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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Do you take your kids hunting?
Is it a popular family activity among Atlanta families? What about outside the city? What animals do you usually hunt? How young did you start with your kids?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I am wondering if families around Atlanta are still taking their kids to hunt or if that’s more of a North Georgia, South Georgia thing now?
When I grew up in Gwinnett County thirty-some odd years ago, hunting and fishing were definitely popular activities even for the suburbanites. Our family did some fishing in lakes around here and crabbing in South Georgia, but never any hunting.
When we lived in rural Pennsylvania for two years, I was really exposed to the hunting culture. It was definitely the thing to do with your family, and kids learned to shoot a very young age. Hunting was so popular for families that the kids were actually given a school holiday on the first day of deer season. I believe this was because the Pennsylvania deer season is pretty short.
I called the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to find out how many kids were hunting in Georgia. Jennifer N. Barnes, their senior PR specialist, said they didn’t have hard stats on the number of kids hunting, but she did send over the hunting regulations for Georgia kids, info on the different season and info on hunter education. Here’s what she sent:
“Here are the regulations: -Youth under the age of 16 are not required to complete a hunter education course, but they also are not allowed to hunt unless they are under direct adult (18+) supervision (meaning within sight or hearing of a licensed adult). The exception: hunters between 12 and 15 are legally allowed to hunt unsupervised after successfully completing a hunter education course. Hunter education link.
-As far as licenses go, all resident hunters 16 or older must possess a hunting license unless they are hunting on land owned by them or their immediate family.
Deer season/other game species: -Georgia has around 1 million deer. The start of firearms season was Sat., Oct. 18, and it is definitely a tradition and often a family-centered activity here. Other hunting that gets youth involved is squirrel hunting, dove hunting and often times turkey hunting.
-Squirrel season starts in Aug. (Aug. 15 - Feb. 28 for this season) and is a more active hunting experience. Squirrels are the second most pursued small game species in Georgia, behind doves. (Georgia has two species of squirrels — gray and fox.)
-Dove season, especially opening day, also is a family affair for many in Georgia. The day usually gets kicked off with a cookout and the hunting begins at noon on opening day (season begins in September. This year it began Sept. 6). The division also holds various opening day dove hunting events throughout the state, including one here in Walton Co.
-Wildlife Management Areas are located throughout the state and provide residents with a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, fishing and hunting. These are conservation lands that are owned or partially owned/managed by the state. The closest to metro Atlanta are: Allen Creek WMA in Hall Co.; Dawson Forest WMA in Dawson Co.; McGrawFord WMA in Cherokee Co.; Walton Public Dove Field in Walton Co.
-Outdoor Adventure Days, which just occurred in September. These events often draw in metro area children and parents, and involves air rifle shooting practice, fishing practice, wildlife shows, etc.
Division Programs -One program that has been around in Georgia since 2003 is the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). See this link for more info. The program is more of a physical education class & doesn’t necessarily teach hunting safety, but if children are interested the opportunity to learn about hunting is there.
New program: Hunter Education Skills Challenge. The program encourages continued hunter education through activities and competitions. All youth who participate must have successfully complete a hunter ed course.”
So are you taking your children hunting? How young do you start? How do you educate them about the weapons and safety? What is your favorite game to hunt? What’s the easiest game to start on with kids? Are the kids ever sad about killing the animals or if it’s something you’ve grown up with it’s not sad? Have you ever given a lifetime hunting license as a baby present?
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