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.

 

[howl]

The youth hunt and supervision rules are under WMAs. So, we're talking about

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.

It's not my argument. I'm relating what DNR representatives told the public. Did you look up the actual code or even the reg.s or are you just trying to argue? Cos if you want to argue that one, get the man on the phone and ask him.

The good thing about most of the green jeans when it comes to the youth quota hunts on public, and that is what we're talking about here, is they don't want to give the kid a bad time if they can help it. So, you can expect a talking to rather than a ticket.

 

[howl]

To add to the discussion, do we think any of these people taking kindergarteners on draw hunts would be toting them if it were a general hunt or non-youth quota? Kinda tells the tale on whether it's about the kid or not.

How about youth quota dove hunts where the adult is allowed to shoot as well? I've seen adults shooting on those with no kid in sight. I've seen kids too young to hold up a shotgun playing beside a .410 learned on a tripod while dad whanged away at the doves. Taking kids on dove hunts before they can shoot is fun, but there were kids, who could shoot, who didn't get to go because an adult used his kid's points to draw.

And a twist, while I have never taken my gun on a youth dove quota, I would like to take it on waterfowl. The reason being to bat cleanup rather than take a full part in the shooting. But if that were allowed we'd have toddlers on duck hunts. So.

The point creep angle may somewhat address this. If they have to be 10yo, then it's going to take 10 points to draw. They won't be able to draw again with 5 points at 15yo. If they can draw at 2yo, then it won't take 10 points. They may draw a few times over the years.

 

[Mallardsx2]

The youth hunt and supervision rules are under WMAs. So, we're talking about

Did you look up the actual code or even the reg.s or are you just trying to argue? Cos if you want to argue that one, get the man on the phone and ask him.

I think you are the one making up nonsense. Because that has NEVER been a law. EVER.

So its not ok for you to carry your wife's gun to her tree stand if she is hobbling down through thew woods on crutches?

What you are saying is ridiculous and it is NOT a law on the books that a child/human has to be old enough or strong enough to carry a firearm......

 

[howl]

I think you are the one making up nonsense. Because that has NEVER been a law. EVER.

So its not ok for you to carry your wife's gun to her tree stand if she is hobbling down through thew woods on crutches?

What you are saying is ridiculous and it is NOT a law on the books that a child/human has to be old enough or strong enough to carry a firearm......

Yeah, you just want to argue. Probably didn't look up anything or even intend ever to hunt GA.

Anyhow, you're wrong. And, also, HA!

 

[Pucky Freak]

Every kid is different. My soon-to-be 9-yr-old is not emotionally mature enough, or has the self-control to responsibly fling a projectile at a living thing. Then there is probably some 4-yr-old First Nations kid a step or two away from understanding just where his food comes from.

No doubt parental discretion gets abused, but I’m not sure what a better alternative is. Probably narrowing youth seasons/tags to some extent.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Yeah, you just want to argue. Probably didn't look up anything or even intend ever to hunt GA.

Anyhow, you're wrong. And, also, HA!

While you were sitting there with one hand on the keyboard and the other in your pants I was out hunting with my wife and kid IN GEORGIA.

Oh, and holy F , I carried my kids gun this morning for her a couple times. Are you going to turn me in? It was youth season. I didn’t make her carry the gun and the turkey. You should seriously consider calling the law on me!

 

[nontyp]

7yo with very close supervision and assistance is what I have settled on. I do think getting these reps early will help them out immensely once they are more independent. They are already learning beginner mistakes, and seeing the effect of movement, wind, etc spooking game. My 7 year old is completely obsessed with hunting and takes notes on things he observes.

Anything younger than 7 is probably a bit of a stretch in my experience.

 

[EKYHunter]

While you were sitting there with one hand on the keyboard and the other in your pants I was out hunting with my wife and kid IN GEORGIA.

Oh, and holy F , I carried my kids gun this morning for her a couple times. Are you going to turn me in? It was youth season. I didn’t make her carry the gun and the turkey. You should seriously consider calling the law on me!

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Congrats to your daughter. Outstanding. Kentucky has no age limit on when a kid can start hunting. I think that’s how it should be. My oldest daughter killed her first gobbler at 8 or 9, can’t remember. She used a 20 gauge TC Encore (had a stock cut down for her) and shooting sticks, hunting out of a blind. Got the gun on the sticks, aimed, and killed the bird on her own. Killed her first buck and a 6x6 bull when she was 11. Killed both with a TC Encore .308 that she’d practiced with all Spring and Summer. The bull was spot and stalk, she carried the rifle and I had the tripod. I set the tripod up and she got the rifle on, adjusted the height, and made a one shot kill. Buck was from a natural blind and using steady sticks. She did it all herself. Each kid is different.