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Show Parents: Watch BB, Pellet Guns that such things as self control, safety, familiarization, and ethics are taught to individuals and a firm ground work is laid for the safe use of firearms. Parents can help insure an early groundwork is laid for the safe use of firearms by doing the following: Insure that firearms are locked up when not in use, explain the range a bullet may travel (.22 has a range of one mile), take the youngster out frequently after the gift is made to help satisfy his curiosity and chal lenge to operate the firearm. IT IS ALSO wise to explain to the youngster that wildlife are legal targets provided local city ordinances, safety requirements, re-quirements, and state wildlife laws are complied with. In Utah the only birds that may be killed any time without a license are the ferrel pigeon, starling, and house sparrow. There are a number of mam-mals mam-mals which can be freely hunted such as the jack rabbit, squirrel, red and grey fox, coyote, racoon, and the rock chuck. Most other mammals are protected. INDIVIDUALS interested in attending a hunter safety course in the Salt Lake Valley car; get information on courses beii.g taught by calling 355-2536. 355-2536. Information relating to courses taught in Davis County Coun-ty is normally printed in local papers or announcements are made at gatherings or obtained by calling the Wildlife Resources Re-sources at the Ogden office. Christmas is the time of year when parents may decide that it is time to give a BB gun, pellet gun or a .22 rifle as a gift. All these items make wonderful wonder-ful gifts if supervision and some parental advice is given along with them. EACH YEAR many windows win-dows are broken and other damage caused by stray bullets not to mention the great number num-ber of protected wildlife that is either killed, maimed, or scared by the unsupervised use of firearms by juveniles. Last year several reports were received by the Division of Wildlife Resources that juveniles in the Davis County area were shooting at deer with .22 rifles shortly after Christmas. THESE situations were created cre-ated when parents failed to set down some simple rules for the safe handling and wise use of firearms. Juveniles look at wildlife as a target to practice on and this temptation increases when mom and dad both work and firearms are left unlocked and accessible to juveniles. State ' law requires that juveniles under the age of 16 years be supervised by an adult 2 1 years or older when hunting. ALL individuals 12 years or older that wish to hunt wildlife which requires a license are required re-quired to attend and graduate from a state sponsored hunter safety class. It is in this class |
