Kids at least 10 years old can hunt under new law
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Sam Dirks, 11, Stoughton, shot his first buck Oct. 11 during the youth hunt. He shot the 8-point buck near Cooksville with his dad, Scott Dirks, helping him. A new law allows children ages 10 and 11 to hunt with mentors. Kids previously had to wait until they were 12 to hunt.
HUNTING MENTORSHIP LAW
Mentors must be 18 years old and licensed hunters.
Mentors may accompany only one 10- or 11-year-old at a time. They must be within an arm’s reach of the hunter at all times.
The pair may carry one firearm or bow between them. All other hunting and trapping rules apply.
Mentored hunters do not need to complete hunter’s safety.
Sam Dirks was hunting for the first time in his life when an 8-point buck walked near his deer stand.
The 11-year-old Stoughton boy started breathing heavily, excited by the trophy in front of him.
His dad, Scott Dirks, sat within an arm’s reach. His dad whispered to avoid spooking the deer, coaching him and telling him to be patient.
Suddenly, the buck walked within 7 yards of them. Sam raised his 20-gauge shotgun and aimed.
“I shot him in the chest, and it went through his lungs,” Sam said. “I was so excited. I didn’t even hear the shot. I didn’t hear anything.”
Sam is one of more than 10,000 Wisconsin residents who have hunted or intend to hunt under a new state law. The law allows children at least 10 years old to hunt with a mentor.
The program has been so popular that the harvest during October’s youth deer hunt jumped from 989 in 2008 to 4,777 in 2009, a nearly 500 percent increase, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Under the previous law, children had to be 12 to hunt.
Dalton Copus, 10, Oregon, also went deer hunting in October. His dad, Mark Copus, mentored him. Hunting is a Copus family tradition.
For years, Dalton has watched his dad hunt. He watches hunting shows. He knows how to call deer, score racks and tell the animal’s age. He also is a good shot.
“The kid knows everything about deer hunting,” Mark said. “It’s just like a little passion with him.”
Then, during the youth hunt, Dalton finally hunted deer in Wisconsin.
He shot two does in Oregon with a 20-gauge shotgun.
“It was really exciting because those were my first does ever,” he said. “I really wanted to shoot a doe.”
Dad also enjoyed the hunt.
“It was really cool. It was neat watching him shoot them, just the excitement on his face,” Mark said. “He was really excited, even if they were only does.”
Dalton doesn’t think he’s too young to hunt. He also isn’t afraid to kill deer.
“I like the blood because you know you hit it,” he said. “If there are bubbles in it, it’s a good shot.”
Dalton plans to hunt this weekend for the beginning of the gun season. He is hoping for a big week.
“I’m looking forward to going out and seeing a big old buck and then shooting it,” Dalton said.
In the Dirks family, Sam comes from a long line of hunters. The family currently hunts near Cooksville.
Sam’s dad was proud his son put 50 pounds of meat in the freezer. He said he is happy the state created the mentorship program.
“I think this is a wonderful opportunity, and I’m really, really glad they decided to do this,” Scott said.
After Sam shot his buck, he helped skin the deer and cut out the meat. He didn’t have to gut the animal. His dad gutted it for him.
Sam plans to keep the buck’s skull and rack as a trophy.
Meanwhile, he can’t wait to hunt this weekend with his dad.
“We just have a lot of fun,” Sam said.
Nov 24, 2009 at 9:34 a.m.
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winterstinks,
My comment to you was with your extreme view that no one under 18 should handle a gun. And if you read my first response you would know I won't be the one saying "Oh the kid was too young" because I mentioned in my original post that old man Cheney shot someone when he was way older than your minimum age of 18 you want.
Nov 22, 2009 at 8:58 a.m.
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10 is too young to hunt overall for MOST, not all children. There are a select few children at age 10 that can handle a shotgun or rifle, but not many. My soon to be 9 year old has trouble holding a BB gun with scope, but another year may make a difference if he gets bigger, but I still think 10 is pushing the limits even with an adult/parent right next to him with 1 gun between them. Personally, from what I have thought, a 10 year old does NOT have to go thru hunter's safety until age 12 to hunt with a gun for that 12 year old and I'd like to know why he/she at age 10 does not have to take hunter's safety just because he is with an adult? Yet another rule that does not make sense coming from the DNR.
Nov 21, 2009 at 7:33 p.m.
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If the kid was stuck in a tree by him/herself then the people who are appalled might have a point but there is a responsible person right there with them so their concerns are kind of silly. As for deer hunting making a kid want to shoot a classmate...calling that a stretch is an understatement. (frakin' stupid is the comment that comes to mind). I suppose South Park made every kid more likely to kill any kid they met named Kenny.
DiGriz- "Nice" to know the military is keeping up the whole muzzle awareness levels of training. I've wanted to smack more than one person for that.
Nov 21, 2009 at 6:04 p.m.
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I think the 10 year old is trying to please his father. How sad it is that such a youth can and would be encouraged to take any life at all.
Nov 21, 2009 at 4:10 p.m.
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Hey,"The Diplomat". I said I "lived" in Texas, but I'm not a Texan! I can hear shots right now. they are pretty POWERFUL. I would hate to think a 10 year old is shooting these. If there's an accident, don't be the one who says" oh I didn't know this would happen, duh-uh, maybe we shouldn't do this, ya think!"
