After spending three days in Ohio hunting with my two boys, I have come to the conclusion that Ohio truly wants to promote hunting. This state is one of the many who doesn’t constrict today’s youth with an age limit on hunting. They leave this decision up to the parents to decide when their kids are mature enough to hunt.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog you will remember that back in April of this year, I took my youngest boy Jake to Ohio for his first hunting experience ever by chasing the elusive Eastern Wild Turkey at age 9. I have had the fortune of spending the last three days taking Jake back to Ohio, this time to my father-in-laws farm to let him experience his first deer hunt. I’ve spent time with him doing many other things, but this was special. He has been asking me for the last two years when he could join big brother and me for a hunt. The problem is that in Michigan where we live, you can’t hunt until your 10 years old and this has just changed within the last couple of years. It used to be 12 years of age before you were allowed to hunt.
Well I have watched his maturity progress nicely for the last couple of years. He has spent several hours at the shooting range with his brother and I along with numerous hours talking about and exploring the woods. I decided that if he could pass the Michigan hunter’s safety program I would take him on his first hunt in Ohio for turkey season. He passed with flying colors and showed great maturity and safety on the class’ shooting range. After his first turkey hunt in April, I was amazed at the woodsmanship he exhibited. I knew he was ready for his first deer hunt.
We had to wait until Ohio’s deer hunting season to open before we could let him hit the woods again. So we planned the trip a couple of months in advance. Anticipation built in him until the day came to head south! We hit the fields and spent many hours sharing our thoughts and my hunting experiences together. It wasn’t about if we took a deer or not, it was about the time we spent in that deer blind together sharing with one another. That is what people who do not hunt don’t understand. I’ve heard many people tell me, how can you let your young child go off to the woods toting a gun! I tell them first of all I’m with him. He also has had the proper training and probably handles a gun better than most adults, better yet he understands what they are and what they can do. That’s how I can let him tote a gun in the woods.
Not only does Ohio let their youth hunt, they make it reasonable for them to hunt. The boys licenses cost them $12 each. These license allow them to hunt throughout the state and take any deer that comes in front of them. The license is good for bucks or does, unlike Michigan where we hunt. Michigan requires you to purchase a buck only licnese and then apply for a doe permit, if your lucky enough to obtain one in the lottery you then have to purchase a doe license. The state of Ohio has got it right, purchase a license that allows you to take either sex, that is how you maintain hunters and attract new hunters. But better yet, they allow the parents to choose when their kids are mature enough to hunt.
Thank you Ohio for allowing me to be able to take my boy hunting for the first time! We will be back again!
