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Youth Deer Hunt Near Clemson
(Published Aug 4, 2007)
CLEMSON, SC - The registration deadline for an Upstate youth deer hunt sponsored by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and Clemson University’s Department of Forest Resources is Monday, Sept. 3.
The Fant's Grove Youth Deer Hunt is set for Saturday, Oct. 6 at Fant’s Grove Wildlife Management Area near Clemson. A public drawing for the 22 slots on the deer hunt will be held at noon Wednesday, Sept. 5. at the Clemson office of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at 153 Hopewell Road near Clemson University. All interested applicants are welcome to attend the drawing.
To obtain an application for the hunt, call Richard Morton at (864) 654-1671, extension 16, in the Clemson DNR office, or e-mail MortonR@dnr.sc.gov. Applications may also be picked up at the DNR Clemson office at 153 Hopewell Road. Preference will be given to first-time applicants and "Take One Make One" applicants.
All participants must have an adult, 21 years or older, with them to hunt; youths must be between the ages of 10-15. All adults will be required to have a valid state hunting license, big game permit and a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) permit. Only the youths will be allowed to shoot.
The purpose of this hunt is to help educate and introduce youth to deer hunting and other outdoor experiences. The hunt will also help manage the deer population on Fant’s Grove Wildlife Management Area. A mandatory registration and safety class will be held on Friday, Oct. 5, which all participants must attend in order to hunt. Only one rifle or shotgun will be allowed per stand; rifles will probably be the better choice. Each youth may harvest two deer of either sex. All participants will be required to wear international orange in the form of a vest and/or cap. Verification letters with further details will be mailed to all successfully drawn applicants. Applicants not drawn will also receive notification.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
Comments
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To use children, even when an adult (?) of 21 years is accompanying them, is the most ridiculous idea ever. If anyone believes that using live deer as target practice (what child is a great marksman, when even adults usually can't do it) is ethical and moral, then there's something very wrong with the DNR's logical thinking. Weapons in the hands of children is outrageous! Most kids don't understand that dead is dead, based on video games, etc.
Aren't there better ways of introducing children to hunting than to actually go out to take pot shots at deer? I realize that coming from someone from CT, you probably think that we know anothing about hunting....we do; hunting here is allowed in residents' backyards....so please, don't assume that we're out of touch on this subject.
As a matter of fact, this whole idea of children hunting is completely out of touch with reality!
Now I've heard everything. Google Alerts are a wonderful tool; had I not read it myself, I wouldn't have believed it!
Children between the ages of 10 and 15 are being introduced to hunting with over the age of 21 adults standing by and NOT allowed to hunt. Deer will become live targets for practice - injured and maimed - shouldn't the adult chaperones at least be allowed to finish off any unfortunate creature that would suffer the consequences of inexperienced shooters, the "kids"?
One wonders how many of those children really want to do this or is peer pressure making them participate in killing animals. Aren't there enough problems with kids, school shootings, availability of guns, etc. to add to it? These kids are taught insensitivity toward animals and people; callousness is learned at an early age. What's next for these mild-mannered kids - shooting at people?
I am from CT as well as Greer Ashton, and we’ve got enough hunting around here to last a lifetime. Thank God that at least there aren’t any kids running around the neighborhoods or woods with all kinds of lethal weapons! I agree with Greer Ashton – kids with weapons are a bit too much. I don’t even have toy guns for my kids – forget about real ones. Children shouldn’t be brought up having to kill animals…there’s plenty of time for them to make those decisions when they are older and wiser, hopefully never! When they start killing animals at a young age, they are being desensitized to animal suffering, and maybe even to human suffering….what kid would ever be a crack shot! How many shots and how much tracking would be involved in killing one deer…. wildlife agencies ought to rethink this idea, it’s just plain irresponsible and sickening! Anything to get a few more bucks for hunting licenses….even from kids. For shame!
Just outrageous! How can a state agency not only sanction but actually encourage children to carry weapons to kill deer? No wonder this country is in so much trouble! A little bit of training for these kids does not prepare them to immediately go out hunting for large game! Kid and guns don’t mix, as we’ve learned over the past years; why kids would be encouraged to do this is beyond me and any sensible adults!
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