Nov 21, 2009 at 12:38 p.m.
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Hey LocalBoy - Who you calling a moron? Look in the mirror -- Ah, there's the moron...
Nov 21, 2009 at 9:51 a.m.
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10 is too young.
Nov 21, 2009 at 7:39 a.m.
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Good post, localboy. Glad that you mentioned that it takes just a wee bit more than walking out into the woods and banging away to shoot a deer. I started hunting when I was 12, and was TAUGHT by my father, brother, and my father's hunting buddies about gun safety EVERY time I was holding one. I also had hunter safety, and was very intent on being safe and doing everything right. As far as skill goes, I didn't shoot my first deer until after I spent four years in the Marines and had learned to stand or sit still for more than five seconds, and to ignore bugs, freezing feet, hands, etc. Again, I would be more worried about some whack job in a tree stand who's p.o.'ed that I just walked up on him. I don't think age 10 has anything to do with it. Training and discipline do. I get "flagged" every day here in Afghanistan by Soldiers who have NO discipline when it comes to where the muzzle of their weapon is pointed. And here, we ALL have loaded weapons 24/7.
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As far as the kid thinking bubbly blood is cool, he needs some mentoring to understand that it's cool for only one reason - and that's because it's indicitive of a fatal lung shot, so the deer isn't going far. It's all perspective, and someone who is learning needs the right perspective. One perspective my father taught me was "If you shoot it, YOU clean it, and then YOU eat it. You never kill anything unless you are going to eat it." I just hope I never have to shoot an Afghan....
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Since age 12, I've only missed deer season five times. Four years in the Marines and right now, because I'm in Afghanistan... Unless I count the year I was 14, got sick during deer hunting, and threw up on my dad in the middle of the night.....I didn't hunt much that year.. :D
Nov 21, 2009 at 6:32 a.m.
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I am also hesitant to understand the rationale for letting 10 year olds out hunting. Most, if not all, would have gone at 12. The spike in attendance will only be a 1 time deal of hunters pulled up by 2 years. For you PETA pansies, animals were put on earth for our consumption and use. Any of you question the skills of a hunter, have never hunted. It takes a lot of skill to be successful. It also (as somebody else mentioned) requires respect of firearms, and of mother nature in order to be successful. You will always have some moron out there as in any activity.
Nov 21, 2009 at 5:47 a.m.
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Though I respect the responsible parents who share respect of nature,meaning of the hunt,bonding with their children,I still question the wisdom of 10 year olds handling a losded weapon.In my opinion,an accident waiting to happen.Trust this does not occur,and you fill your tags.
Nov 21, 2009 at 4:02 a.m.
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Judging by many of the posts I read on "Gazette Extra" stories I am of the opinion that my 10 y.o. may be more mature than some of the adults in this town.
I also see nothing wrong with starting a child shooting as early as possible IF THEY HAVE AN INTEREST.
Nov 21, 2009 at 1:44 a.m.
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winterstinks,
Really? No one under 18? Seems a little overprotective if you ask me. There are plenty of people under 18 that can make responsible choices and respect firearms. And you claim you lived in Texas. No Texan I have ever met would say something like that. They would say start'um younger than 10. ;-) As far as accidents go, remember Cheney? I think he was a little older than 18 when he shot his buddy.
Nov 20, 2009 at 10:32 p.m.
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Wow, what a bunch of whiners. The 10-11 year olds have to be within arms reach of an adult mentor, its not like they're out there on their own. Hunting teaches a whole heck of a lot more patience, persistence, and self-control than what most 10 year olds are doing (playing video games and watching TV). This is fantastic!
Nov 20, 2009 at 10:21 p.m.
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Unbelievable! Who made this law?! I'm sorry but a kid under 18 yrs of age should not be handling a GUN. I just hope and pray there are no accident where the people say, "well he thought.........."
Nov 20, 2009 at 10:16 p.m.
Nov 20, 2009 at 10:12 p.m.
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when did hunting become a skill, or a sport, the deer CANT SHOOT BACK.
Nov 20, 2009 at 9:18 p.m.
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What's this about being nice to my sister?
When did THAT start?
And WHY, for heavens sake????
Nov 20, 2009 at 6:44 p.m.
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It sounds like Sam and Dalton did pretty good to me. Hunting is a life skill most people have regrettably lost, including me. It should be taught early in life, just like walking and talking, and being nice to your sister.
Nov 20, 2009 at 6:27 p.m.
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The statement about the blood bubbling is just sick. What next? Take a gun to school and see if one of his classmates' blood bubbles? I don't know about anyone else but hunting should be like drinking, 18 or 21. Just sad, I guess. Promoting this in kids.
Nov 20, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.
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If they are with a parent within arms reach, I see no problem with it. I'd be more worried about walking up to a 30 year-old in a tree stand who's pissed-off that you did, who then points his 30-06 at you and tells you to leave - which incidentally, has happened to me.
Nov 20, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.
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You people think what you want,but 10 is "NOT" mature enough to have a gun in their hands! I quit hunting,their is no way i'm going to be in the woods with children with guns,it was bad enough being out their with the drunks!
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