Kids hunting

[rides bike to work]

I am wondering what kind of experiences other members have had with kids hunting ba or good.
I was exposed to hunting my whole life and was involved in lots of gutting skinning and packing out animals. I went on plenty of drives with my dad and his friends and was present for a few kills wich was always fun and very educational.
i did lots of shooting and took my fair share of grouse.My dad never did offer me to shoot a large game animal and when asked if I wanted to I declined for fear of remorse. I was never pressured and the option was mine. It wasn't til my early twenties that I became more interested and it wasn't till I was 29 that I shot my first deer with my dad. Since then I'm addicted.
A good freind of mine had a different experience hi dad hunted with my dad an when he was probably 12 his dad put a rifle in his hand and told him to shoot that buck. It was only forty yards away he hit it far back and it went down dragging it rear end around his da said shoot again this shot took off the deers lower jaws he then had to do a close up kill shot.
he felt horrible and hasn't picked up a rifle since. He will still go on hunts with us he enjoys the outdoors and even is proud of us when we are successful but doesn't want to shoot
I am a proud father of two boys 4-2 years old I will probably will do the same as my da and let my kids make there own decision to take that first shot. They both show lots of interest and where even present when my dad dropped a white tail last year.
id like to hear others experiences with kids hunting good and bad hopefully it will help me steer my kids in the right direction without screwing them up.

[kelmore]

I am teaching my six year old to shoot and she's itching to shoot a bunny or a grouse. She know she's not allowed to even try until she's accurate to 30 yards. She helped me gut and skin a bear this spring. I asked if she could hold a paw for me and soon she was asking to try skinning herself, so I let her. she didn't want to reach in and pull out guts though.

[mijinkal]

I have a 11 year old, a 9 year old and an almost 1 year old. I've been taking the two older ones since they were around 2 and 4 and I've have had nothing but good times with them. Just remember that you're not there to hunt seriously with the young ones. Take it easy and do things that the kids want to do while exposing them to the outdoors and hunting. Some of my kids most favorite things about hunting with me are eating food on the tailgate, bumper skiing, driving on my lap, and rolling boulders off cliffs.
I thought my kids were ready to help me gut a deer last year, so I got them to hold a leg for me. They toughed it out and didn't complain, but I could tell they were bothered by it afterwards. Take it slow and easy and keep the communication channel open. Tell them to take a walk if you think they need it.
I'll be back at it Sept 1 with my kids!

[835]

Rides bike to work...... There is an inbetween ,, between them two stories... Thats where im from.
I was taken hunting as a tot, and "Helped" in the garage all the time, i took my core the minute i could. I had a rifle in my hand ever since.

Sounds like your dad was just waiting for you to decide, which is way better then force.
I "Forced" my dad lol! This is how im going to teach my kid. More or less the way you were, just take the kid and let them decide.. give them the option.

My dad made room for me and time for me, by this i developed a joy for it because dad made it fun for me. I shot birds be for i was "Supposed to" i shot targets and all the fun. I was given a 20 ga at lunch and a Icecream pail of 20 ga rounds with the instruction "be careful" Sure this may not be legal now, maybe wasnt then either. But it shaped me and many before me. I was taught at a very young age firearm safety and was borne to a hunting family.

Take your kids, make it fun.. Bring the .22 and some targets,,, maybe a couple oranges! they blow up and entertain kids...lol maybe a fishing rod as well and stop in that creek back there for a fish... whatever it takes.... make it fun.

[BearStump]

I learned that when you go out bear hunting with your 7 yr old. its really easy to accidentally scare them. A friend and I were spring bear hunting with our 6 and 7 yr old boys. we saw 2 big bears in the middle of the fsr and stopped the quads. I hopped off and dropped one of the bears. My buddy jumps off of his quad and takes off on foot to go try for the second one that ran into the bush. So the two boys and I go to check out the dead bear and my son was scared shitless. not by the dead bear but the thought of another big toothy clawed bear running around in the woods. He wouldn't let my leg go so that I could gut the bear.

