Maryland Hunters Take Heed!!!

[vermonster13]

February 6, 2008

 

Maryland Bill Establishes Minimum Hunting Age

Youth Recruitment Efforts in Jeopardy

           

Legislation has been introduced in Maryland that will establish a minimum hunting age while devastating youth recruitment efforts.

House Bill 655, sponsored by Del. Barbara Frush, D-Beltsville, and Virginia P. Clagett, D-Annapolis, prohibits anyone under the age of 13 from receiving a hunting license. Under current law youth under the age of 15 must pass a hunter education course and be under the supervision of a licensed hunter.  There is no justification for establishing a minimum age requirement.

“If passed, this bill will have a devastating effect on recruiting young hunters and the future of wildlife conservation in Maryland,” said Rob Sexton, USSA vice president for government affairs. “The bill is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the future of hunting.”

Research has shown that people are far less likely to take up hunting after age twelve.  Research also has shown that young hunters are the safest hunters in the field when accompanied by an experienced mentor.  In other words, this bill does nothing to ensure safe hunting, but it will accelerate the destruction of hunting.

“Parents, not the government, are far more equipped to know when their sons and daughters are ready to hunt,” said Sexton.  

This bill goes against the nationwide trend of lowering barriers and easing restrictions on recruiting the next generation of sportsmen.  Twenty-two states, including Virginia, have passed Families Afield-style measures since 2004 aimed at improving youth participation and recruitment.  

House Bill 655 has been referred to the House Environmental Matters Committee.

Take Action! Maryland sportsmen should contact their legislator to reject HB 655. Let them know that you oppose unnecessary restrictions on youth hunting. To find your representative, call (410) 946-5400 or use the Legislative Action Center at  www.ussportsmen.org.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organization that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs.  For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website,  www.ussportsmen.org.

[vermonster13]

Hope all you Maryland folks are getting after this!

[Hatrick]

Thanks, Dave

You are absolutely right. This is BULL and I've written my representatives. I urge my fellow Marylanders to do the same.

Dave

[Arne J]

Just checked on the Bill, and it was "Withdrawn".

Assume that means that this is a dead issue - for the moment.  Thanks for the Heads-Up!

Arne

[LongbowBRO]

Glad it was 'withdrawn', but let this be a lesson...maybe a couple of lessons, maybe three lessons for us:

1). We hunters really need to let our representatives in State government know how hard it is to "grow" a hunter.  They need to understand hunters don't grow on trees.  You can't always blame people for their ignorance...that's why it's called ignorance. This was handed to them by the "Anti's" (see below)

2). We hunters really need to press for "Sunday Hunting" on all lands, public (with exceptions) and private, in all counties, so that we can have the time to take our kids hunting and get a chance to hunt ourselves.  We are modern dad's and mom's, which means we don't get to do what we want all the time, anytime...we have parental responsibilities and our kids have various interest like sports and "play dates" (yuck, but it had to be said), etc.  Sunday hunting goes a long way toward providing opportunity to hunt and for us to "grow" a hunter (more then all these youth hunts, IMHOP).

3).  Let's not give to much ammunition to the ignorant or the evil (The Anti's and other people who think deer, dog, cats and trees got their Civil Rights three years after me...a "Brother man"...oops I digress).  Don't run down to the local paper with pictures of your small kid sitting on top of a large bear "they" just killed....we get it, but those others don't...you have the right...your family had fun...but don't give those people a stick to hit you...us...over the head with, among the voters...this time it didn't work...next time it might...post the pics here...the journalist aren't looking....neither are the unsupportive politicians...

BTW: My kids began shooting bows this year.  When they can sit still by themselves in a blind or climb a tree with a tree stand, help me drag a deer...they will be "worthy" of hunting their first deer with the bow...until then, it's shooting bows, scouting, and sitting under my tree "learning"...I mean "growing" into a hunter.

[LongbowBRO]

[Migra Bill]

My oldest son took his first deer at 12. It was a wonderful, ethical, and SAFE hunt because I made sure it was that way. Him being 13 wouldn't have changed a thing. More important than the age of the hunter is the approach and maturity of the ADULT involved.