I wish Ny would lower the hunting age!

[beachpeaz]

I can only laugh at a few of the responses in here about:  "All the violence on tv and video games with people getting mowed down, and you are worried about a kid watching a deer die."  That is no defense to responsible hunting.
 

MY KIDS don't watch that #$@# on TV or those video games.  That is NOT a dose of reality (as someone else mentioned).  Young brains do NOT have the mental capacity to understand what is going on.  It does create issues with them.

 

Just because you have a freakishly strong kid or can pull a 40# at age 5 or 6 or 8 or whatever, doesn't mean they are ready.  Pick up a book and read about early childhood developement and the stages your brain goes thorugh as a child.

 

No wonder this world is so screwed up.  Do you remember school shootings, etc when WE were kids?  NO!  What has changed?  Ask yourself that question.

 

I take my 5 year old out in the woods all the time.  We watch the deer and turkeys with binoculars.  We shed hunt.  We look for turkey feathers.  I get him involved in the outdoors.  its a process.

 

I have a chipmunk .22 that is perfect for him to start plinking targets in the next year or so.  Another fun activity to get kids involved in the outdoors.

 

the state doesn't pick the age based on average strenght.  Trust me.  They pick it based on the level of responsibilty and maturity someone should have at a given age.

[steve863]

 

 

the state doesn't pick the age based on average strenght.  Trust me.  They pick it based on the level of responsibilty and maturity someone should have at a given age.

 

 

As you said in an earlier post here.   "Maybe NY actually has it right for once and the other states are F'd up!"

I completely agree with you here.  Any state that would think a 5 year old is ready to hunt don't know their a$$ from their elbow.  Some think that as long as someone is capable of pulling a trigger on a gun, they are ready for any and ALL of the worlds challenges.  I have some news for these people, unfortunately.

Edited November 1, 2013 by steve863

[bubba]

In the first place if you want to talk gun hunting.  In NY it is illegal for any one under the age of 12 to even handle a firearm.  When we do classes 11 years olds can not shoot at the range.  So how could a 10 year old hunt given the law.  Do you think NY state is going to remove any firearm restrictions?  Hell they just took a major step to decrease our rights. When I started it was 14 for small game 16 for big game with a firearm 14 with a bow.  You still at 16 needed a supervising adult until 18.  I have said I am for lowering the age due to other interests and we might have more hunters.  That was selfish to use that reason to increase numbers.  The more I think about it, I do not want it lowered.  Try teaching a class of 11 and 12 year olds gun safety and watch the maturity level.  The percentage of those who seem mature enough at that point to handle a firearm safely is not as high as one would think.  If a child has an interest, keep it going and foster it.  But lets not push them into it too soon.We do bot trust children to drive until 16 and we think they can handle a gun in an actual hunting situation?  Knowing gun safety is one thing. Having the maturity and ability to grasp the situation is another.  

[beachpeaz]

you got it!!!

 

And thus the world we live in today.

[beachpeaz]

In the first place if you want to talk gun hunting.  In NY it is illegal for any one under the age of 12 to even handle a firearm.  When we do classes 11 years olds can not shoot at the range.  So how could a 10 year old hunt given the law.  Do you think NY state is going to remove any firearm restrictions?  Hell they just took a major step to decrease our rights. When I started it was 14 for small game 16 for big game with a firearm 14 with a bow.  You still at 16 needed a supervising adult until 18.  I have said I am for lowering the age due to other interests and we might have more hunters.  That was selfish to use that reason to increase numbers.  The more I think about it, I do not want it lowered.  Try teaching a class of 11 and 12 year olds gun safety and watch the maturity level.  The percentage of those who seem mature enough at that point to handle a firearm safely is not as high as one would think.  If a child has an interest, keep it going and foster it.  But lets not push them into it too soon.We do bot trust children to drive until 16 and we think they can handle a gun in an actual hunting situation?  Knowing gun safety is one thing. Having the maturity and ability to grasp the situation is another.  

 

Agree 10000%.  Just what I was saying in serveral posts.  Peoples rationaly of why kids should be able to hunt earlier is down right scary.  To me, a gun and a bow are the same thing for a child.  They are a weapon used to kill.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Not sure why one would say it is ok to bow hunt, but hey, youre not mature enough to gun hunt??  If they aren't mature enough for a gun, they aren 't mature enough for ANY weapon.  Both are supervised by an adult, so it is not like the kid is out running aroudn the woods rambo style by himself. 

 

I haveto stop reading this thread, because it just gets me aggrevated!  lol.  I am out.....

 

[Doewhacker]

I'm out of likes for the day so just consider the last few post's liked.

[SteveB]

Didn't read the thread.

JMO - it should be the parents call when to start CLOSELY SUPERVISED hunting.

[crappyice]

Sorry SteveB, I can't disagree more with your opinion. Today's parents(probably including me!) feel THEIR KID is ready now and the best and can do it early and better then everyone else. This law is necessary to protect us from unrealistic parents.

[Five Seasons]

Sorry SteveB, I can't disagree more with your opinion. Today's parents(probably including me!) feel THEIR KID is ready now and the best and can do it early and better then everyone else. This law is necessary to protect us from unrealistic parents.

 

x2. this law is not meant to restrict those ready, but to protect from those who are not and who do not have the luxury of good parenting.

[monkeyman2269]

I started hunting when I was 6 with airguns then to 22 when I was 12 20g then 12g and bow I shot guns since I was six. I think the age limits are perfect no way do I wanna see 6 year olds with anything bigger then a pellet gun

[SteveB]

Miss the CLOSELY SUPERVISED? 

That's why it is in caps.

No more danger to other hunter from a CLOSELY SUPERVISED youth than from any other hunter out there.

There is no magic age when someone automatically becomes safe to hunt.

And no way some government agency can tell which 12 year old is good to go.

We surrender enough to create a false sense of security, but everyday brings demands for more.

Let parents raise their own kids.

 

[Five Seasons]

Miss the CLOSELY SUPERVISED?

That's why it is in caps.

No more danger to other hunter from a CLOSELY SUPERVISED youth than from any other hunter out there.

There is no magic age when someone automatically becomes safe to hunt.

And no way some government agency can tell which 12 year old is good to go.

We surrender enough to create a false sense of security, but everyday brings demands for more.

Let parents raise their own kids.

They've lowered the age and added a youth hunt. What more do you want?

[SteveB]

They've lowered the age and added a youth hunt. What more do you want?

 

 

Already said - for the parents to decide when their child is ready.

Pretty clearly stated, but didn't capitalize - sorry.

[fasteddie]

Already said - for the parents to decide when their child is ready.

Pretty clearly stated, but didn't capitalize - sorry.

Clearly stated but I don't agree . There are a lot of stupid parents out there and little Billie-Bob doesn't need a gun in his hands !

[SteveB]

And "little Billie-Bob with stupid parents" won't be any smarter at 14 than 13.

Nor does he have anything to do with with little William- Robert with "smart" parents being ready to hunt.

 

Edited November 2, 2013 by SteveB

[Suilleabhain]

Nothing to stop you from sitting down with your kid and sliding the rifle onto his lap. My father did that when I was 12, 48 years ago.

[Five Seasons]

And "little Billie-Bob with stupid parents" won't be any smarter at 14 than 13.

Nor does he have anything to do with with little William- Robert with "smart" parents being ready to hunt.

What kind of asinine statement is that? Regardless of parents, puberty kicks in. And at some point you have to draw the line so the good kids don't suffer.