Kenosha County hunters today are either waiting anxiously to get into their local tree stands or heading off to deer camp in anticipation of the gun deer season Saturday. Joining some of them this year will be 10- and 11-year-olds, who under a new law are able to hunt with a mentor.

“My brother, a good buddy and my dad,” will join Dan Seward, of Salem. “When you get older it’s more about spending time together.”

Don’t get him wrong, Seward says it’s still a thrill to see a deer in the woods. But the camaraderie and memories the group shares are the most meaningful, he said.

“It’s always an exciting time and we’re looking forward to it,” said Seward, who is already at deer camp in Adams County. “It’s a long tradition for us and for the state of Wisconsin.”

The members of their group range in age from 40 to 76. Another group from Kenosha County, who left for Cable, Wis., Thursday, will have four generations in the woods hunting this year given the new mentor program.

“My son, who is 11, is going out with his uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather,” said Lisa Strelow, of Trevor. “I’m not worried because he is with experienced hunters. There won’t be many more chances for them to spend this kind of time together.”

According to the state Department of Natural Resources, more than 10,000 10- and 11-year-old mentored hunting licenses have been purchased since the Sept. 1 start of the new program.

“The enthusiasm and response to this new opportunity has been fantastic,” said DNR Secretary Matt Frank. “Study after study shows it takes a hunter to make a hunter. Introducing kids to hunting in a relaxed atmosphere with close supervision is key to nurturing a love of the natural world, a conservation ethic, and what may turn out to be a lifelong love and passion for the outdoors.”

Mentors must be 18 years old and licensed hunters. Mentors may only accompany one 10- or 11-year-old at a time and must be within arm’s reach of the mentored hunter at all times. The pair may carry only one firearm or bow between them.

“This law allows parents to decide when a child is ready to join in the family hunting traditions,” said Rep. Ann Hraychuck, chairwoman of the Assembly Committee on Fish and Wildlife. “Learning to hunt in a safe and controlled manner allows the mentor to share skills, ethics and an appreciation for the entire experience with the young hunter.”

However, some hunter safety instructors disagree with the new law as it does not require the younger hunters to pass a safety course before entering the woods. It is also possible, given a grandfather clause, the mentor has not taken the safety course.

The majority of mentor licenses sold have been gun deer licenses at 6,775. Deer archery sales have hit 1,097 and small game sales are at 1,895. Young hunters also purchased 247 fall turkey and 2 furbearer licenses. A preliminary tally of deer registrations for the Oct 10-11 youth deer hunt shows the harvest jumped from 989 in 2008 to 4,777 this year, a nearly 500 percent increase. There have been no reported hunting incidents involving any mentored hunters.

While the regular nine-day season starts Saturday, Seward and many others already have bagged a deer during bow season. A handful of hunters report seeing fewer deer both locally and in the woods they hunt in northern Wisconsin.

“I shot a doe on opening day of archery season,” Seward said. “But, it seems the numbers of deer are way down from what I’ve seen in awhile.”