The Pennsylvania Game Commission held a Board of Game Commissioners meeting on September 5, 2025, where a significant discussion centered on the state's mentored hunting program. A commissioner shared a personal investigation into negative media portrayals of young children hunting, particularly focusing on a case involving a five-year-old boy.

The commissioner recounted visiting the family of the child, who was eager to participate in hunting despite his young age. The family had obtained a mentor permit for him, which was permissible at the time. On the first day of deer season, the boy's father set up a hunting blind for him and his nine-year-old brother. The nine-year-old successfully shot a deer, and both boys celebrated the event, leading to photos that later circulated on social media. These images were misrepresented, suggesting that the five-year-old had killed the deer, which the commissioner clarified was not true.

The commissioner emphasized that this incident was part of a broader narrative that mischaracterized young hunters and fueled calls for stricter regulations, specifically the current seven-year-old age restriction for mentored hunting in Pennsylvania. He argued for a return to a more inclusive mentored program, similar to what existed prior to 2006, which would allow parents to make decisions regarding their children's participation in hunting without age limitations.

The meeting concluded with the commissioner inviting questions and expressing a desire for Pennsylvania to align its hunting regulations with those of 36 other states that have more flexible mentored hunting programs. The discussion highlighted ongoing debates about youth participation in hunting and the implications of media representation on policy decisions.