"Nice shot!" several people yelled at once in admiration of the shooting skills of 10-year-old Hunter Warren of Salem.

That's right, a 10-year-old pulled the trigger. And it was entirely legal, thanks to a bill passed in the last legislative session that eliminated the age restriction for obtaining a small-game hunting license in Utah. The minimum age requirement for big-game hunting is 14.

The first wave of hunters under 12 - the previous age limit - took to the field Sept. 1 for the mourning dove opener.

Hunter and his cousin Spencer Warren, 11, were among a small number of young hunters who took advantage of the new law. The reason was simple.

"We love shooting," the cousins said in unison during a state-sponsored Youth Chukar Hunt at the Carr Fork Wildlife Management area in Tooele earlier this month.

The boys' fathers, Brad and Brian Warren, say the responsibilities of carrying a loaded shotgun and taking an animal's life are not for all 10- and 11-year-olds, but they felt their sons were ready.

"They have been chomping at the bit for a couple of years now," Brian Warren said. "We were excited when we heard that we might be able to get the boys hunting before they were 12. These boys were ready, but 10 might be just about the right age. Any younger and you just might be pushing it, but it all depends on desire and the size of the kid."

The idea of eliminating the age restriction hunting small game (cottontail rabbits, waterfowl and upland game such as pheasant and grouse) came from Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) officials. They said they wanted to provide the same opportunities as other Western states, which have lower or no age limits. The move was also made in an effort to boost hunting-license sales, which have been stagnant.

There was no rush of preteens signing up for hunter-education courses, which all ages are required to take and pass before being able to buy a hunting license. But there were some younger-than-usual students among the 12,000 who took the course this past year.

"About 5 to 8 percent of the students were born after 1996, making them 10 or younger," said Lenny Rees, hunter-education coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "There were a couple of 7-year-olds, but most were 9- and 10-year-olds."

Rees said the 7-year-olds achieved the mandatory score of 75 percent or higher on the course's 50-question written test and 50 percent or higher on the shooting aspect of the course.

"It is designed for an 11- or 12-year-old, but it is standard practice that if a student has a hard time reading, regardless of age, we read the test to them," said Rees, who wasn't sure if the youngest students needed someone to read them the test.

While this is the first year youngsters under 12 can hunt small game in Utah, they have always been able to take the course, which many have done to get a license in other states that allowed them to hunt.

Hunter Warren took the test last year before the Utah bill was presented so he could go on a turkey hunt with his family this spring in Colorado. He earned the hunter's-ed certificate and took a gobbler.

Gordon Hopkins of Tooele came to the youth hunt with his sons Brennan, 15, and Shane, 9, and daughter Kelsey, 13. Hopkins said he was aware Shane could have joined his elder siblings and carried a shotgun in the field, but decided it was best to wait.

"He needs to tag along for a little bit longer and get a good feel for what it is all about," Hopkins said. "I'll know when he is ready. Coming with us helps instill the safety and ethics before he gets to pick up a gun."

Rees agrees.

"Parents play the key role and it is paramount on this program that they make the ultimate decision when their child is ready," he said. "No one knows a child better than their parents. This just gives them the opportunity to decide when they can take the course."

Kelsey Hopkins said she enjoys the shooting - other than her sore shoulder - but that what she really likes is being with her family.

"I like to hunt, but it is really just fun to be out here with my dad and brothers. I grew up going with him and now I get to shoot, too," she said.

And while shooting in itself is fun, experts stress that killing an animal is much different from watching somebody else pull the trigger.

"This can be a very positive lesson," Rees said. "An adult needs to convey the importance of respecting the animal. It's a major deal to realize that the food we eat doesn't just come from the store. We all have impacts on wildlife, whether we hunt or not."

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BRETT PRETTYMAN can be contacted at brettp@sltrib.com or 801-257-8902. Send comments to livingeditor@sltrib.com.