Ely Walker, 2005 Essay Contest Winner
Ely Walker
According to the song written by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Davy Crockett “killed him a b’ar when he was only three”. Why and how did he kill that bear anyway? Most children are not mentally or physically ready to hunt at that age. However, there are several good reasons for a child to begin hunting. Some of those reasons are to learn firearm safety, to continue family traditions and to educate the child about where food comes from.
Firearm safety is taught to students of the Kansas Hunter Education Course, which is required by state law to be completed by any hunter born on or after July 1, 1957. To obtain the permit, a person must pass a class that teaches types of guns, sizes of bullets, kinds of arrows hunters use, how to carry a gun, how NOT to use firearms and many other rules and regulations. If a child gets a gun without knowing about firearm safety, he or she can injure or kill himself/herself or someone else. A child must learn about responsibility before hunting.
Family tradition is a big reason kids go hunting. The family learns to love hunting, and it becomes a regular activity. Fun is the factor that keeps families hunting. The child who enjoys hunting is likely to keep hunting.
A child should learn where his or her food comes form. It is important to learn that not all meat comes packaged in plastic and ready to eat. Hunting makes them realize that meat comes from animals. Kids have to learn how to field dress animals. When they eat whatever they have been hunting, they know the animal was in a field and not on a farm and raised by humans.
A person should start hunting when he/she is physically and mentally ready to handle a gun. If you can’t hold a gun, why even go hunting? A person must be mature enough to handle a gun or they could be a risk to everyone. Also, a child must be eleven years old or older to earn a Hunter Education Certificate.
These are all reasons why children should be involved in hunting. Firearm safety is most important. Family tradition is a common reason. Learning where meat can come from is important, too. I think a child should be physically ready and mentally mature before he or she gets to go hunting like Davy did at age three.
