12/20/2006
Ohio Residents Say Yes to Youth Hunting
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Young and novice adult hunters in the Buckeye state have shown great interest in getting afield, purchasing more than 9,500 apprentice licenses this year. The apprentice license program is result of the Ohio Division of Wildlife working with Families Afield partners to remove barriers to youth hunters.
"We've had a lot of interest in the program," said Vicki Mountz, information and education administrator with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. "People are inquiring about the apprentice program through our 800 number and on the Web site. The response has been fantastic."
The National Wild Turkey Federation has led the charge to remove youth hunting barriers, and has teamed up with the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance to do just that. Using data from the Youth Hunting Report, the three organizations joined forces to remove youth hunting barriers across the nation through the Families Afield program.
The Youth Hunting Report, written by Silvertip Productions, USSA and Southwick Associates Inc., found that some states experience better recruitment and retention of new hunters than others. They do so by permitting parents to decide when their sons and daughters are ready to hunt, and allow potential hunters to try hunting under the watchful eye of a mentor before completing a hunter education course.
The Youth Hunting Report also shows youth hunters are the safest hunters in the woods when accompanied by an adult. The findings were peer reviewed for statistical validity by the Triad Research Group.
"Today's youth are tomorrow's conservationists and if we don't instill in them the love of the outdoors at an early age, the hunting and conservation tradition could be lost," said Rob Keck, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation. "We need to hook them on hunting at an early age, so they become appreciative of the hunting tradition. This will also increase hunter retention and ensure the future of conservation remains strong."
Ohio's apprentice license program, which went into affect Sept. 1, allows licensed, adult mentors over the age of 21 to introduce novice hunters who purchase apprentice licenses to hunt before completing a hunter education course. New hunters can be mentored for up to three years before being required to obtain hunter education certification.
While in the field, the apprentice hunter would be in close proximity to the adult mentor at all times. Before the young hunter could become fully licensed, they would be required to complete a hunter education course.
Ohio isn't the only state having success after removing youth hunting barriers. In Michigan, 17,500 apprentice licenses have been sold since a law passed earlier this year eased restrictions on youth hunting.
