[elkhunter11]

I grew up in a hunting family, but I have been involved with introducing several people to hunting that grew up in non hunting families, or in locations where they weren't allowed to own firearms. Two of my current hunting partners started out in their late 30s, when I had them draw antlerless mule deer tags, and after filling those tags, I moved them on to moose and elk. Last fall they hunted pheasant with me for the first time, and this fall we should draw trophy pronghorn. My other hunting partner got started in his late 20s taking deer and pheasant, and if I draw antlered moose this year, he will have a partner tag, and hopefully take his first moose. In all cases, these fellows were required to learn the regulations before their first hunt, and they all had to prove their competency with their rifles before the first hunt. The way that I see it, if you really want to hunt, you at least need to show that much initiative before someone takes you out in the field.