Youth quota, too young

[Gellar]

Does my state have a minimum age for youth hunting? - no

Do I think it gets abused? Yes, but those people that do are also going to abuse any other regulation you make.

Do I think that the state should regulate what age my kids are old enough to hunt? No

Do my kids participate in youth hunting? Yes and no. I have a 10 year old who has not and a 7 year old who shot his first buck last fall while he was 6.

Did he carry the firearm? Yes, when it was safe. If we had to cross fences or crawl on the ground I carried it.

Was he forced to kill a certain animal that measured up to my beliefs of what a “trophy” is? No, he shot the first buck that came out.

Was he more ready than some 12 year olds who have passed hunters Ed and can legally hunt by themselves in Iowa? Yes.

Will he remember it vividly?
No, 30 years from he will not vividly but do you remember all your core memories vividly?

Will we be youth hunting again? Yes, youth Turkey is in April and both my kids are eager to try.

Did seeing her brother hunt get my daughter excited to hunt? Yes.

Did we post pictures of them to social media? No. Probably 10 of his classmates were featured with shoutouts on social media pages throughout the fall.

Do I think this conversation is dumb? Yes. It’s my kid I’ll parent them the way I see fit. You parent yours how you see fit.

 

[CMF]

Nobody believes your toddler is going to blast a gobbler with a shotgun. One tried to complain to me his 3yo wouldn't hunt much.

My complaints:
1. This creates the incredible pressure that makes FL turkey hunting more a challenge than it would be.
2. These dads are stealing their kids' points. Imagine being a kid and realizing you can't draw the tag you want because dad burned your points while you were still wearing pull-ups.
3. I can't think of a good solution.

I think, probably, the minimum age should be when old enough to actually remember the hunt when older. 7yo is about right?

Can you get any actual data, like the ages of kids drawn for the hunt? I feel like your perception is probably based on a very small sample of people you've met.
Do I think some people take advantage, yes. But I believe its the exception, not the rule.

I've seen alot of friends with kids under 6 killing deer here in MS, and its usually on video. It's not uncommon at all. I could see the same going for turkey. A kid doesn't even need to hold the gun up when using a deathgrip tripod or similar.
My 3 kids killed their first deer at 8 or 9yo, but I had my daughter on the gun at 6 and 7, just didn't get an opportunity those years.

2. They aren't many points to burn if they're toddlers...

3. Hunt private, cause you can't get everything your way on public...

 

[howl]

Can you please show me this law.

Thanks.

I happened to have the printed reg.s at hand. I see it says the child must be supervised and goes on to say supervision is immediately able to take control of the firearm. I don't see successfully arguing that you were just taking the control of the gun the whole time; not hunting with it. That means the kid would be carrying the gun.

The actual code would require me googling, which you may be better at than I am.

I do remember this was common topic of conversation when they changed it years ago. I recall talking to a biologist at a check station and a warden at a different time about. It's always best to ask the game warden in your area ahead of time. He's the one that will cause you trouble. Or not.

 

[howl]

toddler point creep...phew!

 

[DFS]

 

[Mallardsx2]

I happened to have the printed reg.s at hand. I see it says the child must be supervised and goes on to say supervision is immediately able to take control of the firearm. I don't see successfully arguing that you were just taking the control of the gun the whole time; not hunting with it. That means the kid would be carrying the gun.

The actual code would require me googling, which you may be better at than I am.

I do remember this was common topic of conversation when they changed it years ago. I recall talking to a biologist at a check station and a warden at a different time about. It's always best to ask the game warden in your area ahead of time. He's the one that will cause you trouble. Or not.

Your argument seems a bit of a stretch of the interpretation of the law.

I wonder if this one carried the gun.....

https://gon.com/truck-buck/weston-anderson-2026

Bottom line is that, if there is no minimum age its should be up to the parent to determine when a kid is ready. IF there is a minimum age, it is still up to a parent to determine if a kid is ready.
I didn't let my daughter hunt until she was 13. At 15, I still watch her like a hawk when she has a gun in her hands.