In case you missed it, Wisconsin found more than 10,000 new hunters this past season.

And they were all between 10 and 11 years old.

These hunters entered the woods as a result of the state’s new youth-mentored hunting law. Such laws, which NRA has backed in more than 25 states, generally allow a youngster to go hunting prior to taking a hunter education class. The laws don’t eliminate the requirement for hunter education—which some anti-hunting groups claim--they allow it to be postponed for a year or two. Typically, the kids involved have already had some training or at least exposure to hunter safety from their parents. The advantage is that the kids and parents don’t have to start buying tons of gear or devote time traveling to a hunter ed class, when a youngster may not even be certain he wants to hunt. The mentored experience allows him or her to try hunting and see if the interest is there to continue.

While the state laws can vary a bit, special restrictions generally apply: A qualified, licensed adult hunter must be within sight or arm’s reach of the youngster while hunting and only one firearm may be present. The whole idea is to make it as safe an experience as possible, and since not a single one of Wisconsin’s mentors and kids was involved in a shooting accident last season, it’s apparently working. Some states are even expanding the program so that adults new to hunting can try the mentored route.

 While some preliminary data from Southwick Associates show that hunting license sales in 12 states are on the increase again, the overall number of hunters is probably still declining. Any safe step a state can take that makes it easier for kids, or for new adults, to get out and hunt is good for hunter recruitment. Beyond that, anything that gets a kid outside, particularly with a parent, is perhaps even more important. Despite many youth hunting programs run by NRA and other groups, there is virtually nationwide acknowledgement that kids today are simply not getting outdoors enough.

Maybe it’s just my opinion, but I don’t think there is a better way for kids and parents to spend time together than to go hunting. And there’s no law that says you have to be a parent, either. If your state offers youth-mentored hunting and you know any youngster who is not getting the chance to hunt, think about becoming a mentor. Your game and fish department can tell you if it’s allowed where you live. Read more about Wisconsin’s experience here.