[neverdem]

BANG!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Bang!

[glock rocks]

Works for me. er, Ethel.

nevermind.

[Beagle8U]

I don't think this bill will pass for several reasons.

Every hunter safety instructor in this state that I have spoken to is opposed to it, 12 is just too young to turn them loose with high powered rifles and slug guns.

Adult supervision by law is defined as someone 17 or older, that must remain withing shouting distance of the young hunters under 17.

I don't think you could exclude them from public land hunting, hunting isn't supposed to be only for wealthy landowners. That part of the bill would never make it through committee.

I have taught hunter safety for the Mi. DNR for over 20 years and I can honestly say that most of the 12-13 year old students that take the class aren't ready for deer hunting after a 12 hour class that consists mostly of bookwork and films.

Many of the hunter safety classes are held in schools, the instructors that teach classes there aren't even allowed to bring guns to class for demonstration purposes!

They can hunt small game at 12, and bow hunt for deer at 12, lets give them 2 years of small game hunting to build on their skills before hunting in rifle season.

Some of the kids are very skilled and responsible at 12, I would have no problem with some of them. I would have no problem with those same ones driving a car, but I don't think we're going to change that law.

[ncountylee]

I was given my first rifle (.22) at eleven.

[ApplegateRanch]

I still have my California Junior Hunting License, issued when I was 12. That was minimum age then, and it was good for any game, provided proper tags or stamps were purchased.

Conditions for purchase were presentation of an NRA hunter safety certificate, and a parent or guardian present to countersign the application.

Purchased in 1958, at Hinkle's Market & Sporting Goods, Redding, Calif. My birthday gift that year was a brand new Savage 99-F in .243 Win. I got my buck, too.

[packrat01]

My brother was still in diapers, first time dad took us deer hunting. He couldn't tote a box of .30-.30 shells up to the rim rock above the canyon.

I was a whole two years older. I carried dad's shell belt, knife, and the .22 pistol. I looked like a diminutive Pancho Villa...

Got a picture of me when I was 4; trying to shoot dad's .22 revolver.

My brother and I "shared" a BB gun when we were 5 and 7. We're kinda normal. The little bro is a 1st Sgt. down South.