HUNTING WITH CHILDREN

[HighWidenHandsome]

For those of you that are interested in the bill legalizing
12 year olds to hunt big game in Utah! There has been an article
printed in the Ogden Standard Examiner by Don Porter 801-6254205
and his fellow editors! This article is written to give a very
negative opinion of the bill! I'm an old man and do not have any
youngsters this bill affects but it sure upset me they way they
wrote the article. I spoke with Mr.Porter on the phone and asked
why he felt the way he does, he assured me it was none of my business why he does just his opinion! I asked if it mattered that
12 year olds already hunt small game with shotguns and have a very
safe record and I reminded him 12 year olds may already legally
hunt (non-game) animals with a high powered rifle, but he said
nothing matters to him or his staff they already have their opinion!
His article certainly didn't inform the public that 12 year olds
have been legally hunting for years and doing a great job! He agreed
the article was deliberately written to sway public opinion negatively! It's my opinion Mr. Porter presented this article as an
anti-gun, anti-hunter promotion to prevent young hunters from the
sport! I hope someone could paste this article for all to read and discuss! Jan.30 OUR VIEW "HUNTING WITH CHILDREN"

BUD

 

[Founder]

Here's the article, along with the image (below) that personally offends me as a sportsman. They might think the image is funny, but the suggestion that sportsmen are as irresponsible as those shown in their cartoon is highly offensive.
It takes "Guts" for a newspaper who most likely has a large readership base who hunt, to publish a cartoon that portrays us as a bunch of idiots driving around in cars with hand guns on the dash and our kids shooting from the back seat.

http://www.standard.net/live/opinion/editorials
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hunting with children
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

"Guns aren't toys -- they're for family protection, hunting dangerous and delicious animals and keeping the king of England out of your face."

-- "The Simpsons"

That quote, delivered by the character Krusty the Clown, was played for laughs, sure, but it's also a statement of fact: Guns aren't to be taken lightly. Indeed, they are not toys.

That's why we continue to believe that House Bill 67 -- which has passed the Legislature's House of Representatives -- is a bad idea. It would lower big-game hunting's permissible age from 14 to 12. We're talking high-powered rifles, here, not BB guns.

There are a couple of reasons this measure has popped up again for the second year in a row. Foremost, Utah's Wildlife Board is concerned that the numbers of big-game hunters in the state are declining. Board members say it's because fewer younger people are taking up the family traditions of the hunt. Ten other Western states have lowered their big-game hunting ages in an attempt to encourage young people to pursue the pastime, and so Utah wildlife managers would like to do the same.

We have nothing against hunting. It's an honorable, enjoyable and family-bonding experience when done safely and responsibly. We know -- we hunted a lot in our younger days.

But we're concerned about the difference in maturity between 12-year-olds and 14-year-olds handling high-powered rifles. There is no room for error with weapons like that.

The Wildlife Board points to the other Western states' experience, and says they have not experienced higher accident rates since lowering the hunting age.

We'll take them at their word.

But we would hope they would likewise accept as true that an extra two years of maturity at age 14 makes a big difference in a child. Our society places all sorts of age restrictions on youth -- we make them wait to drive, to vote and to consume alcohol or tobacco, all because we feel society is best served by a more mature person in those circumstances.

We had to laugh, in fact, when the bill's sponsor, Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, was quoted in a Salt Lake City newspaper arguing in favor of his proposal: He said he got his first BB gun at age 4 and killed 3,000 birds over the course of a summer. Someone should break the news to him that the story is an argument against letting younger children have guns.

As we said in this space last year, there are doubtless lots of kids out there who could handle a big-game weapon responsibly. But there are others who could not. We think there is value in having 12- and 13-year-olds hunting with their parents and observing them until age 14.

The decline of the hunting culture is upsetting. But the remedy is not to begin handing rifles to younger and younger children.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

 

[MuskegMan]

Put your $$$ where your mouth is! Tell the editor you refuse to buy his paper or patronize his advertisers.

Here in Alaska, 10-yr old can legally hunt big game under the supervision of an adult.

Also, here in Alaska, you aren't required to take Hunter Safety or wear ANY orange - go figure.

 

[NeMont]

That guy is a total idiot.

Yea 12 year olds can't hunt safely. Please.
My 12 year old daughter and her first hunting season this year

She is has spent alot of time at the range and is as safe or more safe then alot of guys I have hunted with.

Nemont

 

[HuntElk4Fun_]

Remember the bill last year REMOVED the small game/upland bird age limit. My 7 yr old daughter could hunt Turkey or Ducks (if she passed hunter safety).

Frankly, Utah is the most restrictive state on age in the West. The result, I currently take my 10 & 12 yr old boys out of state to hunt- it's a shame I take my hard earned money and give it other states' economy. It's about time Utah gets on board and lowers it to 12 IMO.

It's why I ignore editorials as well. We all have opinions, I could care less what someone else thinks and I'm sure not going to pay to read about it!

ODDNUT1
Kirt C.
Hunt Odds.com

 

[huntjock]

My oldest son's 1st deer - 3 years ago in Wyoming. He took his 2nd deer in Idaho (nice 2x2). His 3rd was in Utah in 2005 (smaller 4x4) - when he was finally old enough to hunt here.

Back before global warming I couldn't wait until I was 16 to carry a gun and hunt with dad, uncles, cousins....

Frankly, I love being out there with my sons and can't wait for my 8 yr old daughter to join us. We stress safety and we find it to be a successful hunt whether we harvest an animal or not -so long as we have a safe trip.

With the hunter density we have here in Utah I'd like to see the min age at 14. Where we go in WY and ID we don't see anywhere NEAR the crowds. Of course, in WY we usually horse in 5 to 8 miles.

