MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker has signed a bill that eliminates a minimum age requirement to hunt in Wisconsin.

The bill allows a person of any age to participate in a mentored hunt. The law had previously required a child to be at least 10 years old to participate in a mentored hunt.

Walker signed the bill Saturday, exactly one week before the state’s gun deer hunting season kicks off.

Wisconsin becomes the 35th states to have no minimum hunting age. The bill also permits hunters and mentors to have more than one weapon between them.

Opponents had argued that lowering the minimum hunting age was unsafe, while backers said parents should be empowered to decide when their children are ready to hunt.

Walker also signed a bill Saturday setting up an open season on groundhogs.

The bill removes groundhogs from the state’s protected species list and calls on the Department of Natural Resources to establish a year-round hunting and trapping season with no bag limits.

Supporters argue groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or whistle pigs, are plentiful and their burrowing destroys gardens and undermines building foundations, sidewalks and roads.

The Alliance for Animals, the Humane Society of the United States and Midwest Environmental Advocates all have registered in opposition.

A DNR spokesman didn’t immediately reply to an email today asking when hunting might begin.