HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission has approved preliminary regulations for a mentored youth hunting program that would allow children under 12 to hunt with a licensed adult.

Jerry Feaser, a commission spokesman, said the program will likely take effect by July 1, the start of groundhog season, after the regulations are finalized and reviewed by the state attorney general.

"The program promotes the development of one-on-one training and the hands-on experience that will help assure our hunting future, as well as increase hunting safety through the counseling provided by dedicated mentors," Carl G. Roe, the commission's executive director, said in a prepared statement.

It follows a new law that gave the commission the power to create a youth mentor program.

A mentor would be someone at least 21-years-old with an appropriate hunting license who will serve as a counselor to the youth in hunting activities.

The regulations propose the mentor-to-youth ratio must be one to one. While the pair is moving, the gun must be carried by the mentor. It can be turned over to the youth only at a stationary hunting location.

Legal species to hunt for the first year would be squirrels, groundhogs and spring gobblers. Antlered deer would not be included until the 2007-08 seasons.

Participating youth would be required to follow the same antler restrictions as a junior license holder.

The mentored youths would be required to tag and report any wild turkey by attaching a tag containing their name, address, date, wildlife management unit, township and county where it was taken. The youth also would submit a harvest report card.

Junior hunting licenses are for ages 12 through 16 and cost $6. Adult hunting licenses can be obtained at age 17 and cost $20.

A coalition of outdoors organizations formed to promote the measure under the Families Afield initiative. This national group aims to remove restrictions on youth hunting across the country.

"Before this legislation was passed, my grandsons could go along (hunting), but they couldn't shoot. It was like taking a kid to a Little League game and telling him he couldn't play," said Ron Fretts, a National Wild Turkey Federation national board member in prepared statement.