeal. The board has already met regarding this situation and have approached it with the utmost sensitivity. While the law is the law they feel bad it happened in the application process. Most of you pointed out that the responsibility was mine and you are correct. However there is a silver lining to this year. My son also holds Northern general season rifle tag that runs until 10/22. Being a youth, he is entitled to participate in the archery season also. Bryan confirmed for me that he can participate on the extended archery on and after his birthday. All is not lost after all.
 
"Just returned from a great weekend up in the hills and after reading these posts I leaned many valuable lessons.
1- I did miss an important point in the regs, but to my defense I called the DWR in January and discussed my options for my son and they encouraged my to put him him. Doesn't change the law but it was the blind leading the blind.

2- I apologize for comparing the feeling telling my son to cancer and if I offended anyone it was not intentional. It was a figure of speech. I too have been affected directly by the disease multiple times, so lighten up.

And by the way, as expected, he was devastated, but he already realizes the mistake and will move on.

3- The biggest mistake I made was sharing my feelings on this form while I was mad. It's the old 80/20 rule. 80% saw exactly were I was coming from, and saw past the mistakes, I made and understood that I was just feeling really bad for my son. The other 20% come from a place that the rest of us don't care to reside. One little slip and your a loser.

I wish the best of luck to you all this season!"


That was a great reply to all of the responses on here. Sounds
like you handled it well. I am sure that by you taking him on
another hunt will help ease most, if not all of the pain.

Best of luck on the other hunt!
 
My guess is that your son has learned a lot more this season that he would have by just having a tag in his pocket.

I understand the frustration and why you felt the need to "vent". I think that your in the right place and the way you have come to terms with whats happened have probably taught you and your son a very valuable lesson.

Very classy the way you have handled it and its a great example to your son.

Best of luck this season and in the future!

Drum


dan-henderson_wanderlei-silva.gif
 
I feel for both you and your son. At this point I would just explain the situation to him, indicate that it is a bummer that you didn't understand, I wouldn't put blame on ANYONE (including yourself) and just keep him looking forward to next year and maybe accompanying you or someone else this year. Blame doesn't solve the fact he cannot hunt this year, keep him positive and looking forward to next year and many years after that. Good luck, hopefully others have learned from this situation about being very clear on the rules for Utah.
 
Don't ever give up football for hunting.

You have got to be kidding me!!! LOL I'd give my left leg to go hunting... Or even my left tes...

Well maybe not...

Unless its on the Henry's for Muleys...
 
12 is not to young to hunt big game. Without repeating what other have said.
Properly supervised they do just fine and I would rather hunt with my kids than anyone else.

My 10 yr old got a buck at 8, another at 9, a wild boar at 9, and a oryx at 9.

My daughter got a elk at 11.

They hunt hard and I am with there every step of the way.

Last year I took a 12 yr old on his first deer hunt and he made a perfect 150 yard shot.

Copy2ofhunting016.jpg


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Great pics Paul! Way cool.

wapitifever - you have great perspective and show some wisdom. Good luck to you and your boy next year.

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)
 
great pics,
it is good to see young hunters in action.
that said....

would you say that even 20% of 10 year olds are ready and capable of big game hunting?

keep in mind that i feel 50 % of adults are not.


live life one mule deer at a time.
 
My ten year old has killed 25 whitetails, one pronghorn, and a jake turkey. Try telling him he is not old enough. We are always sitting shoulder to shoulder and having the time of our lives. As we were crawling across New Mexico the other day, he would say, "Dad, you can't give up!". I'd reply, "I'm not giving up, I just need to catch my breath". He is relentless and loves every minute of it. I certainly understand the disapointment of the Dad and the young hunter. Garth Carter usually has the strait scoup on the regs...worth the money.
 

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