Too young? 6 year old hunters stir debate

[slagmaker]

News report as seen on the indy channel  Link  http://www.theindychannel.com/news/25858636/detail.html

There is even a survey to take and the antis are ahead 51%- 42%.

GREENCASTLE, Ind -- Already this season, some very young hunters have made headlines with their big accomplishments, prompting a debate over how young is too young to be out with a gun.

Wyatt Clark, 6, of Greencastle, was out with his father last weekend when he shot his very first deer, a 13-point buck.

"I got a monster buck," the boy told 6News' Dan Spehler.


"I cocked the hammer," said his father, Jeremy Clark, "and I said, 'Shoot it!'"

But Wyatt's mother, Marta Clark, said she wasn't so excited when she first heard her son wanted to go hunting.

"I thought it was a little crazy," she said. "And then Wyatt was very insistent, and, of course, his dad took off with it, and I'm thinking, 'Oh, no!'"

Amazingly, Clark is not the only 6-year-old who already shot a buck this hunting season -- Grace Zerbel and her dad bagged a seven-point buck last weekend near South Bend.

The youngsters' incredible successes have astounded hunting enthusiasts, but they have also stirred debate from some who don't think children that young should be hunting.

Indiana doesn't have a minimum age for hunters.

"It's hard to put an age on that," said Angela Goldman, a conservation officer with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. "Every kid's maturity level is different. (But) any time you have a youth out there, they need to be with an adult. As long as they've got somebody out there with them, we don't have a minimum age requirement."

Both Clark and Zerbel were with their fathers the entire time.

"The most important thing is safety," Clark's father said.

Indiana law requires sportsmen born after Dec. 31, 1986, to take a training class, unless they have an apprentice license or if they're hunting on their own property.

[centerfire_223]

With good supervision there is nothing wrong with it. I started my kids out way earlier than that, now they weren't carrying a gun but were with me. I can remember Drew's first time shooting a gun, he was almost 2 years old and by the time he was 4, he was a crack shot with a .22 rifle. Teach them young and teach them safety and there is nothing wrong with it.

Just my .03 cents worth.

[coyotehunter_1]

Teach them young and teach them safety and there is nothing wrong with it.

Amen, brother !!!

[pitw]

I'll agree that they can be taught young but at six they damb well better have someone with arms length as they sure won't see all the possible dangers that can arise. 

[KySongDog]

Their dads were with them so I don't see a problem.   

[pitw]

Their dads were with them so I don't see a problem.   

In this instance I agree but I've seen situations that I didn't feel were safe because a child was left with the gun.

[Hawks Feather]

When properly supervised, I see no problem with it.  I guess I don't see it so much as an age thing (since there are some adults that I would not hunt with) but a safety thing.

Jerry

[Bills Custom Calls]

We had several kids and young adults ages 8 to 18 out this weekend surprisingly enough there was no fighting  or even any spats of any kind everyone listened They all seen deer shots rang out and everyone had a wonderful time
I think teaching the young ones hunt is one of the best things for them. It helps them in alot of ways and gets them away from them darn video games

[slagmaker]

The key words being "properly supevised"...... Some adults should not supervise the use of firearms. But that dosnt mean that a youth shouldnt be taught firearms and firearm safety.

My first firearm was a 177cal pelit rifle got that at 8 years old. I went on a many a hunt with my dad carrying that very firearm. Second was a 410 shotgun at 11 years of age. Went hunting with my dad for one year with that before I was allowed to go out on my own and bring in game.

So yeah 6 isnt to young to teach or to experience the outdoors. Your still gona have Mrs better than you thinking she can raise your family better than you. can

[FinsnFur]

No probs here. They were being supervised.

[HaMeR]

No probs here. They were being supervised.

.

nuff said as it's nobodies business but the kids parents.

[Todd Rahm]

I think at at that age, I was still playing dads beagle along the tracks of Indian?  Start'em young though. 

[Dave]

I've no problems with it.  talk about quality time spent with your kids - a few hours out in the woods with no TV, video games, computers, etc. - almost sounds like a punishment, except they want to be out there with you. 
No better time spent.

[vvarmitr]

Well, it's all fine till something happens & then you'd blame yourself for starting him to young.
m2c

[HaMeR]

Well, it's all fine till something happens & then you'd blame yourself for starting him to young.
m2c

But nobody else,, especially any gubment agency or special agenda types like peta,, should have a say in how we raise our children. If they are brought up with a sensible & responsible approach & something out of their control happens than it's on the Parents shoulders & not the courts or the welfare people. That's just the way I see it. 

[KySongDog]

Now if'n we want to go down that road to "protect" children, then,  they shouldn't play football, ride skateboards or bicycles, climb trees, or have access to the internet or cell phones.   

[Silencer]

The PA mentored youth program specifies the child is not to carry the gun, so when I bring DD I carry until we see something, then I question him about the safety of the shot and what not before I hand it over for him to shoot.  He's a good smart boy and very safe.   He'll be well prepared for when he hits 12 and can carry his own.  I've had him out with me when he was 6 but I dont recall letting him shoot not that I wouldnt allow it but I dont recall letting him,  I think because the laws were differ and there was no mentored youth progam. 
Myself personally I was shooting squirrel at 6 with gramma.  A memory I'll never forget that I'll cherish forever. 

[FOsteology]

Depends on the individual kid. I was already shaving and drinking hard liquor when I was 3, but of course I was very mature for my age. 
I wouldn't worry about the age restriction thing...laws, like all rules are just a rough guide.
I wouldn't buy a kid a pellet or a .22 for their first rifle, as young kids find the small cartridges irresistible and as you know, like to stick toys in their mouth.
A single barrel 12 Gauge would be the go, it will toughen him up a bit should he gag on a 3" Magnum shell if he gets hungry.
As soon as the Wiggles come on, take him outside for some Army style rifle exercises to build a bit of upper body strength.