Commentary: How young is too young to hunt?

When the question arises as to how old a youngster should be to hunt big game, the answer varies by state. Here in New York, a 12-year-old can hunt deer provided they have completed a course in both Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education if they also want to hunt deer with a bow or crossbow.
The law stipulates that the youngster must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or youth mentor 21 years or older.