SD Law Would Allow 10yr Olds to Hunt

[Lee Borgersen]

I'm all for introducing kids to the outdoors at an early age- but is this crazy? What's your opinion?

Bill would allow younger hunters

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- A Rapid City legislator wants to lower the age of eligibility for a big-game hunting license to 10.

Republican Rep. Mike Buckingham also would like to see state law changed to allow younger people to hunt small game and varmints.

State law now forbids issuing hunting licenses to those who are younger than 16 unless they've completed gun-safety classes.

The minimum age to hunt in South Dakota is 12. However, youngsters who are 11 and will turn 12 during the fall hunting season can get hunting licenses.

[Faceman]

My personal opinion is 12 is the perfect age for a youngster to hunt big game with gun safety of course. Under the age of 12 I think most kids are just a little to kid minded to concentrate on the task at hand. It is hard for them to sit still and stay calm and be aware of there surroundings at all time and knowing all the safety issues. At age 12 they are starting to mature some. My son will be 12 this summer and he is going to deer hunt this fall. I took out to my stand a coupl of times last fall just to get him to understand what he is in for. He was all excited but got a little bored as well. I dont mind younger than that out smallgame hunting. I first took my kids small game hunting at around 9 years old. Even then I was a little leary but went off without a hitch. I am a huge supporter of gun safety.

[Bufflehead]

You should see how young kids are able to hunt big game in many southern states.

 They can hardly hold up the gun without help from a adult...sorry I disagree with that and this proposed law change in South Dakota as well

 Plenty of time to get them involved, let them grow some both in size and smarts

[eelpout]

I am all for it, but I think they should have to have an adult with them at all times.  Your grandparents would beat you with a stick if you were to tell them they were too young to be hunting when they were 7 and 8.  I know there are kids that may not be ready at that age, but there are a lot of 40 year old men that shouldn't be in the woods with a gun either. 

[GRIZ]

I would have to say 12 is about the right age for big game. Small game could be younger if adult is present.

[Outdoors Junkie]

Honestly, I think if a parent wants to take a kid out hunting with them, then 10 is not too young.  Let me explain my thoughts.  I would take my 10 year old out with me, but I would carry the gun (only one gun would be brought).  We would sit together, and if we had the opportunity to harvest a deer, I would help my boy get the sites on the target and allow him to pull the trigger.   I feel it would be a great experience as a father and son.   Whether he was 10, 11, 12 it wouldn't really matter.  It would be a bonding experience.

I don't think a 10 year old or even a 12 year old should sit alone.  They should have an adult with them the first few years.

[Spinach]

Honestly, I think if a parent wants to take a kid out hunting with them, then 10 is not too young. Let me explain my thoughts. I would take my 10 year old out with me, but I would carry the gun (only one gun would be brought). We would sit together, and if we had the opportunity to harvest a deer, I would help my boy get the sites on the target and allow him to pull the trigger. I feel it would be a great experience as a father and son. Whether he was 10, 11, 12 it wouldn't really matter. It would be a bonding experience.

I don't think a 10 year old or even a 12 year old should sit alone. They should have an adult with them the first few years.

In this scenario, I totally agree. But I still think 10 year olds are too young to hunt big game.

[bambambiggero]

12 is good.... they need to have some maturity!

[eelpout]

It's already legal in quite a few states for kids this young to hunt big game.  Delawares state record bear was shot by a 9 year old girl.  I would much rather have my 10 year old kid out in the stand shooting deer, than inside playing Grand Theft Auto or World of War Craft with all of the other overweight 10 year old future meth heads. 
And like I said before, I agree, they need to be with an adult. 

[h2ofwlr]

It really depends on each individual, some it could be 8, more it should be 14 based upon the ir maturity, or lack there of.  But is that not the parents responsibility to know this and thus whether to allow it?  I just do not like the Govt dictating to us citizens what we can or can not do.  A 1 size does NOT fit all in legislation. 

Should there be a provision of that a 11 and 11 YO can hunt big game as long as they are accompanied my an adult guardian?  Makes sense for safety sake, and yet still allows those with enough maturity to go hunting.

That being said, I started hunting when I was eight, and I mean not plinking, I mean shooting ducks with a .410 shotgun out of a boat with my Dad.   And looking back I'd say I was ready to hunt deer the next Fall.

Interestingly, my Dad took the time to go over safety, and such repeatedly before I handled a gun.  By the time Mn law said I could go deer hunting (12) I had to take the Safety classes and tests.  Talk about a bunch of unprepared kids--seriously, may had not even handled a shotgun or even a .22 rifle yet :o  The parents has shirked their responsibility IMHO looking back, and that was 36 years ago now.  I still remember getting the highest score on written. #2 on rifle and #1 on shotgun--and I had forgetton my glasses that day.   Point is I was much more advanced because my Dad took the time over many years to educate me before I was 12.

So yes, a 10 Yo should be able to hunt when accompanied by an adult.  And the hunters safety classes should be lowered to 10 too.   

An additional reason it this--kids attention are being diverted to "other" things-- and if you do not have them participating right way while still in grade school, by the time Jr high roles around, well they have developed "other" interests.  Thus why less and less kids are hunting now.  We as a whole, we need to take them out hunting sooner if our sport is to survive, it is that simple.