Youth Deer Hunting Question?

[fly]

I've been reading a lot about really young hunters harvesting deer. As young as 7 years old. Some in Illinois.

My daughter is 7 and my son is 6. They both can't wait for their first deer hunt.

I was checking with the ILDNR and there are two legal ways for youths to hunt deer that I know of.

1. They can take the hunter safety course and then get a license and tag the normal way. However, when I called the hunter safety courses they indicated that participants have to be at least 8 years old.

2. They can obtain a license without taking the hunter safety course and hunt with a licensed hunter/mentor. However, the minimum age for this license is 10 years old.

So I realize other states have different rules, but am I missing something in IL????

[3whunt]

The youth may be taking hunter's ed out of state. Just a thought.

[84 z28]

Wow you guys are lucky. In New York they just lowered it to 14 years old. My nephew still has 2 yrs and hes dying to deer hunt.

[csualumni21000]

Move or get an out of state ed class. I think Sc has them online.

[Turkeygirl]

In my opinion, I think ages that young, like 10 and under, is just way to young, I don't think the kids really comprehend the hunt...the challenge of it and the beauty of it.

I can understand if a kid is obviously very eager to want to hunt and shows a huge interest, but don't force them to like it because you like it and want them to hunt.

I think NY's regs are fine actually....I didn't get my license until I was like 15, when I made the decision myself I wanted to hunt.

[Illinois59]

I can understand if a kid is obviously very eager to want to hunt and shows a huge interest, but don't force them to like it because you like it and want them to hunt.

If this statement is true then age is not the issue. And i completely agree with you.

[fly]

I can understand if a kid is obviously very eager to want to hunt and shows a huge interest, but don't force them to like it because you like it and want them to hunt.

Well, my kids have both been small game hunting with me and have done very well. They both are always energetic and ready to go each time I ask them. My daughter has been deer hunting with me once (she sat in the stand with me while I hunted with my bow). She loves it and has been asking me when she can be the shooter and not the watcher.

So force is certainly not an issue.

I would never take anyone less than 12 to a weekend overnight deer camp in cold November. I'm thinking more of an afternoon (3pm-6pm) during the mild October Illinois youth shotgun season in a ground blind at a local farm. I'd have to see if she was ready for a 20 guage before I took her of course. However, I'm just blown away by all the stories I hear of 7 year olds shooting deer.

[rhine16]

In MS there is no age limit, as long as they hunt with a licensed adult until they are 12. Hunter safety courses are required at 12, and license are not required until 16

I think it is a good thing. Cannot imagine having to wait. I was bowhunting at the age of ten, the fall before I started gun hunting. I truly believe I was ready.

In my opinion, I think ages that young, like 10 and under, is just way to young, I don't think the kids really comprehend the hunt...the challenge of it and the beauty of it.

And I wish you could've been in the blind with my brother and me this afternoon....He's 7 and this is his second year. He understands what he is doing. He's been around it since he was born. He's lucky, and a case you rarely see in my opininon.

However, I hunted yesterday with my cousin who is 7.... Different story, but it's not my business.

[Tominator]

I guess the mom/dad should make the decision. My 11 year old wants to hunt, but he can't shoulder a gun yet, so I don't let him hunt.

[muzzy916]

i was 2 years old when my dad started taking me to the woods with him, now i dont remember being out there then but im sure that is why i am the way i am. my daughter will be a 1 1/2 next bow season and im taking her then. i belive if the youth can understand the safty and the sport of hunting there isnt a problem with a 7 year old deer hunting. in indiana there is no age limit as long as they have taken the hunter ed class. and for you answer indiana has online hunter ed classes as well and i know most states will take out of state hunter ed. good luck

[TexasDeerHunter]

My little girl has been in the woods with me since she was 1 yr old. She turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and with the aid of some shooting sticks and Dad , she bagged her first doe. I think they should be able to hunt at whatever age if they choose to, accompanied by an adult of course.

[whttlbucksteve]

My 10 year old daughter pass Hunter Saftey ,I told her no hunting till she did so.Put I felt she was still not ready this year so it will be next year for her.I feel every person regardless of age should take the class,is does nothing but help.I personally have taken it in 3 states and 3 times in IL.

[johnf]

My little girl has been in the woods with me since she was 1 yr old. She turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and with the aid of some shooting sticks and Dad , she bagged her first doe. I think they should be able to hunt at whatever age if they choose to, accompanied by an adult of course.

That would have been fun to watch. I've taken my 3 year old out a few times, but he makes a lot of noise. I plan on teaching him how to shoot this year and hopefully at 4 he'll take his first deer. It's not very unusual around these parts.

No age limit in Arkansas but over 14 has to have hunter ed to hunt in a stand alone. Under 14 can't hunt alone and must be with 18+ hunter.

[wtnhunt]

Youth hunters here used to be defined by the state as hunters between the age 10 and 16. Our youth hunt allows those hunters to hunt the youth weekends. The hunter education course to the best of my knowledge was not allowed to be taken by youths here until age 10. I wrote the state about the age limit around defining "youths" about the time my oldest daughter was 7 or 8. She had been going with me and it did not seem fair that she was not able to hunt the youth hunt. Got a terrible message back from some woman who worked for the state saying that would not be a consideration. The year my oldest daughter turned 9 the age limit was changed to 6-16 year olds and she killed her first deer that year. Any youngster can hunt here during the regular seasons though and a license is not required until I believe age 13.

Get them out as early as you can and under the best conditions, they do not have to be the hunter. Think my oldest went with me for the first time when she was 3 or 4.

Progression of a youth hunter.

Her first deer, unfortunately dad(me) did not find the deer right away

This years doe

Video clip of her 2008 youth hunt

[jbeck]

As for youth hunting, a friend has a 6 year old boy that took 57 squirrles with a 22 mag. this year so far. I'm telling you can this kid shoot. I hope a buck walks up to him this year, under the mentor program that buck is in trouble.

I think parents know when the kids are ready, my daughter isn't ready yet, but she has been on bow hunts with me. And quite a number of squirrel hunts.

[m gardner]

When I taught Hunter Ed in Vermont (until 1998) there was no age limit. It was up to us to fugure if the kid was mature enough and if they were going to be properly mentored. We never had to fail any of the young ones. The youngest was 8. One 9 year old we had in class walked

1 1/2 miles out of the woods to get help to rescue his dad, who had gotten seriously hurt when he fell. The area we lived in was rural. I would imagine that small town or city dwellers need different treatment. Not being raised in the midst of a hunting society it would be foriegn to them.

Mark

[Guest Finn]

Casey shot his first deer when he was 10. Up to that point, he couldn't handle a rifle correctly and I felt it was best to wait.

Guess it's up to the parents as to when a child is ready.