01/26/2007
Removing Youth Hunting Barriers in Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. — Legislation to remove youth hunting barriers has been introduced in the Nebraska state legislature.
Legislative Bill 690 allows novice hunters who purchase an apprentice hunting license exemption to hunt before completing a hunter education course. Novice hunters must be with a licensed, adult mentor 19 or older when afield and can renew their apprentice hunting license exemption once.
In addition, hunters 10 or 11 years old can get an apprentice hunting license exemption for deer and renew it once. The bill also removes wild turkeys from the big game classification, meaning there will be no age restrictions on wild turkey hunting.
"It is always a good time to support hunting," said Sen. Deb Fischer (District 43, Valentine), the bill's sponsor. "This bill will afford young people the opportunity to experience hunting under a safe mentoring program."
While in the field, the apprentice hunter would be under the direct supervision of the adult mentor at all times. Before the young hunter can become fully licensed, they would be required to complete a hunter education course.
Co-sponsored by 34 of the 49 state senators, LB 690 has been referred to the Natural Resources committee. Once in committee, the bill will be subject to public hearing, and then it may go to the Legislative floor for debate.
Currently, anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1977 must complete a hunter education course before hunting.
Mentored youth hunting is a key component of the Families Afield initiative. Started by the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Families Afield aims to remove youth hunting barriers throughout the country.
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. For more information on hunting safety data and the Youth Hunting Report, log on to www.familiesafield.org.
"Today's young hunters are the conservationists of tomorrow," said Rob Keck, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation. "The hunting and conservation tradition could be lost if we don't instill in them the love of the outdoors at an early age. Getting them hooked on hunting at an early age will make them appreciative of the hunting tradition, increase hunter retention and ensure the future of conservation remains strong."
To date, Families Afield legislation and regulations have been approved in 12 states. Two of those states, Michigan and Ohio, established apprentice hunting programs. First-year results appear extremely promising. More than 17,500 apprentice licenses were sold in Michigan, plus over 9,500 in Ohio, during 2006. These 27,000 new hunters suggest a 25 percent jump in the two states' combined population of hunters age 15 and under.
The twelve states have changed laws and regulations to create additional hunting opportunities for youth and novice hunters are:
Florida
Illinois
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Utah
