Dispatch: A New Generation of Hunters

The Columbus Dispatch recently published an excellent article on the success of Ohio's new Apprentice Hunting license program.

From the story:

Daulton Nebraska rushed home from school yesterday, pulled on his camouflage and ducked into the woods, where he and his father quietly awaited their target.

The 12-year-old Delaware County boy had one goal in mind as he perched in a tree stand: bagging a buck of his own.

Daulton was calm and determined as he prepared for the afternoon hunt, slinging the 20-gauge shotgun over his shoulder. He had helped his father scout deer trails here before, but never carried a gun.

His new apprentice hunting license changes that, allowing him to hunt with his father — a licensed adult — without completing the state-mandated hunter education course.

The new licensing category, signed into state law in February, counts on experienced hunters to teach novices by example.

"It’s just perfect for me and my son," said Dave Nebraska, 38, of Galena. "Since he’s been, like, 3, he’s asked, ‘Dad, can I go? Dad, can I go?’ "

The Dispatch story says the father and son are among the estimated 400,000 hunters statewide who this week will pursue white-tailed deer.

Of the 8,615 apprentice hunting licenses sold as of last weekend, state officials told the Dispatch that 7,263 were sold to youths and 1,352 to adults.

Again, from the story:

The new license was developed as part of a national program called Families Afield, which advocates passing along hunting to youngsters.

"The way I learned to hunt was my dad took me," said Ken Fitz, Ohio Division of Wildlife district law-enforcement supervisor. "It goes back to that old tradition. Some mentor, usually within the family, takes you out hunting the first time to try it out."

Because the law is designed to introduce newcomers to the sport, the story notes that no one may purchase more than three apprentice hunting licenses in a lifetime. Obviously, state wildlife officials hope most apprentices will go on to take the safety course required to obtain a regular license.

Finally, from the story:

"Our hunter education courses are taught by very well-trained and very well-experienced volunteers, but they’re not in the field with you, seeing the mistakes you make," Fitz said. "I think that’s a good thing about this program."

Another benefit: teaching young hunters real-life safety lessons, said Gerard Valentino, central Ohio coordinator of the Buckeye Firearms Association.

"There are a lot of inexperienced young hunters out there that don’t understand how far that bullet can fly," Valentino said. "It’s like anything else. You can teach it in a book, but until you physically do it, you don’t really know what you’re doing."

A full week of deer-gun season closed Sunday. An additional weekend of deer-gun hunting will take place Dec. 16-17.

Further hunting news:
The Toledo Blade published an interesting column detailing a first-time hunter's first big day in the field.

The Warren Tribune-Chronicle published a touching article detailing a handcapped man's 2006 hunt.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that this year's first-day deer harvest up was up 2 percent.

The Mount Vernon News wrote about how processing companies stay busy during deer-gun season.