States Make Progress For Youth Hunters Utah, Michigan and Mississippi last week took steps toward creating more opportunities for parents to introduce their sons and daughters to hunting. Utah's governor signed a bill last week that will eliminate the age requirement for hunting small game, upland game and turkeys. In Michigan, the state House passed a bill that would lower from 14 to 12 the legal age to hunt deer, elk and bear on private property. In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour is expected to sign a bill that would allow youths ages 12 to 16 to hunt with a licensed adult hunter before attending hunter education. The bill – HB 698 – would also create an apprentice hunting license. Though the changes won't put these states in America's Top 20 places with family friendly hunting laws, it is a step in the right direction.