Youth Hunting
Hunting Partners For Life

Youth hunting is vital to the continuation of hunting in our country. Hunting with my children is one of the most rewarding things that I have done. I started taking my son with me as soon as he asked. He started spending a good bit of time in the woods with me when he was seven years old. When a young child hunts with you, you can’t expect to shoot a trophy deer but you can gain a hunting partner for life. My son gets mad at me if I shoot a deer and start tracking it without him, and my daughter started going out with us a couple of years ago when she was seven.

One of my most memorable hunts was in 2000 on opening day of the combined buck and doe season. My son had just turned eight and he and I were the only ones at our farm to hunt on opening day. I had shot a nice 8-point buck earlier in November with my bow and I was now looking for does. Opening morning dawned dark and gray with the threat of snow in the air. My son was dressed in all that I could get on him plus we carried along a sleeping bag for him to crawl into. Just after we settled in at the base of a large tree it began to snow.

After about an hour a doe came along and presented me with a fairly easy shot. By this time the ground and the sleeping bag were blanketed with snow and the woods had turned into a winter wonderland with us sitting right there to watch it all. This whole week was a tremendous opportunity for my son and I to spend a lot of time together in the woods.

I will also never forget the first buck that my son shot. It was in 2002 and he was 10 years old. We had bought him a Rossi 22lr/410 that had interchangeable barrels. We were sitting in the second floor of an old building when we started seeing deer. Eventually a spike walked up toward us and gave him the perfect opportunity for a shot. I’ll never forget that hunt since I was probably more excited than when I shot my first deer.

Youth Hunting Tips

I have found that it helps for you to have something for young ones to do when they are out with you. When I take either of them out with me I also take find a word and crossword puzzles and plenty to eat. If you can get them to stay long enough nature will put on a show for them, but it may take a while. I also do everything I can to keep them warm and dry. Originally we sat in the second floor of the old building but it is now leaning. This past year I purchased a Hunter's View WigWam hunting blind for us to use. This worked out real well in rifle season. We were able to stay dry and out of the wind that would surely have sent us back to the house much earlier than if we would have been sitting out in it. My eight year old daughter was actually the first one to spot the first deer that we saw one evening, I was real proud of her. My son also shot a doe from the blind, a story that he has written himself for another page. Blinds do a pretty good job of hiding movements if you don’t unzip all of the holes.

Although I bought the blind for the kids, I found it very convenient this past year even before the kids were able to join me. In the late morning of opening day a nasty ice/rain came blowing down sideways. I left my stand and retreated to the comfort of the blind and stayed warm and dry.

Our blind was fairly inexpensive and is very easy to set-up and take down. It unfolds and pops open in a matter of seconds and ties down to keep it from blowing away. We just place a couple of cheap collapsible chairs (that kind you carry in a bag for sports activities) inside and let the adventure come to us.

If you have children, take them hunting. Many states even have special youth hunting days. Don’t worry about shooting anything, just be out there with them and have fun.

To shop for blinds and other hunting supplies go to Cabela's.

To Read My Son's Youth Hunting Story Click Here




Leave the Youth Hunting Page go to the Youth Rifles Page that contains a rifle recoil chart.

Leave the Youth Hunting Page go to the Youth Bowhunting Page.

Whitetail Deer Management and Hunting Home Page.