 

[HighWidenHandsome]

If any of you care to, you can send your feelings to the Standard Examiner newspaper! Your statements will be published in the
"letters to the Editor" section of the paper! My personal stand is
I have no problem with allowing 12 yearolds to hunt Big Game based
on their safe historical record. However, it really doesn't matter
if you're for or against the bill. The issue is how deceiving the
newspaper wrote the article to negatively influence the public! He
left major facts out of the article, why? Because he was afraid for the public to know all the facts before they made their judgement!
This article is a good example of how the press can negatively
influence the public about guns and hunting as a whole! They make
the sponsor of the bill as well as the Utah wildlife resources out
to be a bunch of irresponsible idiots in favor of supporting hordes
of kids running about the hills with high powered rifles! You may
send your thoughts to [email protected] in response to "HUNTING
WITH CHILDREN" I know this is an Opinion section and article but
in the case of a newspaper trying to influence people with their
opinion the public deserves to know all the facts!

 

[thebuckstopshere]

I want my kid hunting with me when he is 12.

I do encourage all to send their thoughts to the Standard Examiner. But, the more prudent and likely effective means is to share your thoughts with your State rep. I know, who the heck is my state rep.

The fact is the Utah legislature is awful. I hope they get it right with this bill. Bear in mind, they are also considering making it illegal to play "casino" games for free in any business that sells Alcohol. Pretty soon, your gonna have to have a mormon ID to do anything in Utah (I am proud to be mormon, but I don't wanna have to show the gal at starbucks my mormon ID to get a cup of decaf). Sorry to rant.

 

[thebuckstopshere]

Just in:

"A bill that lowers the big game hunting minimum age to 12 now awaits the governor's pen. The first substitute version of HB67, sponsored in the Senate, by Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem was approved by a vote of 25-3. It passed the House on January 23."

D-news update.

 

[muttman]

ok since the bill has passed the house & senate.
how long til the govenator will sign off on it.
and do y'all think he will sign it.
my 12 yr old aks me everyday if it has been approved.

the muttman
>>>>>>>------------------------->>>>>>

 

[HuntElk4Fun_]

He should sign it. He signed the bill last year to eliminate the small game age. Kids < 12 are hunting turkeys, ducks, etc. this year. He's a big outdoor and wildlife supporter.

ODDNUT1
Kirt C.
Hunt Odds.com

 

[nvguy2]

I started hunting when I was 12.I am 29 now.I have a step-son who will be 8 in April.He loves the outdoors.He loves to shoot his bb gun,but he only shoots it when I am with him.I think the key thing here is the fact that we as adults have to teach our children about gun safety and continue to show them until they are mature enough to go on their own.We are responsible for that.Isn't that what our fathers or mothers did for us.When I started hunting,I had to be with an adult until I was 14 or 16,I can't remember, but my dad always showed me the difference between right and wrong,but he also made sure I did that.Pass the law.Let kids hunt when they're 12.Who cares what some moron says.

 

[Rackster]

Waiting for the Governor to sign. I was planning on taking my boy to Idaho to hunt big game when he turns twelve. I would much rather give Utah our money and stay close to home. My boy just passed Hunters Ed, (9 years old). He only missed 2 questions out of 50 on the written (nearly the highest score in the class) and shot as good as the older kids.

 

[wehunt]

Here in Washington there is no minimum age. My son had his first 22 at 2 years old and passed his hunter safety course at 8 years old. He shot his first buck that year and has turned out to be a great outdoors man. I am very lucky that Washington lets the kids take the class at any age. I feel if a kid can pass the course they should be allowed to hunt with a adult at any age.

 

[ck2128]

Pretty ridiculous article! I agree, not all 12 year olds should be let loose with a gun, but under adult supervision, come on! Total joke - I killed my first deer at 8 years old - hooked for life.

 

[Roy]

I agree, I like to take my kids hunting too. Especially for lions, I have found they make great bait.

Seriously, I had to wait until I was 16 to hunt big game, and the year I turned 16 was the same year Utah lowered the age limit to 14. I was responsible enough and mature enough, and would have had the correct supervision to do it at 8 as well. I don't think it hurt me to wait those other 8 years, though at the time I thought it was a great hardship and unjustice. Well, I got over it.

Also, I think the author makes some good points in his article, I just don't agree with all of them and I am not bothered by the cartoon. First off, its a cartoon, second off, I don't think it degrades or demeans hunters nearly as much as it questions responsible parenting. The parents are portrayed as self-absorbed idiots - the father has a pistol lying on the dash, he is irresponsible and has a less than desirable attitude towards his son's hunting. But the mother is just as bad. She allows her daughter to tan and is just as reckless in her attitude towards her daughter's maturity as the father is with his son's. I think we are very short sighted if we only see a hunter being made fun of and then conclude that the author is saying that this is the way all hunters are when his article clearly indicates otherwise.

Don't worry about it.

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)

 

[Magnus100]

My daughter is 11 and has two whitetail does, 1 buck, and 1 cow elk under her belt. Yes, I am braggin... When we hunt, I carry food, backpack, calls and optics only. She passed the test here in Wa at age 8 and it was quite difficult. My 9 year old son will be taking the course this year and then I wonder if I'll ever be pullin the trigger or just be the mule? What a great problem to have. My kids are alot safer with firearms than many adults I know. Oh yea, for Brooke it has been all 1 shot kills with her .243. Take your kids hunting as soon as you can!!!
Spring is coming,
Time to go fishin,
Mike

 

[canhunter]

Not only take your kids hunting but their friends also. Not always feasible for a big game hunt, but small game, varmints, just to get them involved and interested.