WDFW Response to Sauk Mt. Accident...

[M_ray]

Iceman you were doing so well! 

That's Funny right there! 

[M_ray]

I am with passion on this one and that has been one of my arguments with the anti's since the rule change of baiting and running hounds. When we could bait we could let young bears and moma's walk! now we have to shoot them from longer distances and get up to them to see what they are, the first year after the ban I was out bear hunting and watched a fatty for a long while waiting for a good shot then all of the sudden I see a little head pop up from the berry bushes then a second jumps on top of a stump and the two start playing, with one pull of the trigger I almost killed three bears! I packed up and left but it was close.

I have read all of the post's and some of the times sound off and the only change I think there would be to make if any would be a mentor present with young hunters up until a certain age. The stories some have told about how they were introduced to hunting at a young age allways involved a parent or family mamber close and rules applied to their hunts! I had the same at 13 with my Grandfather and then he passed on and I didn't hunt until I was 30. I am not for a lot of changes and more law but I can only wonder if an adult would have been present if this still would have happend?

[MountainWalk]

I really don"t know how to feel about the age change/limit. Myself, I didnt have a father growing up, my Grandfather didnt hunt big game and all sorts of obstacles were in my way. I just got tired of hearing my friends stories and not being able to pipe in. I was finally able to get a rifle and hunted some of my folks' land. By myself. I had passed hunters ed and felt I was pretty safe. Nothing bad ever happened. But I was raised around guns, even if I didnt hunt.
    Im due to have a baby show up at the end of August. When he gets old enough, I dont know if I could handle him hunting by his lonesome.
It's strange, this age limit. In some cultures, 14 is a man, and it used to be that way in America.

[Skyvalhunter]

where you going to get your Baby at? Boy that is going to hurt something fierce!!

[MountainWalk]

I ordered him from Sears.

[sisu]

I ordered him from Sears.

I remember when you could get poultry, feed, etc from Sears and Roebuck.

Glad to hear you are having a wee one. Tell us when the great event happens.

[MountainWalk]

Yeah, and Ive also got a whole passel of Sears Roebuck 22 rifles, and a few Montegomery Wards 22's.

[andrew_12gauge]

i started hunting at 9 years old and my dad or granddad were always there beside me for the first coupla years, but by the time i was 12 i was takin dads truck and my gun whenever i wanted and going out duck hunting, granted i was a farm kid who learned to drive and shoot at a very young age and we lived out in the middle of nowhere, but i knew the rules of gun safety then and i always followed them, i guess this really doesnt mean anything but some kids mature at a faster rate then others i guess, ive seen people who are 19 or 20 and still cant drive worth a lick, but are legally allowed to, more age restrictions are only going to drive more people away from hunting i think.

[Aperson]

if they make any restrictions on age, what would it be?

And, if make so it's any harder for my to go modern firearm hunting.i'll, just real oldschool.
And go hunting with a spear and knife.

[bobcat]

 
     
 
 

August 8, 2008

Kohl-Welles plans legislation in response to hunting accident

OLYMPIA – Following the tragic shooting of a grandmother hiking in the North Cascades by a 14-year old hunter, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, is looking into potential fixes to state law that could prevent similar tragedies.

“When teens had higher accident and fatality rates than other drivers, the Legislature created the Graduated Driver’s Licenses requirement so teens could become safer and better drivers. I’m working with Senate staff attorneys to determine the merits of creating a similar program for hunting,” said Kohl-Welles. “We’re also checking on requirements in other states.”

On August 2, a woman was fatally shot while hiking after a 14-year-old hunter mistook her for a bear and fired his weapon at her while on federal forestland near Sauk Mountain near Rockport, WA. Washington law currently has no age restrictions on minors hunting unaccompanied by an adult if they have completed a hunting safety course and carry a valid hunting license. However, the law allows persons 14 years old or over to go target shooting with a rifle and without supervision, so long as the minor has a hunter safety certificate and is not trespassing and shooting is allowed where the minor is target shooting.

"This discrepancy doesn’t make sense. It’s just not reasonable to allow a child younger than 14 to hunt while requiring an age restriction of 14 and above to target shoot.  In addition, I believe the state can do more to prevent another tragedy by requiring posting of notices at trailheads during hunting seasons so hikers and others using public recreational areas can be aware of the potential risk in the area,” said Kohl-Welles. “Certainly there are responsible teen hunters, but we need to examine this issue thoroughly to ensure public safety as well as their own.”

For additional information, see the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife’s website that outlines the steps that are being considered to address the issue of hunting in “mixed use areas.”

http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=aug0608b



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[Ray]

There you go.... Some guy says you can't hunt under the age of 14. Now he plans on legislating it. I can't agree with it but it's no surprise. How about if a kid was accompanied by an adult?

The part about posting signs. That is a lot of signs considering the number of National Forest Trailheads in the state. I'm only not in favor of it because I don't believe it will help much. If someone showed up at the trailhead I doubt most would go home to get some orange ... or even consider changing plans. The fact is that this was an isolated incident and that I don't believe this tragic issue is widespread enough of a problem to be cause for much concern at that level.

[tlbradford]

However, the law allows persons 14 years old or over to go target shooting with a rifle and without supervision, so long as the minor has a hunter safety certificate and is not trespassing and shooting is allowed where the minor is target shooting.

I must be living in a cave, because I never knew about this law.

I am opposed to an age restriction and the posting of signs.  I think the system works and any legislation to further infringe on what we are allowed to do would only lead to more and more legislation in the future.  The government treat us like we are stupid and can't walk down the street without a list of rules and laws to save us from ourselves.  It is such a far cry from the vision our founding fathers had for this country and its form of government.

[cohoho]

I have thoughts on this, first my kid has been quite successful at a young age, 10 for his first big game, then again for the following years till his current age of fifteen.  He has always hunted with me or my friend up north.  I would never release him alone at even his current age and state meet you back at the car enjoy your bear hunt.  This year, he'll probably hunt solo, although near where I'll be, but probably not together on every move. But the big thing here is, that he has been properly introduced to the outdoors and hunting.  But how do you present that to a bunch of folks that yea maybe some of us bring them into it right where as others may not, so what is the standard.  Hunter's Education is supposed to qualify a kid, but that should be just for the privilege of going not giving them full blown out permission to do it solo..  There are too many variables for someone younger to be accountable for.  I think 14 or even 15/16 is a good age, if it becomes a law then so be it but a kid should always be able to go under the direct supervision of an adult and experience hunting.  But solo, don't have an issue with setting a minimum age...  The youth of today is quite different than we were as kids without a doubt things have changed so should rules and regs to regulate same...

[kbyers]

I have a couple of thoughts on this.  I do not believe that there should be an age limit to take hunter's ed. With that being said common sense should come into play here, if the firearm is going to knock the kid on their butt, they probably should not be shooting it.  Every agrees that children need to be supervised when around firearms, so why not a required class for the adults like hunter's ed is for the youth hunters?  One last thought. It is sad to look around the country and see that the freedoms that the framers of our country looked to secure are being trampled on by the elected officials.  Our constitution was meant to protect the people from the government, not limit the rights of individuals, or set social standards.

[huntnphool]

Looks like the verdict is in, "GUILTY" of second degree manslaughter.