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Program offers safe, simplified intro to hunting |
By B. Scott
Anderson, Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail Scott at
banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
|
SALEM — Youth age
9-13 can now hunt under the supervision of an adult without first
passing a hunter education class.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission last week adopted administrative
rules for Oregon’s first Mentored Youth Hunter Program, after the
state legislature passed a bill earlier this year creating the
program.
“Oregon’s hunters now have a fantastic opportunity to introduce
kids to hunting,” said Marla Rae, chairwoman of the commission.
“This is a great way for parents, grandparents and others to
introduce their kids and grandchildren to hunting in a safe,
responsible way.”
State officials said supervision by an experienced hunter may be
the best way to introduce a young person to safe and ethical
hunting. The program is based on the recommendations of ODFW’s
Hunter Recruitment Advisory Committee and is patterned after
programs in other states. Programs that eliminate or reduce age
restrictions have been approved in 12 other states and are pending
in five others.
Research demonstrates that early exposure is critical to people
taking up hunting or other forms of outdoor recreation. But children
and their families are busy today, and taking a hunter education
class is a significant time commitment of 18-20 hours that some may
perceive as a barrier to hunting. The Mentored Youth Hunter Program
offers a “try before you buy” approach to hunting.
The program does not remove the hunter education requirement; it
defers it. Under the program, youth without hunter education
certification are only allowed to hunt under the supervision of an
adult and on the adult’s tags. Hunter education is required if a
youth wishes to purchase their own hunting license or tag or is 14
to 17 years of age.
Several safety precautions are built into the program:
The youth and his or her supervisor must review, and the youth must
sign, safe hunting information prior to hunting. Youth must keep a
signed copy of the safe hunting section on their person during the
hunt.
The supervising hunter is also accountable for all the actions of
the youth hunter. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to follow
all hunting regulations and ensure that each mentored youth is
trained in firearm and hunter safety before engaging in hunting or
related activities.
A supervising hunter can only hunt with one youth at a time.
Only one legal hunting weapon between the supervisor and youth is
allowed while hunting.
The supervisor must remain in immediate control of the youth,
meaning the two must stay in close proximity at all times while the
youth is in possession of a legal hunting weapon.
It is strongly recommended that the supervising hunter and mentored
youth wear blaze orange during hunting or related activities.
Other states that have similar programs have seen an increase in
youth participation without an increase in hunting-related shooting
incidents.
“Hunting is a significant and key part of Oregon’s culture and
heritage,” said ODFW Director Roy Elicker. “It is important that we
recruit new hunters to carry on this tradition and this program will
help the hunting community do that.”
To take part in the program, youth and supervising hunter must
complete a registration form available on ODFW’s Web site or in the
game bird and big game hunting regulations to be published later
this year. The form includes a section where youth and supervisor
review safe hunting information. Part of the form should be kept by
the youth and part should be returned to ODFW, Information and
Education, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE, Salem, OR 97302. Completing and
mailing in the form allows youth to receive a mentored hunt
preference point for use in a future controlled hunt application. |
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From
Aug. 8, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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