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[HUNTING HERITAGE]

Share doe tags with Pennsylvania Mentored Youth

Photo by Matt Lindler

Adult hunting mentors in Pennsylvania can transfer one antlerless deer license per year to a youth participating in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program.

Senate Bill 274, sponsored by Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Richard Alloway II, was unanimously approved by the Senate and House and signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett in June. 

While mentored youth can't apply for an antlerless deer license, the new law and a regulatory proposal would authorize adult mentors to transfer one antlerless deer license to an eligible mentored youth. The antlerless license must be current and in the possession of the adult mentor at all times while hunting. The adult may not transfer the license until after the mentored youth has harvested the deer. The license then can be transferred to the youth, the harvest information completed and the carcass tag attached to the deer. Each mentored youth is limited to one antlerless deer license each license year. The adult mentor must report the harvest through the Game Commission's harvest reporting system.

All youth participating in the MYHP must obtain a $2.70 permit through the Game Commission's Pennsylvania Automated License System. — Pennsylvania Game Commission


Photo by Matt Lindler

[FAMILIES AFIELD]

Youth hunting efforts under way nationwide

Efforts to expand youth hunting opportunities are on the move throughout the country. These bills, inline with the Families Afield initiative, are designed to introduce more youth to hunting.

Michigan: HB 4371 eliminates the minimum hunting age and creates a mentored youth hunting program for those younger than 10, which allows youth to hunt under the supervision of an experienced adult mentor prior to completing hunter education.

At press time, HB 4371 had cleared the House of Representatives and was pending in the Senate.

New Jersey: SB 2913 would allow the state to offer youth apprentice licenses for firearms and archery hunting. The licenses would allow youth ages 11 to 15 to try hunting under the guidance of an experienced adult mentor before completing hunter education. At press time, SB 2913 was pending in the Senate Committee on Environment and Energy.

New York: SB 177 reduces the minimum age for youth to hunt deer or bear with a bow and arrow from 14 to 12. Under the bill, 12 and 13 year olds must be accompanied by an adult while hunting. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed SB 177 into law.

Oklahoma: HB 1338 expands the state's apprentice hunting license to allow youth ages 8 and 9 to hunt. Currently, only youth 10 and older can use the apprentice license. Gov. Mary Fallin signed HB 1338 into law.

Pennsylvania: SB 502 would allow the state game commission to expand the mentored youth hunting program to include adults. Currently, only those 11 and younger are able to participate.

The Families Afield initiative was established by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation and the NWTF to bring a new generation of hunters to the field. Along with the National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, the Families Afield coalition has worked to pass measures in 32 states with more than 600,000 apprentice or mentored hunting licenses sold since the program's inception. — U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

Photo by Matt Lindler

[GUN RIGHTS]

Act gives shooters more target practice

Sport shooters, plinkers and hunters wishing to practice with their sporting arms will have more places to shoot, thanks to the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act.

This bi-partisan legislation introduced by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) gives states greater flexibility to use more of their designated federal wildlife resources to establish safe recreational shooting areas. The legislation will help facilitate the construction and expansion of public target ranges, including ranges on federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

"We appreciate Sen. Udall's leadership in fighting for safe, accessible shooting facilities," said Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "This legislation clears the way for new shooting ranges and allows for the proper management of existing ones. Access to these facilities is paramount to continuing to pass on our hunting and shooting sports heritage to younger generations."

A recent survey by Responsive Management shows the biggest obstacle to participation in hunting and the shooting sports is access. In addressing this concern, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act will not only help sportsmen and target shooters but also wildlife and conservation efforts.

Active participation in hunting and the shooting sports means increased production of firearms and ammunition. Manufacturers of firearms and ammunition pay a federal excise tax — 11 percent on long guns and ammunition and 10 percent on handguns — that is used to fund wildlife and conservation efforts. By giving gun owners better access to ranges, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act will help to encourage participation in these pro-conservation pastimes. — National Shooting Sports Foundation