Additional Support for 'Families Afield' Concept

NEWTOWN, Conn.-As hunters prepare for autumn's first treks to America's woods, fields and wetlands, momentum is building behind a national effort to ensure mothers and fathers are free to share the sport with their young sons and daughters.

In 33 states, it's illegal for youngsters to try deer hunting-even with a parent or other adult mentor-until they have reached age 12 or later, and/or attained certification in hunter education coursework. A recent report shows these age restrictions and classroom mandates are inhibiting youth involvement and threatening the future of hunting traditions.

Through an initiative called Families Afield, three organizations-National Wild Turkey Federation, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, and National Shooting Sports Foundation-earlier this year began calling for states to remove unnecessary legal barriers into hunting participation.

Now, two more organizations are voicing support for the Families Afield concept:

International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) IHEA is a professional association for state and provincial conservation agencies and the thousands of volunteer safety instructors who have been training hunters since 1949. In a two-page, open letter, IHEA executive vice president Eric Nuse included these lines:

"The reasoning behind setting a minimum age to hunt in the past was safety. Carrying a loaded firearm and potentially taking the life of a wild animal is a big responsibilityÅ So who should decide when a youngster is ready to hunt? I vote for the people that know the youth the best-their parentsÅ The data are clear-accompanied young hunters are safe. The facts do not support having laws restricting the initiation age of hunters for safety reasons.

"The Families Afield program suggests suspending the hunter education requirement and licensing until the youth have tried hunting under very controlled conditions. In states that currently allow this, there is a positive correlation with recruitment [of new hunters]."

Responsive Management Responsive Management is an internationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. In reviewing Families Afield research and analysis, which were produced by other firms (Silvertip Productions and Southwick Associates), Responsive Management executive director Mark Damian Duda wrote:

"The major reasons for hunting decline in the United States are urbanization, lack of access and lack of young hunter recruitment. While it is difficult to address the overarching issue of urbanization, lack of access and young hunter recruitment are issues that can be addressed. The National Shooting Sports Foundation's most recent study, Families Afield, done in conjunction with the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and the National Wild Turkey Federation, methodically and statistically identifies overly restrictive state laws as an unnecessary barrier to young hunter recruitment. Since hunting accident reports show no difference in safety in states with restrictive youth hunting laws, it is clear these laws serve no safety purpose, and are in fact, harming America's hunting heritage."

The National Wild Turkey Federation, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and National Shooting Sports Foundation have launched a series of outreach and education programs for sportsmen, lawmakers and policy leaders. Grassroots efforts to open doors for youth hunters are underway in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Families Afield efforts will expand to additional states in future years.