no. Plain and simple. If they are competent enough to pass a hunter safety exam then they should be able to hunt by themselves. I deer hunted by myself since I was 7 or 8 without an exam which I didnt get until I was 10. But I have a dad who his biggest priority was safety and he taught me very well before I hunted by myself. But I do believe now that kids need the hunter safety program. If a 6 or 7 year old can pass a hunter education exam they should be able to hunt by themselves

I'm sorry, but being able to memorize information and pass an exam does not qualify anyone to hunt. To be a true hunter, you need to be able to properly handle and shoot a firearm, understand the habits of the game, read game sign, perhaps make life or death decisions, etc. These are all things that can only come from experience and training from another responsible hunter. I don't think there's any reason to allow any kid younger than 12 to hunt own their own, no matter who they are. JMHO

All of what you just posted was part of the course when I took hunter safety. After the test they even let us all shoot skeet while stressing gun safety. Like I said before, the test is not exactly a piece of cake. IMHO and 9 year old smart enough to pass that test and show respect for a gun should be allowed to hunt by themselves.

With that said, I do believe their should be previous hunting experience. I hunted years before I took the hunter safety course, but I always hunted with an adult. In my case the course assured my parents I was okay to hunt by myself.

Well, this comment is a little off topic, but I don't hunt by myself and

would discourage anyone, at any age, from being out on their own.

Having a partner(s) increases your overall saftey about 1000%.

8-)

Well, this comment is a little off topic, but I don't hunt by myself and

would discourage anyone, at any age, from being out on their own.

Having a partner(s) increases your overall saftey about 1000%.

8-)

This is certainly true in some cases, but how many times have you heard of the hunter shooting his friend? Or the hunter mistaking an animal for another hunter? Not long ago a father shot his son turkey hunting. See, IMO it works both ways.

Since we are on subject I will go ahead and rant...

Where I live the deer population is exploding. Deer are eating crops, damaging cars, and hurting people. People around here have tried for years and years to extend hunting seasons and allow hunting on Sundays to control the population. Just recently the state threw out a couple of ideas about extending rifle season because of the lack of hunters and the outrageous deer population. Now, it kind of errks me that people are still trying to restrict the hunter's rights. It is obvious that deer need to be shot, but we have the people that want to throw out random "laws" to improve safety.

Back on topic...

Even if the age is lowered to 9, the decision is ultimately up to the parents, as it should be. Will every parent with a 9 year old set them loose? No, I doubt it. Honestly, I would not have been allowed to hunt by myself at 9 years old. It should be up to the parents to decide, not me, you or the state.

Thanks for reading!  

Hunting fatalities are very rare. You have a much greater

chance of being struck by lightening than being shot by another

hunter.

“When wildlife officers investigate hunting accidents, it is typical to find a violation of one or more of the cardinal safety rules. Comparisons to other sports and outdoors-related injuries through data compiled by the National Safety Council shows hunting is one of the safest recreational pursuits enjoyed in the United States."

8-)

Well, this comment is a little off topic, but I don't hunt by myself and

would discourage anyone, at any age, from being out on their own.

Having a partner(s) increases your overall saftey about 1000%.

8-)

This is certainly true in some cases, but how many times have you heard of the hunter shooting his friend? Or the hunter mistaking an animal for another hunter? Not long ago a father shot his son turkey hunting. See, IMO it works both ways.

Since we are on subject I will go ahead and rant...

Where I live the deer population is exploding. Deer are eating crops, damaging cars, and hurting people. People around here have tried for years and years to extend hunting seasons and allow hunting on Sundays to control the population. Just recently the state threw out a couple of ideas about extending rifle season because of the lack of hunters and the outrageous deer population. Now, it kind of errks me that people are still trying to restrict the hunter's rights. It is obvious that deer need to be shot, but we have the people that want to throw out random "laws" to improve safety.

Back on topic...

Even if the age is lowered to 9, the decision is ultimately up to the parents, as it should be. Will every parent with a 9 year old set them loose? No, I doubt it. Honestly, I would not have been allowed to hunt by myself at 9 years old. It should be up to the parents to decide, not me, you or the state.

Thanks for reading!

Davis,

Having read accident reports over the last 10-15 years here in Texas in my educator newletters, there are always one or two "Hunter's Judgement/mistaken identity" accidents, but there are always as many or more where a hunter shot or cut themselves in the femural artery or one where a hunter was gored by wild hogs and they bled to death as no one was there to call or go get help.  As long as both hunters are properly trained and experienced, I would totally agree with RW's recommendation.

Well, this comment is a little off topic, but I don't hunt by myself and

would discourage anyone, at any age, from being out on their own.

Having a partner(s) increases your overall saftey about 1000%.

8-)

This is certainly true in some cases, but how many times have you heard of the hunter shooting his friend? Or the hunter mistaking an animal for another hunter? Not long ago a father shot his son turkey hunting. See, IMO it works both ways.

Since we are on subject I will go ahead and rant...

Where I live the deer population is exploding. Deer are eating crops, damaging cars, and hurting people. People around here have tried for years and years to extend hunting seasons and allow hunting on Sundays to control the population. Just recently the state threw out a couple of ideas about extending rifle season because of the lack of hunters and the outrageous deer population. Now, it kind of errks me that people are still trying to restrict the hunter's rights. It is obvious that deer need to be shot, but we have the people that want to throw out random "laws" to improve safety.

Back on topic...

Even if the age is lowered to 9, the decision is ultimately up to the parents, as it should be. Will every parent with a 9 year old set them loose? No, I doubt it. Honestly, I would not have been allowed to hunt by myself at 9 years old. It should be up to the parents to decide, not me, you or the state.

Thanks for reading!

Davis,

Having read accident reports over the last 10-15 years here in Texas in my educator newletters, there are always one or two "Hunter's Judgement/mistaken identity" accidents, but there are always as many or more where a hunter shot or cut themselves in the femural artery or one where a hunter was gored by wild hogs and they bled to death as no one was there to call or go get help. As long as both hunters are properly trained and experienced, I would totally agree with RW's recommendation.

I understand, and I believe that is exactly what the hunter's education class is for. I see it as a way to encourage children to get outside while helping control the deer population, instead of them becoming obese playing videogames.

If you stop and think about it, most 9 year olds will not be able to hunt on their own, unless it is on their own land. Mom and dad will still have to drive them to hunting locations making them more likely to stick by. As a former 9 year old myself, I was fairly familiar with the 300 acres of property my family owned. Getting lost would not be a problem, and I already knew there would be no wild hogs to kill me. Also, I got a cell phone when I was 15. I have seen 9 year olds with cell phones, that can use them better than you and I both.

I am also pretty sure I have a better chance of getting shot while being around 2 guns than I am being around 1. You lose some and you gain some either way.

It's not like a random guy made a rash decision to lower the hunting age. I am sure quite a few guys more qualified than you and I both made this decision while considering both the pros and the cons.

In the end it is really just a matter of opinion, with decisions coming mainly from the parents.

Absolutely not.  9 years old is far too young for a kid to be in the woods by himself.  No way in the world can someone not even 10 years old could be responsible enough to carry a loaded weapon.  It wouldn't matter how responsible a kid could be, 9 years old is still far too young.  I think the minimum should be at least 13 years old.  As far as supervised hunting, I think 9 years old is fine.