Assembly eliminates Wisconsin's minimum hunting age

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Todd Richmond, Associated Press

 Updated 12:13 pm, Friday, November 3, 2017

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Residents of any age, no matter how young, could legally hunt in Wisconsin under a bill the state Assembly passed that eliminates the state's minimum hunting age.

Currently, a resident must be at least 12 years old to purchase a hunting license or hunt with a gun unless they're participating in a mentored hunt. Children as young as 10 can hunt under that program.

The Republican-authored bill would allow people of any age to participate in a mentored hunt, effectively letting anyone hunt. The measure also would eliminate the requirement that a hunter and mentor have only one weapon between them.

Thirty-four other states already have no minimum hunting age, according to the Wisconsin Hunters' Rights Coalition.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Assembly-eliminates-Wisconsin-s-minimum-hunting-12328822.php

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The bill's author, Rep. Rob Stafsholt

[eppur_se_muova]

1. What could possibly go wrong ?

No, wait -- I don't wanna know.

[MiniMe]

4. Damnit

You stole my comment. LOL

[hack89]

13. What problems did the 34 states with an identical law have? nt

[RKP5637]

2. FFS, please, someone wake me up from this ongoing nightmare. n/t

[Plucketeer]

5. If you're asleep

the brilliant flash will wake you. And before you have a chance to think: WTF? It'll all be over.

[RKP5637]

8. Yep! That'll do it!

[appleannie1943]

3. Syphilis paralysis of the brain must afflict the entire GOP. Not one of them is sane.

And each year it gets worse.

[barbtries]

6. is he an NRA-owned

republican?

[DFW]

7. Remind me not to go hiking in the woods in Wisconsin

It suddenly doesn't seem like the safest place to commune with nature

[Angry Dragon]

9. Wisconsin used to be a sane state until Weasel Walker

[DFW]

10. I know. My brother-in-law is from Wisconsin

He used to be proud of it, once upon a time.

[HAB911]

11. Oh, what's the worst that could happen?! LOL

[GulfCoast66]

12. I shot my first squirrel when I was 8

Of course I was being closely supervised by my grandfather. We took it to the house and he gave me my first real lesson on cleaning an animal

Then my grandmother fried it up with gravy and biscuits.

It was a big deal as I can still remember it after 44 years.

As long as the child is closely supervised I see no inherent problem.

I do have a problem with allowing both to carry a firearm. At that age my father or grandfather carried the firearm until it was time to load and shoot.

I know this is strange to many on DU but that was growing up in rural Louisiana.

[sarisataka]

15. That is similar to how I hunt

With my daughter. Though she is now 14 we still go with one gun. She has the gun, I have the ammo until we reach the hunting spot. I am there to monitor safety, (extra eyes looking for other hunters or hazards) not to hunt.

[GulfCoast66]

16. You sound like an excellent parent

Your daughter will cherish the memories you make together in the field for the rest of her life. I really am pleased that I see more young ladies in the field and on the water. It was rare when I was young.

Parents know that every hunt or fishing trip with their child is successful.

And sometimes you bring home supper!

[sarisataka]

20. Thank you

I try to support my children without pressuring. My girl can't wait to get out hunting or fishing (she is by far the best fisherperson in the family and keeps us stocked with walleye)

My son, on the other hand, would rather stay in and work on coding a video game. He will sometimes go out to fish if the weather is just right but has no interest in hunting. Still I am always happy to listen and see his latest creations.

[Vinca]

14. Cuz it's never too early to teach your kid to kill.

[Aristus]

17. A three year-old toddler floundering around in the brush, where you can't see him.

Rustling and snapping twigs.

A bunch of dumb-fuck adult hunters hopped up on beer and blood-lust.

Yeah, that's a scenario that gives one confidence...

[maxsolomon]

18. I don't really care that much. It's a risk, but its their risk.

Its not like the gereral public will be in danger.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/hiker-mistaken-for-a-bear-killed-by-hunter/

[LisaM]

19. This will pair well with the fact that they have no minimum drinking age, as long

as you're with a parent or relative who is 21. Glad my niece and nephew don't live there anymore.

[lagomorph777]

21. Say, Rob, I've got a group of toddlers with AK-47s who would love to go hunting with you!

Whaddya say? It'll be a gas! What could possibly go wrong?

[NickB79]

22. I love the hyperbole in this thread

34 other states already have similar laws with few problems, but from the responses here, you'd expect the Wisconsin woods to be a bloodbath any day now, full of toddlers with 12-gauges miles from their parents while wearing deer antlers.

[Paladin]

24. What's to stop Wisconsin toddlers from doing exactly that?

Answer: Responsible parents, in a perfect world.

Problem: This is an imperfect world. There are plenty of parents who are not burdened with any notions of responsibility.

And spare me any accusations of being a no-nothing anti-gun type, OK? I started shooting a .22 when I was about 7 years old, with responsible adult supervision.

[Luciferous]

23. Yet another reason not to move back to Wisconsin...

[ileus]

25. My son has been hunting with me since he was 7.

I still remember when he first come to me wanting to go hunting. I'd stopped hunting the same fall he was born and hadn't been until he hit second grade. He come to me 3 days before our youth day, and I said yes of course. Four days later he took his first deer.

He's harvested one a season since.

He's now 13 and doing a great job hunting by himself most of the time, he's already taken one doe with his bow a few weeks back.

Edit to say he's only allowed to Bow or Crossbow hunt by himself. I still go with him when gun powder is involved, even though the state of Virginia declared he is a "safe hunter".

[Thomas Hurt]

26. another conservative solution in search of problem....

the real plan is for daddy to buy a license for his 10 year old to increase daddy's bag limit.

[truthisfreedom]

27. I sure hope those kids have tactical ear protection. It's certainly available.

Nothing like losing your hearing at an early age.