Legislation in South Dakota makes it possible for kids 10 years old and older to hunt as part of a mentored hunting program.
“Having youngsters in the field is nothing new in South Dakota,” said Tony Leif, director of the Wildlife Division of the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “Many South Dakotans learned about hunting and the outdoors well before they were old enough to hunt.”
The legislation will take effect July 1, allowing kids 10 to 15 years old to hunt in the company of a mentor.
“At Game, Fish and Parks we accept the challenge of implementing this new law,” Leif said. “We also recognize that there’s more going on here than just lowering the age limit for hunting.”
Leif said the law makes it possible for kids to hunt with supervision before they take their hunter safety class, it is the parents who really know when their kids are ready for the responsiblity.
“The regulations will adhere to the letter and intent of the law,” Leif said. “The spirit of the law, however, rests on the responsibility of parents to make an informed decision about whether or not their youngster is ready to safely handle and operate firearms in the field. Just because the law allows them to hunt doesn’t necessarily mean that they should. In some cases it may be best to have the child just walk along with the parent during a regular hunt and start the mentoring process in that fashion.”
- There are many rules pertaining to the mentored hunts, a few of which are.
- Must maintain "immediate physical control" over the youth.
- The mentor accompanying the youth may not carry a firearm.
- A mentor can only accompany one youth at a time.
- A hunting party with a mentored youth in the group is limited to six people.
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