Another License Question?

[Wensel]

Minnesota Firearms, if I guide my son whom is 11 years old, am I required to have a license.

Thanks

[paceman]

Yes if you are assisting him in hunting deer than yes you need a liscense.

[Bear55]

I am just going off of memory so you should check with a CO or DNR for sure. I believe that 10 and 11 year olds can now shoot a deer with dad's tag but can't get their own license until they are 12 years old. So yes you would need one, if I am wrong someone should be along soon to correct me.

[Wensel]

Bear they get a freebe at 10 and 11 he has his own license?

[BobT]

Quote:

A 10 or 11 year old child may obtain a big game license for free. That child must be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian while in possession of a firearm. So far so good. Here's the question.

Suppose I want to take my 10-year old deer hunting but I don't hunt. I obtain the license for my child but am I also required to purchase a big game license? If I don't have a license would I be in violation of assisting with the taking of deer? I'm required to be there in order for him to hunt but I won't be armed.

I just sent this question to the DNR for an opinion. There appears to be a problem here and I can't find any reference to this situation in the handbook, yet.

[Wensel]

Thanks Bob

I went through the book too and I read it as you wrote

However where is the reference to Assisting?

[Bear55]

I can't find anything either.

[BobT]

From page 19 of the 2010 handbook.

Quote:

“TAKING” DEFINED

“Taking” means pursuing, shooting, killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, angling, spearing, or netting wild animals; or placing, setting, drawing, or using a net, trap, or other device to take wild animals. Taking also includes attempting to take wild animals or assisting another person in taking wild animals.

From page 60 of the 2010 handbook.

Quote:

From page 60 of the handbook.

• A person may not take or tag deer without the appropriate license or permit. The term “taking” includes attempting to take deer, and driv¬ing, spotting, or otherwise assisting another person in taking deer.

The way I read this, you would be violating the rules by assisting in the taking of the deer because it is not permitted to take deer without a license and assisting someone in the process is included in the definition of "taking." I also notice that the words "attempting" and "assisting" are in italics in the book. It would seem to imply that we should pay special attention to these two words.

What I haven't found yet is any waiver that allows an unlicensed parent or guardian to accompany a child under 14 to hunt when they are not allowed to do so unless they are in the presence of a parent or guardian. It would seem there should be a waiver to encourage the youth to go even though their parents don't hunt.

[BobT]

It's not required, but you cannot assist them in any way to take the deer if you do not have a license. You cannot carry the gun, drive deer, or anything to help them /quote]

This is the reply I got from the DNR Information Center.

You know, we had a similar discussion in another thread last week about the question of taking one's wife/girlfriend along on a hunt and whether her being there could be construed as "assisting." I was in the boat that it could very easily be so but after this response, I'm not so sure anymore. I was going on the premise that "spotting" would include visually noticing deer and calling your attention to it. Having someone along that is unlicensed may not be considered assisting after all unless they are actively trying to help you by pushing the deer for you or perhaps carrying your gear or something more than just looking around.