Bill would reduce minimum hunting age to 10
Posted: Friday, February 09, 2007
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Hunting is becoming a lost tradition in a nation where it once meant food for survival, state legislators were told Thursday as they endorsed a bill that would bring new blood into the sport at an earlier age: 10, to be precise.
South Dakota youth currently must be 12 to hunt, but there is no minimum hunting age in 30 states, a National Rifle Association lobbyist said.
A measure approved 9-4 by the House Agriculture Committee would reduce the minimum hunting age to 10 in South Dakota. Those children could hunt only with adults, however.
Supporters of HB1305 said the state is losing thousands of future hunters because many children embrace other activities at an early age, and they're not interested in hunting when they turn 12.
"We're losing that next generation of hunters," said Rep. Mike Buckingham, R-Rapid City. "We're finding that they're being left home, that they're being left in front of the television, the video games, and they're not getting out into the field to experience those activities."
The legislation, as originally introduced by Buckingham, would have removed any age limit to hunt small animals, such as pheasants and rabbits, and to hunt coyotes and varmints. Those who were at least 10 could hunt deer and other big game. In all instances, those younger than 12 would have to be accompanied by adults.
The measure was changed to set 10 as the minimum hunting age at the request of Rep. Tom Deadrick, R-Platte. He said the bill likely would fail in the Legislature if it allowed children of any age to hunt.
"This is a big step for the state of South Dakota to go from a minimum of 12 to no minimum age whatsoever," Deadrick said. "We can do it in stages and see how it works."
Several gun-safety instructors testified against the bill, which now goes to the full House chamber. They said many youngsters are not physically capable of carrying rifles and shotguns, and many are not mature enough to be trusted with weapons.
"To put a boy that age out in the field with a loaded gun, to me it just doesn't make sense," said William Cooper of Salem, Ill., who has taught hunter safety courses in both Illinois and South Dakota.
Urging complete elimination of the minimum age to hunt, NRA lobbyist Darin Goens said parents should be allowed to determine when their youngsters are ready to hunt.
He said the 30 states with no age requirement for hunters have better hunting safety records than the 20 states that don't allow young hunters.
"If parents are making bad decisions, where are the accidents?" Goens asked. "Young hunters, I think it's absolutely irrefutable, are safe."
The trend toward fewer hunters in the United States continues, and that cascade will not be reversed unless more young people can start hunting at earlier ages, he said. The U.S. population increased by 70 million in the last quarter century while the number of licensed hunters -- now about 13 million -- fell by 2 million, Goens said.
Vince Weber, who teaches gun safety courses in Sioux Falls, said children younger than 12 are not yet ready to be trusted with guns. Turning them loose in the field would be as dangerous as letting them use power tools, he said.
"How many of you, with all the best intentions of the world and standing right at their shoulder, are going to let your 8-year-old grandson run your table saw?" Weber asked lawmakers.
State law allows those younger than 12 to hunt if they live on farms and ranches, and supporters of HB1305 said it is only fair that others of the same age also can hunt as long as their parents agree.
"Parents probably know best," said Rep. Dale Hargens, D-Miller. "They know how far their kids have matured and what they're capable of."
Although the bill says hunters younger than 12 would have to be accompanied by adults, parents are not always the best examples, said Cooper, the gun safety instructor.
"The girls in the course are our best pupils because they've never had any help from anybody," he said. "Some of the boys take a lot of time to get them turned around. They've learned bad habits."
The bill would allow those who are 10 and 11 to hunt small animals, predators and varmints without first completing a hunter-safety course or getting licensed. They could hunt deer and other large animals if licensed.
South Dakota youth currently must be 12 to hunt, but there is no minimum hunting age in 30 states, a National Rifle Association lobbyist said.
A measure approved 9-4 by the House Agriculture Committee would reduce the minimum hunting age to 10 in South Dakota. Those children could hunt only with adults, however.
Supporters of HB1305 said the state is losing thousands of future hunters because many children embrace other activities at an early age, and they're not interested in hunting when they turn 12.
"We're losing that next generation of hunters," said Rep. Mike Buckingham, R-Rapid City. "We're finding that they're being left home, that they're being left in front of the television, the video games, and they're not getting out into the field to experience those activities."
The legislation, as originally introduced by Buckingham, would have removed any age limit to hunt small animals, such as pheasants and rabbits, and to hunt coyotes and varmints. Those who were at least 10 could hunt deer and other big game. In all instances, those younger than 12 would have to be accompanied by adults.
The measure was changed to set 10 as the minimum hunting age at the request of Rep. Tom Deadrick, R-Platte. He said the bill likely would fail in the Legislature if it allowed children of any age to hunt.
"This is a big step for the state of South Dakota to go from a minimum of 12 to no minimum age whatsoever," Deadrick said. "We can do it in stages and see how it works."
Several gun-safety instructors testified against the bill, which now goes to the full House chamber. They said many youngsters are not physically capable of carrying rifles and shotguns, and many are not mature enough to be trusted with weapons.
"To put a boy that age out in the field with a loaded gun, to me it just doesn't make sense," said William Cooper of Salem, Ill., who has taught hunter safety courses in both Illinois and South Dakota.
Urging complete elimination of the minimum age to hunt, NRA lobbyist Darin Goens said parents should be allowed to determine when their youngsters are ready to hunt.
He said the 30 states with no age requirement for hunters have better hunting safety records than the 20 states that don't allow young hunters.
"If parents are making bad decisions, where are the accidents?" Goens asked. "Young hunters, I think it's absolutely irrefutable, are safe."
The trend toward fewer hunters in the United States continues, and that cascade will not be reversed unless more young people can start hunting at earlier ages, he said. The U.S. population increased by 70 million in the last quarter century while the number of licensed hunters -- now about 13 million -- fell by 2 million, Goens said.
Vince Weber, who teaches gun safety courses in Sioux Falls, said children younger than 12 are not yet ready to be trusted with guns. Turning them loose in the field would be as dangerous as letting them use power tools, he said.
"How many of you, with all the best intentions of the world and standing right at their shoulder, are going to let your 8-year-old grandson run your table saw?" Weber asked lawmakers.
State law allows those younger than 12 to hunt if they live on farms and ranches, and supporters of HB1305 said it is only fair that others of the same age also can hunt as long as their parents agree.
"Parents probably know best," said Rep. Dale Hargens, D-Miller. "They know how far their kids have matured and what they're capable of."
Although the bill says hunters younger than 12 would have to be accompanied by adults, parents are not always the best examples, said Cooper, the gun safety instructor.
"The girls in the course are our best pupils because they've never had any help from anybody," he said. "Some of the boys take a lot of time to get them turned around. They've learned bad habits."
The bill would allow those who are 10 and 11 to hunt small animals, predators and varmints without first completing a hunter-safety course or getting licensed. They could hunt deer and other large animals if licensed.
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amanda wrote on Apr 29, 2008 9:22 AM:
Rod wrote on Mar 14, 2008 10:01 PM:
Gene wrote on Feb 11, 2008 4:59 PM:
I belive it would teach a kid gun safety and maybe some of the accidental shootings would decline. "
tom wrote on Feb 28, 2007 6:31 PM:
local wrote on Feb 14, 2007 12:09 PM: