Young hunters learn about safety ahead of deer season

OWOSSO, Mich. -- November 15th is a day some consider a holiday in Michigan, the start of firearms hunting season.

"We hunt, we fish, this is the Great Lakes state," says Mark Millis, a special deputy with the Shiawassee County Sheriff's Department. Millis helped some young hunters get their first taste of the sport at a hunters safety class.

"I kind of like the waiting and how excited you get when you actually see a deer," said Landon Woodbury of Owosso.

Many of those who took the class were already dreaming of their trophy buck.

"I really want to get my first animal," says 8-year-old Helena Alto, the youngest to take the class.

"A big deer," says Woodbury, "Probably 8 or 10 point."

" A 10 point at least," says Brady Butzler of Fenton.

For many, hunting is a family affair.

"It kind of runs in my family," says Maxwell Lazar of Owosso. "My grandpa, my uncle, my cousin love hunting and I really do too."

"My dads always been hunting and I thought it can’t be that bad can it," says Nicholas McCurdy of Owosso.

Before they can bag their buck, they have to learn the basics.

"The kids will learn how to handle a firearm safety," says Millis. "We don’t teach hunting here. We teach the handling of firearms."

Lessons he hopes the kids remember when they are in the woods.

"There’s so many gun related deaths for hunting," says Logan Nunley of Lowell.

"God willing we have very few accidents this year," says Millis.