MSNBC Hunting Story

[tombogan03884]

   Young people do not have the judgment that adults have. For the most part, 14-year-olds do not have the judgment that a 16-year-old has.”

   I've known some 50 year olds that were pretty damn stupid, and in NH any way, of all the hunting accidents I have heard of over the years the only one I remember involving a Kid was when the former  Governors son shot him while they were bird hunting back in the 80's, treated and released no charges.

[m25operator]

This is of course tragic, possibly avoidable, well definitely avoidable, part of hunting instruction and firearms is know your target and what is behind, I have hunted in fog and it is different, but the 1st rule applies, if your not 100% sure, don't take the shot, as far as age, I think 5 might be a good idea, like Kid I started alone when I was 12, but supervised at 10. I got into trouble at 10, my 1st squirrel hunt, and a friend of my dad loaned me a browning .22 take down auto, with scope. How cool, well I was by myself, but adults were close,  and walking the woods when a squirrel ran down a barbwire fence and I opened up on him, missed him but I was on a hill shooting down, later my dads boss, asked " who was shooting from the top of the hill ? " well it was me, and I was shooting towards him and his son. NO one had taught me that lesson yet, never forgot it though. Lucky!!! I do think starting kids off on a single shot is a good idea, except for centerfires and shotguns, some are so light they will beat you to death, in a 7mm or 20guage and up. Not that single shot firearms are not heavy enough by the right manufacturer, just the H&R, and those like it, not a bad firearm, but light enough on a small frame, to make you want to quit. After shooting my H&R 20 guage single shot with no butt pad, I was scared to death to shoot dad's auto 5, in 12. Nothing could be further from the truth, after my dad shot my 20 he said , GD, no wonder you don't like it.

The truth at the end, regardless of sentence ( if any ) this boy will carry this weight for as long as he lives, I wonder if he will ever hunt again. Maybe even just shoot again.

Public land is a problem, when multiple users with different purposes are allowed at the same time, hikers and hunters, at the same time, especially if the hikers or campers don't know, that hunting is going on. I think on public land, during hunting season, hunters, hikers, and campers alike should wear the minumum 200 square inches of blaze orange, and the Blaze orange hat, like they do in CO. I hunted public land there in the San Juan National forest, a mountain, and was amazed at how big the country is, and how well the blaze orange stood out when the morning light was just coming in.

[Timothy]

Public land is a problem, when multiple users with different purposes are allowed at the same time, hikers and hunters, at the same time, especially if the hikers or campers don't know, that hunting is going on. I think on public land, during hunting season, hunters, hikers, and campers alike should wear the minumum 200 square inches of blaze orange, and the Blaze orange hat, like they do in CO. I hunted public land there in the San Juan National forest, a mountain, and was amazed at how big the country is, and how well the blaze orange stood out when the morning light was just coming in.

Last fall I was pheasant hunting with my daughter and SIL on some public land here in MA.  They generally release about 50 birds on the property.  Law requires that a minimum of a blaze orange hat be worn and we all had upland vests with more than enough to satisfy the requirement.

As we were finishing up, walking out after the hunt, a young couple wearing their J.Crew barn coats walking their labradors came up the road in front of us.  I stopped and told them that there were several hunters still in the field and to be careful.  I also let them know that Sundays are free from hunting and it would be a better day to walk their dogs.  Basically, I was told to mind my own business, STFU and don't let the gate hit me in the ass when I left the field.

they just became accidents waiting to happen.....

[tombogan03884]

 In most cases it is NOT a "Hunting" problem, it is a problem with self important city assholes that move to the country and refuse to exercise "common sense safety practices" that the natives grew up with.

[Kid Shelleen]

This is of course tragic, possibly avoidable, well definitely avoidable, part of hunting instruction and firearms is know your target and what is behind, I have hunted in fog and it is different, but the 1st rule applies, if your not 100% sure, don't take the shot, as far as age, I think 5 might be a good idea, like Kid I started alone when I was 12, but supervised at 10. I got into trouble at 10, my 1st squirrel hunt, and a friend of my dad loaned me a browning .22 take down auto, with scope. How cool, well I was by myself, but adults were close,  and walking the woods when a squirrel ran down a barbwire fence and I opened up on him, missed him but I was on a hill shooting down, later my dads boss, asked " who was shooting from the top of the hill ? " well it was me, and I was shooting towards him and his son. NO one had taught me that lesson yet, never forgot it though. Lucky!!! I do think starting kids off on a single shot is a good idea, except for centerfires and shotguns, some are so light they will beat you to death, in a 7mm or 20guage and up. Not that single shot firearms are not heavy enough by the right manufacturer, just the H&R, and those like it, not a bad firearm, but light enough on a small frame, to make you want to quit. After shooting my H&R 20 guage single shot with no butt pad, I was scared to death to shoot dad's auto 5, in 12. Nothing could be further from the truth, after my dad shot my 20 he said , GD, no wonder you don't like it.

The truth at the end, regardless of sentence ( if any ) this boy will carry this weight for as long as he lives, I wonder if he will ever hunt again. Maybe even just shoot again.

Public land is a problem, when multiple users with different purposes are allowed at the same time, hikers and hunters, at the same time, especially if the hikers or campers don't know, that hunting is going on. I think on public land, during hunting season, hunters, hikers, and campers alike should wear the minumum 200 square inches of blaze orange, and the Blaze orange hat, like they do in CO. I hunted public land there in the San Juan National forest, a mountain, and was amazed at how big the country is, and how well the blaze orange stood out when the morning light was just coming in.

What a coincidence. Starting by 10 and alone by 12, I hunted with a Browning .22 takedown as well. I sold the original Belgian that I owned in the rare .22 short. Sold it as a dumb kid when I was in college. Luckily it was replaced with this 1958 Belgian wheelsight in .22lr.

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

In most cases it is NOT a "Hunting" problem, it is a problem with self important city assholes that move to the country and refuse to exercise "common sense safety practices" that the natives grew up with.

Thats a good point Tom. It might be best to put the city slickers through a "Hunter Awareness Course" and make them get a license before they can go into the woods.

[MikeBjerum]

OK ... I have renewed my anger and disgust with our elected officials and the "feel good" crowd 

It is not about age ... It is about knowledge!

Since hunting is not a protected Right, I have no problem in treating hunting like driving - Take a test to prove you knowledge of rules, regulations and safety.

Most states already require a firearm safety and hunter education course to get a license, and I beleive that this is also a good thing.  It doesn't teach all, but it teaches the basics and makes the taker aware of other items.

Why is it the total fault of the hunter and the hunting community that a hiker was killed?  Just like a hunter needs to be aware of many things, we are all responsible for ourselves!  Why did this hiker go into a public hunting area not wearing Blaze (international) orange?  Ultimate responsibility falls on the person that pulled the trigger, but in Minnesota the charges and sentence could be challanged in apeal due to the hiker not following the rule as well.  I am hot on this topic, because we have just spent the last two weeks reveiwing with the kids in class the rule and the common sense involved with orange and carrying game out of the field.

Watch ... Rather than institute education these folk are going to implement a ton of worthless feel good laws that will let irresponsible adults do things while banning responsible people of all ages 

Rant on hold while my veins relax and I prepare for tirad number 2!