Revise the youth hunting age

[Peter Emberley]

I grew up in an outdoor-oriented family accompanying Dad on hunting trips, where I learned ethics, values and responsibilities that are part of what moulded me into the person I am.

We are today’s adults formed from yesterday’s youth, but today’s youth are different than we were. They are smarter, more adaptable, more willing to learn and, most importantly, they want to participate with hands-on experience.

If the current hunting age regulations are not changed, we will experience a further reduction of youth hunters. Presently, the minimum age for small game hunting is 16 years old and for big game it is 18.

We, the Newfoundland Federation of Hunters and Anglers (NFHA), other conservation groups, NL Outfitters Association, rod and gun clubs, outdoor businesses, outdoor parents and, in particular, our outdoor youth, want the age limit to be revised to 12 and 14 years old, respectively. This would bring Newfoundland and Labrador on par with the rest of Canada.

New Brunswick recently revised the age limit from 14 to 12 years old, while in British Columbia, it’s 10 years old.

We are not looking to “give a kid a gun” and let them head out alone. We are not saying that as soon as a youth turns 12 years old, they have to begin hunting. As it is in other provinces, a youth would require written permission from Mom/Dad. They will then have to complete and pass the mandatory Firearm Safety/Hunter Education course.

Once in possession of the appropriate licence(s) and in order to go hunting, the youth must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (mentor) who is qualified and also has the necessary licenses. The mentor must provide direct and immediate supervision of the youth and must be within eyesight at all times. While hunting, the mentor and the youth share a single firearm.

The mentor would carry the unloaded firearm until the game is located. Only upon making positive identification and ensuring that the shot will be a safe one, would the mentor pass the firearm to the youth, who would accept and safely load it as it was taught through the Firearms Safety course.

After the shot(s), the youth would ensure that the firearm is completely unloaded before passing it safely back to the mentor. This is a common procedural guideline in other provinces.

By starting our kids off early, we are ensuring that they are learning skills and safety. When they turn 18 they can legally possess a firearm and go off hunting by themselves. They will have become more safer, knowledgeable and responsible. Isn’t that what we would all like to see, a safer outdoor environment?

As responsible and ethical hunting parents, we want to have the same privilege/opportunity to share our outdoor hunting heritage as a family as can the rest of Canada. I want my kids to have similar memories as I have of my dad, which I am passing on to my kids and they on to theirs. But there’s something more now that I realize at my age — I want to experience how he must have felt as a parent by taking me with him.

From what I am hearing, a decision may be forthcoming by the fall, which is too late. Our uphill battle on this subject has been ongoing for approximately 20 years or more by various groups and individuals. A decision needs to be made as soon as possible so that we can plan for the coming hunting season.

The Department of Environment and Conservation sponsors a youth Exchange trip for youth between 12 and 17 years of age who complete and pass the Firearm Safety/Hunter Education course in the Atlantic provinces. The N.L. winner can go hunting in a Maritime province with a parent/guardian, but the winner from the Maritimes, although they can legally hunt at home, are prohibited from hunting here and can only fish.

Minister Dan Crummell and Premier Paul Davis, you have a timely and unique opportunity to make the right decision which would have one of the most positive impacts on a young outdoor person’s life. Are our youth any different than the youth in the rest of Canada? To deny them this privilege is not a legacy for today’s youth — who will be tomorrow’s voting adults — to remember you by.

This is an election year and it is easier to accomplish the sometimes unaccomplishable. Ask your MHA what their decision will be.

An “I’m not sure” or “we’ll see” approach should not be an acceptable answer. My vote will go to the politician, from whichever party, says yes and I perceive that they mean it.

Barry Fordham

Newfoundland Federation of Hunters and Anglers

St. John’s