[hare_assassin]

My daughters are 10 and 11, soon to be 11 and 12. The older one isn't really interested. The younger one has accompanied me on many, many grouse and snowshoe hare hunting trips. She doesn't seem too bothered by it all, and always says she wants to hunt. I informed her that she can take her CORE any time and get her own bag limit. She sort of himmed and hawed and wasn't really too eager to do so. I took that as a sign that she isn't quite there yet. I'll let her try to nail a few chickens this fall and see how it goes. I'd love for her and her sister (and the wife) to get their CORE and be able to take all kinds of meat out of the bush, but I'm not going to force anyone into it. If I do my part, we'll eat well all year anyway. Most important is to get them out there. Tailgate lunches, camp fires, harvesting some fire wood to bring home, just enjoying the forest... It's the best thing for kids!!!

[Singleshotneeded]

My 9 year old son was told you have be a good shot first, then you can shoot animals. He's gotten so he's
consistently shooting one inch groups with his Savage bolt in .17 HMR at 100 yards, so he's getting qualified!
Daddy's proud of his mugwump!

[Darksith]

my dad got me a BB gun, then a pellet gun, and I wasn't allowed to shoot the .22 until I could shoot a good group with those...which I suspect was just a delay tactic. Once I was old enough to handle the .22 I was a grouse killing machine with him. Make your kids a good shot, let them get lots of practice on the gun, when they can do it at the range then you put them infront of an animal that is close enough, under the right conditions and have them take that shot. Ideally have someone as a back up shooter so if it doesn't go well, it doesn't get worse, and the animal doesn't suffer. The story you told went from bad to worse, and that isn't the way to do it. No one likes to watch something suffer, and thats what happened in your story. Simple as that, do it right by the animal, plain and simple.

[BigfishCanada]

I have introduced almost 10 kids (many now young adults), start them with birds, and when they shoot, cheer and then you go (not the kid) dispatch the animal as quick as possible without any focus on the ending (until after) then discuss the preparation of your game as food. Get them used to it, before you make them finish the animal, ringing of the neck, end shot of the big game.

For deer I always tell the kids, its about finishing the animal as quick as possible, focus your attentions on the cleaning and preparation of the food. Smiling and congrats through out, if they make mistakes, assure them its OK, if they miss, tell them stories of you missing. If the animal is suffering finish it for him so he doesn't get scared (Easy on the laws, I never have )

Once its dead its food not an not an animal, don't let them have a chance to dwell on the killing part and they wont.Get your hands in there and show them how to clean, explain its like a fish, and tell them how lucky we are to have wild game for our food source, how beautiful the animals are and how proud of him/her you are.

My friend , had his dad shove a shotgun in his hand, shoot that goose, it was flapping and his dad said suck it up and go ring its neck, my friend only shoots with a camera now.

Also, my son has seen be take game , so hes seen me clean and tag out, this year will be his (knock on wood) first big game kill. Hes 12 and his own core now

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/314200_10151071179976523_601716402_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/321476_10150287884466523_6936813_n.jpg

[yama49]

My son is 10,passed his core this spring..Off we went bear hunting... He wants to fish or hunt always.. I was one proud dad..

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq79/JEARL49/d63ec833fefd650b4c301554c2e95381.jpg

[Wullfen]

My son is 19 now, he started hunting with me when he was 12, and I honestly can't say I ever had a better hunting partner. I took it slow, brought him along on short trips, had him be involved, and ALWAYS made it HIS choice as to what he wanted to do as far as the killing/gutting/skinning etc. It's best not to make it a trauma event, ease them into it and see where they come out, how they handle it. He started out on small game, worked his way up to larger, and I will never forget his first Moose.
The hunting tradition is a torch we pass to our children.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49/Wullfen/moose2.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/Wullfen/media/moose2.jpg.html)

[weed782]

I took my 5 year old daughter last year. She asked if I would take her and I could not think of a reason not to. So off we went to my Aunt and Uncles cabin for the 1st week of October. Fished the first day and chilled out. The next morning we drove to the end of a road that ended at an old cut. Had two lawn chairs in my pack. Thought we'd walk to in view of the far tree line and sit till the sun came up. About 500 yards in I spotted several white rumps 200 yards away. Through the binoculars we could see one was a buck. Put my pack on an old stump for a rest and told my daughter to cover her ears.

