When will WY abandon the 14 year old restriction?

crcountry · Oct 29, 2021

I mean....isn't 12 old enough? Doesn't our sport need a few more young kiddos??

SS! · Oct 30, 2021

crcountry said:
I mean....isn't 12 old enough? Doesn't our sport need a few more young kiddos??

Where have you been? They changed the law from 14 to 12 around 24 years ago. And now it changes to 11 next year (but you have to be 12 by the end of the year)s

Chesterwyo · Oct 30, 2021

I’m going to laugh so hard if you’ve had a 12-13 year old kid not hunting in Wyoming because YOU didn’t think he was old enough.

elks96 · Nov 5, 2021

Wish WY would move it to 10. Even if it meant the adult had to give their tag to the mentee hunter. 10 seems good!

Blank · Nov 5, 2021

It is all according to the child's maturity to me. I know responsible 8 year olds , and I also have strong feelings about some 17 year olds I wouldn't trust 10 feet from me. If you appreciate the seriousness of the situation, and the fact you're taking a life, respect the game and enjoy yourself. Too many parents treat it as one of these video game shoot 'em ups, and I think that sucks. OK, done preaching!!

jm77 · Nov 5, 2021

It should be up to the adult when the kid hunts.

tailchasers · Nov 6, 2021

My oldest boy had his first deer tag at 8 years old when he could shot a small 20 gauge successfully at 25 yards. Its about ability not age. This was in Iowa and there was no hunter safety restriction other than being with an adult (18 yrs).

tailchasers · Nov 6, 2021

Let me add my youngest son he did not hunt with a firearm for deer or bird until he was 11 yrs. Just not the same mentalities between my boys.

WVHUNTER · Nov 6, 2021

What do you think about youth drawing LE tags? There was a five year old drew an elk tag in Kentucky this year.

elkmo41 · Nov 6, 2021

WVHUNTER said:
What do you think about youth drawing LE tags? There was a five year old drew an elk tag in Kentucky this year.

Probably a point building situation with the long odds, dads now likely thinking oh crap!

WapitiBob · Nov 6, 2021

Kentucky doesn't have points...

WVHUNTER · Nov 6, 2021

Random draw on a youth tag. Doubt that the father said oh, crap. That’s what he wanted when entered all his kids.

BPKHunter · Nov 9, 2021

No 10yr old should be handling a rifle capable of killing deer. I like 12, as a min.

And no I don’t trust parents to make this judgement, as evidenced by 5yr old elk hunter.

Opinions vary!

elks96 · Nov 9, 2021

BPKHunter said:
No 10yr old should be handling a rifle capable of killing deer. I like 12, as a min.

And no I don’t trust parents to make this judgement, as evidenced by 5yr old elk hunter.

Opinions vary!

I am willing to bet my son can handle his 243 as well as you or any adult. In terms of safety and in terms of shooting to 200 yards. I would put him up against any adult in his ability to shoot and his ability to safely handle a gun.

Why would you be ok with a kid handling a 22 rifle or a shot gun and not a larger bore rifle? Larger bore rifle is not any more or less dangerous... Larger bore rifle is not harder to handle...

I would also put my good friends 8 year old daughter with her 6.5 up against any adult I know.

jm77 · Nov 9, 2021

BPKHunter said:
No 10yr old should be handling a rifle capable of killing deer. I like 12, as a min.

And no I don’t trust parents to make this judgement, as evidenced by 5yr old elk hunter.

Opinions vary!

Opinions do vary, but these three 10 year olds prove you are wrong. Number 4 grandkid is eight and he will most definitely prove you wrong too!

junior · Nov 9, 2021

I don't think BPK is all wrong. Plenty of adults out there I don't trust with a gun!

jm77 · Nov 9, 2021

junior said:
I don't think BPK is all wrong. Plenty of adults out there I don't trust with a gun!

Great, so take it out on the responsible adults and the kids who can do it. Yeah, that works.

junior · Nov 10, 2021

Most agree with what your saying Jim. I guided waterfowl hunters for years and have witnessed some real winners, with 0 common knowledge.
It's a different ball game when one of those shoots your kid.

WVHUNTER · Nov 10, 2021

I think most of the people on this site hunted something before they were 10 years old and that might be a better age. But there needs to be some age restriction to keep parents from putting five year olds in the draw so they can fill their tags for them.

jm77 · Nov 10, 2021

junior said:
Most agree with what your saying Jim. I guided waterfowl hunters for years and have witnessed some real winners, with 0 common knowledge.
It's a different ball game when one of those shoots your kid.

Who the heck is Jim?

WVHUNTER said:
I think most of the people on this site hunted something before they were 10 years old and that might be a better age. But there needs to be some age restriction to keep parents from putting five year olds in the draw so they can fill their tags for them.

The real reason many don't want the age lowered is there would be more applicants in the draw.

elks96 · Nov 10, 2021

jm77 said:
Who the heck is Jim?

The real reason many don't want the age lowered is there would be more applicants in the draw.

Hit the nail on the head. Anyone without a 10-12 year old only sees the move as increased competition. That is why I would support a system where the adult can gift their lic. to the kid or like MT where the adult draws and they can buy the same tag for their kid.

WVHUNTER · Nov 10, 2021

I would think a 10 year old limit for LE draws and no limit for small game, general or over the counter tags.

WVHUNTER · Nov 10, 2021

I think you guys are right, this is an LE tag thing. It’s also a Western thing since most Eastern States don’t have many LE tags. Most Eastern States don’t have any age limit for hunting.
They have requirements for a youth to be accompanied by a licensed hunter.