The future of hunting can be seen next weekend, September 21-22, 2013, when youth 16 years of age and younger may participate in Michigan’s first Liberty Hunt. The newly named hunt includes veterans with 100-percent disability and offers this firearms deer hunt on all lands of Michigan.
To celebrate the right to hunt, The Perry Sons of Amvets, Post 4064, 601 N. Main St, Perry, will host the 10th annual Perry Youth Hunt Extravaganza, whereby youngsters have the opportunity to win valuable prizes simply by going hunting. Unlike other deer hunting contests, no kill is required to qualify for prizes. However, youngsters must be licensed to hunt deer and show proof.
On both Saturday and Sunday, any lucky hunter can register for the drawing by bringing in his/her deer for photographs and providing some basic information. The photos are used as a running display and will be given to the respective hunters on Sunday evening at the prize drawing, which begins promptly at 8:30 pm and last about 45 minutes. Unsuccessful hunters are only permitted to register after 7 pm on Sunday. We hope to be able to provide commemorative T-shirts to all participants, but cannot guarantee it.
Youth younger than 14 years of age may hunt with archery and crossbow on public or private land or with a firearm on private land only, regardless of license used. For youth 10 to 16 years old, valid licenses include a combination, firearm or antlerless deer license. Hunters under the age of 10 must be licensed through the mentored youth hunting program and accompanied by a qualified mentor.
During the two-day hunt, a firearm or combination license may be used for an antlered or antlerless deer. Antler Point Restrictions apply when taking an antlered deer, except on a mentored youth license. A Deer Management Assistance (DMA) permit may also be used to take one antlerless deer only. If issued for the area/land upon which hunting. Archery and junior archery deer licenses are not valid for this hunt. The bag limit for this season is one deer. Eligible hunters with a firearm or combination license may take an antlered or antlerless deer during this special two-day season. All hunters participating in this season must wear hunter orange.
Michigan’s future is brighter today because of the widely successful Families Afield program that has introduced a total of million newcomers to the world of hunting.
To achieve its mission, Families Afield focused on removing barriers, such as age restrictions that were preventing sportsmen and women from passing hunting on to the next generation. Families Afield also encouraged states to establish an apprentice hunting license—a “try before you buy” concept that allowed newcomers to go afield with an experienced mentor before completing a hunter education course.
Program organizers say adding 1 million new hunters has had a ripple effect on overall participation because having a new hunter in a family often means other family members and friends become more active hunters or are reactivated.
Most apprentices are youth, but increasingly adults have taken advantage of apprentice licenses to determine if they enjoy the activity enough to complete the hunter education course required to purchase hunting licenses on their own.
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