A new law enacted last week gives Wisconsin 10- and 11-year-olds and others that have not first taken the hunter's safety course an opportunity to learn to hunt under the guide of a mentor. Supporters of the proposal hope the new opportunity will foster and develop a lifelong love of the outdoors and hunting. In addition, the mentoring program could give those who otherwise would not hunt the opportunity to go out with an experienced hunter.
Bringing the conservation ethics and the hunting heritage to future generations are the goals of the mentoring program, and guidelines set up through the bill and from the Department of Natural Resources will help ensure safety in the program for hunters, mentors and the community.
To be a mentor, an individual must be at least 18 years old, a graduate of a hunter education course or have completed basic training in the military, must be the hunter's parent or guardian or have permission from the parent to mentor the hunter, must have a hunting license and follow the rules of that license, and only serve as mentor to one hunter at a time. Rules that apply to the hunter working with the mentor are that they must be at least 10 years old, must have appropriate hunting license tags and permits, may only hunt when within "arm's reach" of the mentor regardless of hunters age, must follow hunting laws and seasons, and 10- and 11-year-olds must follow all of these rules even if they have completed the hunters education course.
Rules that apply to both the hunter and the mentor are that the hunter must be within "arm's reach" of the mentor regardless of age, only ONE firearm or crossbow (if permitted) can be possessed jointly between the mentor and hunter.
Wisconsin's new Mentored Hunting Program with controlled conditions of "one gun" and "arm's reach" mentoring was designed first and foremost with safety in mind. It is hoped this program will give children the opportunity to learn with their parent to hunt. In addition, the program will allow those who have not yet completed the safety program to have the experience of hunting that could develop into love to Wisconsin's natural areas and the important role in conservation that hunting plays.
Wisconsin's natural areas are one of our strongest assets as a state. Protecting those areas and developing a love for wildlife protection and preservation is important for all of us. For additional information on the new mentored hunting program please contact my office at 888-549-0027 or 608-266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
Bringing the conservation ethics and the hunting heritage to future generations are the goals of the mentoring program, and guidelines set up through the bill and from the Department of Natural Resources will help ensure safety in the program for hunters, mentors and the community.
To be a mentor, an individual must be at least 18 years old, a graduate of a hunter education course or have completed basic training in the military, must be the hunter's parent or guardian or have permission from the parent to mentor the hunter, must have a hunting license and follow the rules of that license, and only serve as mentor to one hunter at a time. Rules that apply to the hunter working with the mentor are that they must be at least 10 years old, must have appropriate hunting license tags and permits, may only hunt when within "arm's reach" of the mentor regardless of hunters age, must follow hunting laws and seasons, and 10- and 11-year-olds must follow all of these rules even if they have completed the hunters education course.
Rules that apply to both the hunter and the mentor are that the hunter must be within "arm's reach" of the mentor regardless of age, only ONE firearm or crossbow (if permitted) can be possessed jointly between the mentor and hunter.
Wisconsin's new Mentored Hunting Program with controlled conditions of "one gun" and "arm's reach" mentoring was designed first and foremost with safety in mind. It is hoped this program will give children the opportunity to learn with their parent to hunt. In addition, the program will allow those who have not yet completed the safety program to have the experience of hunting that could develop into love to Wisconsin's natural areas and the important role in conservation that hunting plays.
Wisconsin's natural areas are one of our strongest assets as a state. Protecting those areas and developing a love for wildlife protection and preservation is important for all of us. For additional information on the new mentored hunting program please contact my office at 888-549-0027 or 608-266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th Senate District.
