Should there be a minimum unsupervised hunting age?

Maybe they should question minimum age to use the internet, as it can pose an even greater threat to young people.  Online predators, stealing music, credit card fraud, pornography, online gambling, hacking, etc...

Its pretty tough to kill someone with a computer

Personally I found the article a little amusing since there were a few things that were written in it that we have debated on here about reguarding youth hunting.
Everyone likes jump to conclusions about the best way to keep ourselves safe.  We have turned into a bubble-wrap society.

It's simple... you can trust a kid in the field when:
They know the difference between right and wrong
They know what a weapon can do.. and why
They know what hunting is about and why folks keep the heritage...
When you can trust them by themselves to do household chores while your gone.... EVEN IF friends come over.

Then and only then  would I not be beside a kid in the field. I simply don't care if they are 10 or 21. Everyone reaches a mature mentality at different times.

I believe that there definately should be a minimum age to hunt unsupervised.  Like jokostel stated, it should be when the individual can show their maturity and responsiblility level.  The parents should be able to tell when this is and decide when the youth can go hunting by themselves.  The government, or people who have no idea about the responsibilities of hunting themselves, should have no part of determining when a person can hunt by themselves just because of what a calendar says.

mobber50 Said:
Its pretty tough to kill someone with a computer

There was a recent incident in which some teenagers were harrassing a young girl on facebook/myspace.  Harrassment got so bad that the young girl committed suicide. 

ggenthusiast Said:

mobber50 Said:
Its pretty tough to kill someone with a computer

There was a recent incident in which some teenagers were harrassing a young girl on facebook/myspace.  Harrassment got so bad that the young girl committed suicide. 

The way I see it is that he was talking in the "literal" sense.... not over the internet.
But yeah... some folks online can press pretty painful buttons... everyone has a breaking point.

In case my post confused anyone, what I was trying to point out is that minimum age rules for hunting/internet is nonsense.  Good parenting should cover these sorts of dangers.

However, the anti gun crowd only see guns as tools for evil and wrongdoing.

You know where i was going with the computer comment and everyone knows that i dont like the young hunting age. But i guess after reading that article i feel fortunate with the law we have. Look at those other states...you mean to tell me that an 8 year old can legally get home from school grab his gun and go hunting by himself?  Ummmm did i miss something? I understand that its still up to the parents to let his or her child hunt if he or she feels that the child is mature enough. BUt is there really an 8 year old that can handle that by themself. What i want to know is how can their state pass this into law. If someone doesnt agree with me please let me know if i am missing something. And i thought 12 years old with supervision was pushing it.

and yes jokostel thats what i meant. but i did hear about that incident with the suicide. but they must have had a few probems before the internet thing

Mobber 50, nice to see someone on this sight with some common sense! Some laws actually make sense, does it mean that if the law says that you can hunt alone at the age of 14 that all 14 year olds are mature and safe enough to do that, no, it does not and thats where the parenting comes in. But legal or not, the ramifications are the same when things go bad. What am I to do if my kid is killed by a ten year old. I wouldnt get must satisfaction in putting a ten year old behind bars, would any of you? Can you go after the parents for letting their child do somthing that was legal?

thats what blows my mind with how they can pass a law with the age limit that low. And  u hit it on the head what are you going to do to a 8 year old? put him on probation....hes already on probation from his parents being 8 years old and having a curfew. I am so lost with the 8 year olds being able to hunt by themselves i dont even know what to say anymore.

There's no question that parenting, coaching and proper education are all essential in grooming a responsible and safe young hunter.   All things being equal, I'd much rather err on the side of caution.   North Dakota's requirement for deer is that anyone under the age of 15 must hunt under the supervision of an adult.  This still allows 14 year-olds and this year 12 & 13 year-olds to hunt - - just with an adult "supervisor."   True, I've hunted with adults that seemed to be more of a safety risk than any kids I've hunted with - - but a year or two more maturity, like ND's requirement makes sense to me - - especially when I'm in the field with my loved ones and high power rifles start cracking.  There's minimum age requirements for bazillions of things - swimming in a hotel pool, working a job, riding a motorcycle, getting a driver's license, consuming alcohol, voting, playing sanctioned tackle football, joining the military, getting married (should be age 50), the list goes on...  There's nothing out of line with requiring a reasonable minimum age for unsupervised rifle hunting. 

Age requirements are the same in any discussion. Every person is different, and hopefully the parents of each child will know when he or she can handle any responsibility. I know some people who could handle alcohol at the age of 16, but I know some 26 year old people who act like they are 13 when they drink. Personally, I think the driver license age in North Dakota should be 16 except if you live on a Farm. Looking back, I would have probably benefited from a couple more years of maturity...too many accidents haha. Before reading this article, I kind of thought every state was similar to ND in hunting ages. I think we have a good hunting age here. Maybe we shouldn't allow gun hunting before the age of 14 and only allow bow. I know people would appreciate it more.

I too did not know that other states were so differant from ND on hunting ago limitsor i wouldnt have put up such a fuss about the 12 year old rule.

when I was 8, I'd get home off the school bus and grab a .22, shotgun or bow and go hunting.  Nothing crazy about that in my opinion.  14 years old is about the right age to start deer hunting with a rifle.

when I was 8, I'd get home off the school bus and grab a .22, shotgun or bow and go hunting.  Nothing crazy about that in my opinion.  14 years old is about the right age to start deer hunting with a rifle.

maybe i am the only one that thinks that it is crazy.... a bb gun is way differant than a shotgun.

Its not crazy when it is ingrained in your head to keep the muzzle clear and always pointed in a safe direction.  Not much can go wrong if you follow those fundamentals of gun safety.

Yes I agree on the age limit,also "gun safety" including adults born after a certain year.Alot of of these accidents could have been avoided with the right mentor and supervision.

Check these stats from SoDak last season;

http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/Safety/Incidents.htm