Walker eliminates Wisconsin's minimum hunting age

Associated Press ^ | Nov 13, 2017 5:30 PM EST | Todd Richmond

[Olog-hai]

Children of any age can hunt in Wisconsin, after Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill that eliminates the state’s minimum age.

Walker quietly signed the Republican bill Saturday, exactly a week before the state’s nine-day gun deer hunting was set to open. The law took effect Monday. Kids will have to wait five days before they can start shooting deer, but they can participate in several seasons already underway, including bow deer, pheasant, ruffed grouse, rabbit and squirrel.

A Wisconsin resident must be at least 12 years old to purchase a hunting license or hunt with a gun. However, until now children as young as 10 could participate in a mentored hunt. That program allows the child to hunt with a mentor who is at least 18 and has gone through a hunter safety course or had military training if they’re younger than 44. The mentor and student could have only one gun between them, and they had to stay within arm’s reach of one another. The new law allows children of any age to participate in a mentored hunt and allows mentor and student to each carry a weapon. […]

George Meyer, executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, said he doubted many children under 10 will take up arms and head out in search of a deer. “It’s new, right before the season,” Meyer said. “People already have their hunting plans scheduled. But there will be some people, those who followed the bill.”

The federation opposed the bill because of the provision allowing student and mentor to each carry a weapon. Meyer said a mentor engaged in hunting won’t pay as much attention to the student. …

[ezo4]

Last i heard it was 600,000 in my home state :o) on opening day. That’s a pretty big army right there.

[OldMissileer]

On opening day of gun deer season in Wisconsin there are more armed people than there were in Saudi for Desert Storm. Schools and businesses close.

I don't think there is a single school in northern Michigan that conducts classes on opening day. When I was still in high school down in Lansing about half of the male students were missing and I was always one of them.

[SJackson]

Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.

[Mercat]

And a pack of vicious corgis or dachshunds.