Wisconsin allowing 10-year-old hunters

I applaud Gov. Jim Doyle for trying to preserve Wisconsin’s hunting heritage.  As for whether 10 year olds are mature enough to handle guns safely or not depends upon the 10 year old and their mentor/guardian/parent/grandparent. As anyone who has raised children or grandchildren know, kids all mature differently.  Obviously, the Armstrong girls don’t have a problem with firearms and hunting, but, I would suspect that has a lot to do with their upbringing and family’s hunting heritage. I am a volunteer hunter safety instructor in Illinois and have had many 10 year olds make a perfect score on the hunter safety exam.  These youngsters are intelligent, hard working, attentive in class, and all seem to have a burning desire to want to learn to hunt.  They also have a responsible adult that supports their desire to hunt and are willing to attend the hunter safety course with them.  It’s always amazing to me how some of the kids actually make a better score on the test than the “mentors.”

It is especially nice to see that Wisconsin is supporting youth in hunting programs, as opposed to IDNR’s questionable attack on the Armstrong girls’ landowner permit status!