Boom! Down went the fat fork horn. We hopped around and high fived. It was awesome. The happiest moment of hunting for me since I dropped my first deer with my dad at 12. 30 years ago......
The rest of the trip we shot cans, caught trout........ whatever...... She was in tears when we had to come home. Can't wait til our trip this year. Taking a kid hunting can be fantastic for all. just got to make it a positive experience for them. Not too hard core.

[Rock Doctor]

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o281/RockDocPhoto/Argo/DSC002421.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/RockDocPhoto/media/Argo/DSC002421.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o281/RockDocPhoto/IMG_0672.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/RockDocPhoto/media/IMG_0672.jpg.html)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o281/RockDocPhoto/P8191183.jpg (http://s123.photobucket.com/user/RockDocPhoto/media/P8191183.jpg.html)

[rides bike to work]

I love the pic of the bison hoof. My 4 year old was with us when we skinned a white tail this past fall when we started I could see he was a little weirded out so I show him the hoof and he played with it he whole time and even warmed up to the skinning asking lots of questions.

[SHACK]

Thats no fair Kyle!

[Rock Doctor]

I love the pic of the bison hoof. My 4 year old was with us when we skinned a white tail this past fall when we started I could see he was a little weirded out so I show him the hoof and he played with it he whole time and even warmed up to the skinning asking lots of questions.

Moose:wink:



Thats no fair Kyle!

Ya, I know:mrgreen:
Those were the only pics I had handy with kids in them

[new hunter]

I am teaching my six year old to shoot and she's itching to shoot a bunny or a grouse. She know she's not allowed to even try until she's accurate to 30 yards. She helped me gut and skin a bear this spring. I asked if she could hold a paw for me and soon she was asking to try skinning herself, so I let her. she didn't want to reach in and pull out guts though.

Just found out yesterday that my wifes bump is going to be a daughter , due the 13 of november .
So my question is , did you have to encourage your daughter to come out , or was it all her ? and if it was her idea , is it that she just wants dads attention , or is it a genuine interest ?
I taught both my sisters to shoot ( my middle sister can out shoot her fiance ) , but I think they only learned out of boredom .
I dont want my daughter to feel she has to pick up my interests to connect with me , but I also dont want her to feel excluded .I dont want her thinking that dad doesnt want her coming out cause shes a girl , and I also dont want her to pick it up just because she's not my son .
So do I encourage so she feels welcome , or leave it alone hoping that she gets intersted on her own , but doesnt feel alienated cause I didnt try to take her out .
Also , what do you guys think of the name Diana , for Diana the hunteress from greek Mythology .
I figure that way if she joins PETA she can say she was named for princess Di , and if she does hunt I can tell her what she's really named for .
Either way , it seems like a good name to live up to.

[Rock Doctor]

Just found out yesterday that my wifes bump is going to be a daughter , due the 13 of november .
So my question is , did you have to encourage your daughter to come out , or was it all her ? and if it was her idea , is it that she just wants dads attention , or is it a genuine interest ?
I taught both my sisters to shoot ( my middle sister can out shoot her fiance ) , but I think they only learned out of boredom .
I dont want my daughter to feel she has to pick up my interests to connect with me , but I also dont want her to feel excluded .I dont want her thinking that dad doesnt want her coming out cause shes a girl , and I also dont want her to pick it up just because she's not my son .
So do I encourage so she feels welcome , or leave it alone hoping that she gets intersted on her own , but doesnt feel alienated cause I didnt try to take her out .
Also , what do you guys think of the name Diana , for Diana the hunteress from greek Mythology .
I figure that way if she joins PETA she can say she was named for princess Di , and if she does hunt I can tell her what she's really named for .
Either way , it seems like a good name to live up to.


