Proposed legislation will criminalize a 13 yr old hunting alone

[Wader]

HB 1199 will be considered this legislative session. If you care to read it,  CLICK HERE.

To summarize its contents, in the first section it creates a $20 tax on Hunter Education courses.

The second section makes it a misdemeanor for a hunter under the age of 14 to hunt unless accompanied by a licensed hunter, age 18 or older. There are exceptions if the young hunter is an immediate family member of the land owner or land leased by his family. (Read the bill for yourself to see the exceptions).

But, under this bill's current requirements, if you want to take your 13 year old son/nephew hunting, you have to be in sight of each other all the time. You CANNOT allow him to walk a road or trail alone while you walk another road/trail, even if your roads/paths eventually intersect and you only plan to be apart for 10 minutes. It would be illegal. Your son/nephew would be guilty of a misdemeanor and would face up to 30 days in the juvenile justice system (90 days if the judge decided to go above the standard sentencing provisions).

If you have any questions, just post them and I will do my best to answer them.

[bigtex]

Already a lengthy thread on this:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,115996.0.html

[lokidog]

My biggest problem with this is that it has to be a licensed hunter.  That's BS as someone's mom or dad that did not pay their "accompany a hunter" tax wouldn't be able to do it.   Most states that have a minimum age to hunt, I think also have a minimum age to hunt alone.  WI, the one I know the best is 12 to hunt and 14 to hunt alone.

I mentioned the licensed hunter concern in the other thread but it was ignored by BigTex there.

[JLS]

I agree with Loki, if I don't hunt but my 12 year old kid wants to, I shouldn't have to buy a license for myself to accompany him.

Just guessing, I am assuming the rationale for it is to have the parent be Hunter Safety certified also, which they would have to do in order to buy a license.  Otherwise, it's all about the money.

[bigtex]

Lets have this discussion on the other thread guys.

[Wader]

I originally posted this in the forum entitled  "Hunters Rights - LEGISLATION - Activism - 2nd Amendment" because this involves new LEGISLATION.  Now it's moved here and one guy's only contribution is to try to get people to only talk about it in the thread HE started.  Makes sense... 

Gentlemen, focus your efforts on stopping legislation like this, more than how to organize a message board.  Take time off of work and go testify at the House of Representatives if/when this bill gets a hearing.  Write your representative.  Tell your friends to do the same. 

Remember this bill would make it a criminal offense for a 13 year old to hunt out of sight of his dad, even if only for a minute.

Feel free to contact me with questions.  I am happy to speak with you!

[bearpaw]

I agree with you, this should not be a criminal offense. I would be a hardened criminal because I hunted often as a kid alone in the woods behnd my home (with my parents permission).

This legislation will have a negative affect on youth hunter recruitment.

[grundy53]

I agree. This legislation is ridiculous. I too would've been a hardened criminal.

[bigtex]

I originally posted this in the forum entitled  "Hunters Rights - LEGISLATION - Activism - 2nd Amendment" because this involves new LEGISLATION.  Now it's moved here and one guy's only contribution is to try to get people to only talk about it in the thread HE started.  Makes sense... 

Gentlemen, focus your efforts on stopping legislation like this, more than how to organize a message board.  Take time off of work and go testify at the House of Representatives if/when this bill gets a hearing.  Write your representative.  Tell your friends to do the same. 

Remember this bill would make it a criminal offense for a 13 year old to hunt out of sight of his dad, even if only for a minute.

Feel free to contact me with questions.  I am happy to speak with you!

Well let's see #1 I have been the one contributing most to provide WDFW related legislation on this site
#2 typically moderators only want 1 thread on a subject, which there already is on this subject and lengthy at it.

Also, this legislation as long as it's companion legislation in the Senate is sponsored by the WDFW. This legislation wasn't simply thought up by a couple reps, it was requested it be made into law by WDFW.

[grundy53]

So just because the WDFW wants it doesn't mean it's right.

[bigtex]

So just because the WDFW wants it doesn't mean it's right.

And I am not disagreeing with that.

However, just saying that typically agency sponsored legislation has a lot more backing/support/pull then non-agency sponsored legislation.

[JimmyHoffa]

I would almost be inclined to think that a 13 year old that completed Hunter's Ed would be less of a safety hazard hunting with a 14 or 15 year old hunting buddy that completed Hunter's Ed than would be hunting with a 50 year old family member that never took/isn't required to take Hunter's Ed.

[baldopepper]

So, I'm curious (hypothetically) I'm a 13 year old gang banger in Tacoma and I'm stopped by a policeman and found to have a gun, can I tell him I'm going hunting and there's nothing he can do about it?  (Not trying to cause trouble here, just honestly curious)

[Wader]

So, I'm curious (hypothetically) I'm a 13 year old gang banger in Tacoma and I'm stopped by a policeman and found to have a gun, can I tell him I'm going hunting and there's nothing he can do about it?  (Not trying to cause trouble here, just honestly curious)

In order to lawfully possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040(3)(iii) you have to fit one of the exceptions in 9.41.042, one of which is  "(4) Hunting or trapping under a valid license issued to the person under Title 77 RCW."  You'd have to convince the cop (and the jury) that you were hunting in downtown Tacoma (with your Glock 9mm).  So, it's safe to say that this bill will have no effect on people unlawfully carrying firearms in urban areas.

[Curly]

If I remember correctly, WA State law used to be that you had to be 14 or older to hunt alone.  I remember it being that way when I was a kid.  Am I remembering wrong?  When did the law change, or did it?