The 9thannual Perry Youth Hunt Extravaganza is history, and from the results of the turnout, the kids are getting away from their smart phones and computers and getting into the woods. And, since that’s the whole idea, it’s time to give credit to those insightful lawmakers that have eased the restrictions to hunt.
Peyton Smith of Morrice, Michigan with his trophy 11-point whitetail buck taken in the youth hunt
Founded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Families Afield is an education and outreach program designed to help states create hunting opportunities for youths, so that more families may enjoy America’s greatest outdoor tradition together. Michigan is one of those states.
The principles that guide the mission are as follows:
*Safety first, always.
*Hunting instills traditional values, connectivity with nature and healthy lifestyles.
*Parent, not politics, should decide an appropriate hunting age for their children.
*When introducing youths to hunting, earlier is better.
*Youths experience hunting with an adult mentor, then attend a hunter safety class.
According to NSSF, since Families Afield launched in 2004, 33 states have changed laws and regulations to create additional hunting opportunities for youths. This equates to 782,604 new hunters nationally.
Last year the Michigan legislature passed a bill named the Hunter Heritage Act, which now allows 10 and 11 year olds to hunt deer, elk and bear on private land — provided they have taken hunter safety classes. Within the law, a mentored youth license was also created whereby youngsters 9 years of age and younger can hunt with firearms without passing a hunter safety class. Instead, licensed parents or designated responsible adults closely supervise youth hunters. Within 2 years, however, these same hunters must pass a certified hunter safety class. Believe it or not, statistics have shown that our youth hunters are actually safer than adults.
So, where’s the opposition now that safety is no longer the threat it had been purported to be? From what I can tell it comes from the dinosaurs – those that believe it is best not to shoot does. Or, those that never had a special season for youths when they were young. Or, some of the more selfish adults that feel slighted by the success of our youth. Or, whatever.
But, what they fail to comprehend is that hunting numbers have been on decline for years and, that if we had kept on doing what we always did, the tradition would die. And, so would wildlife conservation, which comes from the pockets of hunters. Sometimes we just can’t see the forest for the trees.
Perry Youth Hunt Extravaganza winner of muzzleloader
Change was needed and it has met the challenge of smart phones and computers head on. And, parents and kids alike have welcomed real change in our own neck of the woods. Sure, the crybabies are still out there, but they sure didn’t show last weekend.