My 3 girls seem to enjoy shooting, and hunting. They are not short on attention from me, as they are Home Schooled and with me a lot. They also enjoy fishing, and all the other activities. We have time for quite a few things since they don't sit in the public daycare system all day, and I only work for about a week per month on average.
There are defiantly things that I do that don't interest them, they are not shy about doing their own thing when I'm not available.
As for the name Diane..... I think it's a great name.... My wife's name as a matter of fact.

RD

[new hunter]

Thanks , I think I have a tendency to over think these things . Thanks for the name feed back too , were thinking Diana Hunter Rainforth , but we'll have to see when she's in my arms .

[Cedarstrip]

Great thread!
My daughter(14 now) has never shown much interest in either shooting, or hunting. Not opposed to it, just not her thing. No problem, I never force anything on her. My son, ((11 now) however cannot get enough of it. For a present this year he asked for a field dressing kit! (insert teary eye from proud daddy)
I started taking him out at about the age of 7 for some VERY short hunts. Lots of snacks, keep them warm, don't worry about getting an anything, just expose them to the bush. Show them how to track, how to identify sign, some general bush-lore, bird and tree identification, but don't expect them to keep up like your regular hunting partner. We've had lots of quality time together, lots of giggles and some stories to tell around the fire. My son now feels confident enough to go on a "big trip". We'll see...... he knows he has to be a fairly solid shooter so he doesn't just wound an animal. That's a big criteria for me. (lesson learned from MY dad. )
I don't really care if either of my kids end up hunting with a rifle or a camera, as long as they get out and enjoy the country.

[Wullfen]

Both my nieces hunt, as well as compete at a high level in airpistol and hand gun. Both expressed an interest, and we brought them along slow and steady, same as my son. We always make our big trips family events, so it makes it easier for the kids to be comfortable.

[Fella]

My uncle has two daughters and he started off by buying them kid sized archery sets and hiking and quadding with them. It's progressed to where the younger one isn't really iinto hunting but the older one is his hunting buddy. She's taken down some nice white tails in Alberta and has hunting posters on the wall in her room next to her Bieber posters.

[drewsky]

Hers a couple 1st's for my boys! Both are sooo eager to hunt. Seems an easy transition to get them into hunting when you're a FREAK, like most of us are for hunting!! [URL=http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/drewsky1/media/IMG_1424_zps2d5e865b.jpg.html]http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k603/drewsky1/IMG_1424_zps2d5e865b.jpg[/URL[URL=http://s1118.photobucket.com/user/drewsky1/media/Drewsphone143_zpse2004a4b.jpg.html]http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k603/drewsky1/Drewsphone143_zpse2004a4b.jpg

[squeege]

I posted this story last September about my 11 year old sons first elk and I'll tell you I have never been so happy hunting even though I didn't even pull the trigger. My son and I have spent a lot of time in the bush together. I've taken him sheep, goat and of course the more traditional moose, elk and grouse hunts and every minute you spend with your children in those environments brings you closer to them in ways that will be ingrained for a lifetime; I know it did with me and my dad. Oh there have been moments where I've wanted to leave him in the bush and hope the bears would take care of him, but the good times far outweigh the bad. Now I'm working on my 8year old girl and she loves her pink ruger 22 and a better shot than my son at this point. She loves to go hunting but still is a bit scared of the dark mornings and evenings walking through the bush as she death grips my hand walking to and from the truck/quad. This year she wants to try coming along on a first sheep hunt. This may not be such a serious sheep hunt but we'll see how all three of us we all do. Here is some pics of me an my kids.http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/DSC000761.JPG (javascript:;)http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/P1070028.JPGhttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/P1020105.JPG (javascript:;)http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/P1050631.JPG (javascript:;)http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/P1050432.JPG (javascript:;)

[300H&H]

Some of my most memorable hunts have been with my kids.
Up in the morning and off to Tim Hortons.
Drive the road or walking did not matter it was fun.
If they got board, out came the pop tins and 22 for some shooting fun.
Yup, those were the days.
Now they don't like going, morning comes too early.
But we still get out on the quad for a little fun.

FYI..i started to take my kids out around 2 years old.