Knimrod
09-28-2006, 11:40 PM
New DNR rule allows 10-year-olds to hunt
September 26, 2006
By Ron Rop
Muskegon Chronicle
Dallas Guptill took his shotgun into the woods Sunday and went small-game hunting for the first time.
Dallas is 10.
He wasn't fortunate enough to bag any squirrels on his first "official" hunt, sanctioned by new Michigan Department of Natural Resources rules. Those new regulations allow 10-year-olds to hunt small game and 12-year-olds to hunt deer.
One stipulation is that hunting must be supervised by an adult and the young hunter must have passed a certified hunter safety course.
"I, personally, am not expecting significant problems with the young people being in the woods because they will probably be closely supervised by the same person who helps them study the text and prepare for the exam," said Glenn Sheathelm of the Muskegon Conservation Club, who finished teaching a hunter safety class Saturday afternoon.
Dallas was one of 42 students who attended the class at the club, at 1921 Lake in North Muskegon. The class, which started Sept. 18, finished up with a full day of activities on Saturday.
Students must attend both classes to complete the class.
The class, sponsored by the conservation club and the Muskegon Pistol and Rifle Club, included several hours of lecture time, videos, question-and-answer sessions, field exercises like how to safely climb over things while armed, plenty of reading, shooting a BB gun, and a final test that required 80 percent correct or better to pass.
Some students had problems with the test and had to look over their answers. Two of the 42 students answered all 50 multiple choice questions correctly.
Dallas, a fifth-grader at Reeths-Puffer Intermediate School, completed the class successfully, which wasn't a big surprise to his father, Chuck. Dallas had an advantage because he comes from a hunting family.
"He's got a lot of wisdom from his dad about safety and weapons," Chuck Guptill said. "Obviously, weapons can kill ... even a BB gun is a weapon that can kill."
While Dallas was taking his final test, Chuck Guptill was trying to remain patient just outside the clubhouse.
"We try to drill it in him that you respect nature and you definitely respect weapons," Chuck Guptill said.
His father said if Dallas successfully completed the course and received his certificate, the first stop on the way home was Meijer to pick up .22 bullets and shotgun shells for Sunday's inaugural hunt.
"If he passes, then we go," Chuck said. "A lot of people are rooting for him today."
When Dallas finished the 50-question final exam, he stood nearby as Sheathelm graded his test.
"One wrong. That's 98 percent. You can hunt with me anytime," Sheathelm said.
One reason the age limits have been lowered is to encourage more hunting in an era when the number of hunters is falling. Sheathelm remembers the 1950s when 12-year-old boys were riding their bicycles across town holding .22 rifles to go hunting without adult supervision or a hunter's safety class.
Sheathelm is in favor of the new regulations, especially the part about testing youngsters on their knowledge. "Some young people can safely handle firearms at age 10 and younger," he said.
The questions "were kind of easy," said Dallas, whose first hunt would have been in two years had it not been for the new regulations. "Some of the questions were a little tricky, but there was a lot of stuff I already knew."
Armed with his hunter's certificate and a shotgun, Dallas was trekking through the woods of northern Muskegon County hunting for small game Sunday.
While Dallas is relegated to hunting just squirrels and rabbits at this point of his life, he does have future goals.
"I want a house on a lake in the woods so I can hunt and fish," he said. "Those are two of my favorite things to do."
But his No. 1 hunting goal? "To be safe."
Link to story (http://www.keepandbeararms.com/news/nl/Post.asp?nm=Michigan+Gun+Owners)
September 26, 2006
By Ron Rop
Muskegon Chronicle
Dallas Guptill took his shotgun into the woods Sunday and went small-game hunting for the first time.
Dallas is 10.
He wasn't fortunate enough to bag any squirrels on his first "official" hunt, sanctioned by new Michigan Department of Natural Resources rules. Those new regulations allow 10-year-olds to hunt small game and 12-year-olds to hunt deer.
One stipulation is that hunting must be supervised by an adult and the young hunter must have passed a certified hunter safety course.
"I, personally, am not expecting significant problems with the young people being in the woods because they will probably be closely supervised by the same person who helps them study the text and prepare for the exam," said Glenn Sheathelm of the Muskegon Conservation Club, who finished teaching a hunter safety class Saturday afternoon.
Dallas was one of 42 students who attended the class at the club, at 1921 Lake in North Muskegon. The class, which started Sept. 18, finished up with a full day of activities on Saturday.
Students must attend both classes to complete the class.
The class, sponsored by the conservation club and the Muskegon Pistol and Rifle Club, included several hours of lecture time, videos, question-and-answer sessions, field exercises like how to safely climb over things while armed, plenty of reading, shooting a BB gun, and a final test that required 80 percent correct or better to pass.
Some students had problems with the test and had to look over their answers. Two of the 42 students answered all 50 multiple choice questions correctly.
Dallas, a fifth-grader at Reeths-Puffer Intermediate School, completed the class successfully, which wasn't a big surprise to his father, Chuck. Dallas had an advantage because he comes from a hunting family.
"He's got a lot of wisdom from his dad about safety and weapons," Chuck Guptill said. "Obviously, weapons can kill ... even a BB gun is a weapon that can kill."
While Dallas was taking his final test, Chuck Guptill was trying to remain patient just outside the clubhouse.
"We try to drill it in him that you respect nature and you definitely respect weapons," Chuck Guptill said.
His father said if Dallas successfully completed the course and received his certificate, the first stop on the way home was Meijer to pick up .22 bullets and shotgun shells for Sunday's inaugural hunt.
"If he passes, then we go," Chuck said. "A lot of people are rooting for him today."
When Dallas finished the 50-question final exam, he stood nearby as Sheathelm graded his test.
"One wrong. That's 98 percent. You can hunt with me anytime," Sheathelm said.
One reason the age limits have been lowered is to encourage more hunting in an era when the number of hunters is falling. Sheathelm remembers the 1950s when 12-year-old boys were riding their bicycles across town holding .22 rifles to go hunting without adult supervision or a hunter's safety class.
Sheathelm is in favor of the new regulations, especially the part about testing youngsters on their knowledge. "Some young people can safely handle firearms at age 10 and younger," he said.
The questions "were kind of easy," said Dallas, whose first hunt would have been in two years had it not been for the new regulations. "Some of the questions were a little tricky, but there was a lot of stuff I already knew."
Armed with his hunter's certificate and a shotgun, Dallas was trekking through the woods of northern Muskegon County hunting for small game Sunday.
While Dallas is relegated to hunting just squirrels and rabbits at this point of his life, he does have future goals.
"I want a house on a lake in the woods so I can hunt and fish," he said. "Those are two of my favorite things to do."
But his No. 1 hunting goal? "To be safe."
Link to story (http://www.keepandbeararms.com/news/nl/Post.asp?nm=Michigan+Gun+Owners)