kids can't shoot in wisconsin

[wipartimer]

  I was alittle confused about the wording in the regs about no person under 12 being able to poses a firearm; so I stopped in at the law enforcement floor of the dnr building in Madison. I wanted to make sure it was Ok for me to take my 8 year old daughter plinkin with her .22 and maybe see if it was legal to take her hunting on a pheasant preserve next year or so. I was shocked to learn that it is against the law for her to even target shoot her .22 , even with my supervision, until she is 12.  The warden I spoke to said the DNR would fully support a change in the law to allow parents to be able to decide when their children were resposible enough to learn to handle a firearm.  He agreed it would make much more sense if a youngster was comptent in handling a gun before they were 12 and could actualy hunt.  He suggested I contact my legislater about changing the law. But until then, Its Illegal to take your kids shooting! 

[379 Peterbilt]

Well said. That law irks me too. The state takes it out of the parents hands. The only exception for a child under 12 to be handling a gun would be in a hunters safety course.

Personaly, I have always hated the one size fits all laws that play down to the lowest human denoinator, ie: idiots. Must be why I have such a strong dislike for elected officials who seek to regulate and kontrol the people beyond belief, and without any alottment for common sense.

I find it sadening to see it come down to a father essentialy having to 'ask/inquire' the state, if HE can let HIS daughter shoot a .22. That is no slam on you part timer, you did right to inquire. However it IS a slam on the state and their kontrol of the peasants.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no law against a hunter bring a kid under 12 along on the hunt, the kid just can't carry obviously. So take her pheasant hunting. I do like hearing what that warden had to say, btw! Good on him.

How about a decent BB or pellet gun in the meantime?

I'm certain some will disagree with me on leaving it up to the parents to decide if their kids under 12 can shoot and/or hunt. But I'm cool with that....

[gutshot_again]

The warden in my neck of the woods said that *most* wardens will not enforce that law.  But, it's still a law.  I wonder how long it's been on the books?

And on another note,  I thought WI was considering lowing the hunting age if the kid was within arm's length of an adult (or parent, can't remember).  How would that have worked, I wonder?

[379 Peterbilt]

Yeah that was tried, but failed.

As an aside, I just heard about a father who went to purchace his son who, is 3 days from turning 12, an archery licence and was denied the purchace. The kid turns 12 Saturday, and wanted to obtain the licecence 3 days early, so to comply with the 3 day wait untill one can hunt. The father was told by DNR officials that the kid must be 12 at the time of purchase....which means he wont be able to hunt on his birthday (saturday)

Convicted felons in Wisconsin can LEGALY purchase a deer licence (can not carry a rifle however)..but a kid just days from turning 12 can't.

Wisconsin...........

[wipartimer]

Yep she pheasant and deer hunts with me and my Dad when she wants too. Her eyes really lit up when I told her she could come along to Texas as soon as she could properly handle the .7mm-08 (we go hog hunting there every year).  IF it were legal, I'm sure she would have been target shooting her .22 cricket the last couple years, But of course its not so she hasn't.  but we do keep the BB gun fairly handy in case we get attacked by blackbirds or pigeons . still wish I knew something about politiks  to get that law fixed.

[myronman3]

all 3 of mine shoot.   come and get me....

[379 Peterbilt]

 

[TribReady]

I've never heard of this law, and yes, it's a little assinine.
However, I bet you'd be hard-pressed to find a local warden to actually charge you.....assuming no other laws or violations and safety is ok, etc

[1sourdough]

  A guy(or gal) just has to use a little common sense on this. Yes the law is there to get you if you screw something up. When I shoot with a youngster we only have one gun & they are always within 1/2 an arms length & never handle a loaded gun if I am away(there is no loaded gun). I'll take a 10-12 yr old properly trained over an 18 yr old with no experience any day. Of course you keep a close eye on everything & don't worry about yourself doing much shooting or bagging game.

[ihookem]

 I just got my 10 yr old a 410. I let him shoot red squirrels. I thought if it was on my own land shooting unprotected varmints it was legal. I guess I was in violation. I obey every law to the last minute of shooting time. But you know guys,  I think this one crosses the line on parental rights. I am not going to obey this law. If I get caught I will take it to court and most likely will win. If I get a fine I most certainly will tell the warden I will not buy a wisconsin hunting license until the unbought licenses  exceeds the amount of the fine. I am almost  to this point anyway with the Wis. DNR. There are schools that gladly give out condoms to 10 yr old kids and in Minnesota an eight year old can hunt. The dnr enforces game laws, I think shooting unprotected animals and tin cans does not come under their authority.

[jcn59]

A couple years ago at the Sawyer county spring hearing the hunting age came up for discussion & "advisory" vote.  The majority of attendees voted against lowering the age, even with the "at arms length" provision.  They decided it would be better for the state to dictate at what age their children could hunt.  These fools are our peers and colleagues in the field.   God help us!

More and more, I'm concluding that it is more honorable to do the "right thing" than try to obey the letter of the law, considering that even a court room full of attorneys can't decide what that actually is unless a judge is directing them.