01/31/2007
Removing Youth Hunting Barriers in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Legislation to remove youth hunting barriers has been introduced in the Utah state legislature.
House Bill 67 lowers the age that young people are allowed to hunt big game from 14 to 12. A licensed adult at least 21 years of age must accompany the young hunter. HB 67 has passed the House and is currently awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.
Reducing and eliminating age and other barriers that prevent people from hunting is a major component of Families Afield. Using data from the Youth Hunting Report, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and the National Shooting Sports Foundation joined forces to create the Families Afield initiative.
Last year, Utah removed the minimum age to hunt small game and upland game, including wild turkey. Hunters under the age of 12 have to complete the state's entire hunter education course before they can obtain a license and be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older while afield.
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 onto www.familiesafield.org.
"Allowing young people to safely experience hunting with a mentor is the best way to make them appreciative of the hunting tradition," said Rob Keck, NWTF CEO. "Getting them interested in hunting at an early age will not only prepare them for hunter education courses, but lays the foundation for being good conservationists."
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 18,000 apprentice licenses were sold in Michigan, plus nearly 10,000 in Ohio, during 2006. These 28,000 new hunters suggest a 26 percent jump in the two states' combined population of hunters age 15 and under.
The 12 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
