The same week that the Personal Protection Act passed the Assembly by a veto-proof margin, another critical, NRA-backed bill was overwhelmingly approved. Assembly Bill 586, legislation that lowers the minimum supervised hunting age from 12 to eight years-old and establishes a mentored hunting program, was sent to the Senate on a strong, bi-partisan vote of 74-19.
The bill is intended to remove many of the barriers that keep Wisconsin's youths from hunting and enjoying the outdoors. It allows parents, instead of the state, to determine when their children are mature enough to begin hunting under the close supervision and mentoring of an adult who meets the hunter safety education requirements. AB 586 also allows a person 12 years-old and older, who has not yet completed the hunter education requirement, to hunt with a mentor who is within arm's reach. This is better known as the "try it before you buy it" provision and is allowed for up to two years for each individual.
Many would-be hunters are discouraged from hunting in Wisconsin today because they must first complete the lengthy hunter safety class. The mentoring program allows these people to get out and try hunting to see if they like it enough to complete the class so that they are eventually able to hunt on their own. AB 586 is critical to the preservation of Wisconsin's hunting heritage.
Please contact your state senator today at (608) 266-2517, or (800) 362-9472, and respectfully request that he or she support the Youth Hunting Bill, AB 586.
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