Cecil the lion: Six-month-old baby Daylen Brickly gets lifetime hunting licence

Daylen is held by his proud mum Erica behind his lifetime hunting certificate NH Game and Fish

A six-month-old baby in New Hampshire has been given a lifetime hunting licence despite not yet being able to talk, let alone hunt amid the international furore over the killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe.

Daylen Brickly of Milford New Hampshire was the first baby registered for the single lifetime licence under a new programme introduced by the eastern US state's Fish and Game Department.

The decision by the New Hampshire department comes despite widespread soul searching over the illegal killing of beloved Zimbabwean lion Cecil the Lion who was killed by Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer.

Daylen's mother Erica described her son's lifetime licence as "awesome", adding that she was happy he could be the first baby to get one.

While the young man may be made up for life – as far as hunting and fishing are concerned – he will have to pass a hunter safety permit before he can start doing more than the odd spot of fishing.

Erica told the New Hampshire Union leader that she was not worried about whether Daylen would pass the course.

"We were just raised around it, so I figure he'll kind of get in the swing of things," she said.

The lifetime permit has been on offer to aspiring hunters under the age of one since Tuesday after the initiative was passed by the New Hampshire state legislature.

Daylen has only been finishing a handful of times and on balance seems to enjoy it. While the fish weren't biting and he's too young to reel them in, his mother said he excited to be around the water.

If his grandparents' $304 (£194) investment is to pay off, then Daylen will have to get a taste for the outdoors, but with a family that loves to hunt, it seems likely the six-month-old will too.

"The whole family is into hunting and fishing. I think it was only natural to kind of keep it going," Erica Brickley said.

So far the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's initiative has been a success with the only negative feedback coming from parents whose children miss the cut-off for the cheaper licence at the age of 16.

Adults have to pay a hefty $1,294.82 (£826.69) for a hunting and fishing licence.