i have been wanting to take my 5yr. old deer hunting. he started going squirrel hunting with me last year but this season i wanna try to take him for deer. i only hunt on the ground, so we will be in a pop-up blind. he really wants to go but im afraid if we dont see anything he will loose interest quickly. any tips or advice? i know i could carry his nintendo ds but that would be cheating,right:)
I say cheat away man. Nothing like spending time with your son.
Bring nintendo AND lots of snacks. A pillow and blanket for sleeping too.
But understand that he will make noise, he may want to go home, and man will he want to talk. Enjoy it all man!
Take lots of snacks, his DS, and anything else to keep his attention for a while. Don't expect to sit more than a couple hours at the most.
The first time I took my son (he was 5 also), I never knew I could say "hush Evan" so many times in one hour! :biglaugh:
If it's about spending that time with your son then I'd say take him but let him be the barometer of when to call it for the day.
My 2 cents worth.
God bless,Mudd
Get a good headset for the DS for him. It will greatly cut down on noise. You won't be hunting 95% of the time, but you will be bonding.
yep i think thats what i'll do, pack in a bunch of stuff for entertainment. another thing is he wants to bring his longbow...i told him he could but he couldnt shoot an animal yet because the bow isnt heavy enough....he just said" well let me use yours when we see a deer" haha!
Do him and yourself a favor and bring him for walk hunts and maybe 30 min blind hunts. It takes a lot of discipline to sit in a blind for an extended period even for an adult.
I was taking my son hunting (watching only) when he was 4 years old, mostly squirrel hunting like you. He loved it. Today he is 32 years old and my best hunting buddy.
He didn't start actually shooting until 9 years old -- again squirrels. I wanted him to be able to hold and safely operate the gun. In fact, for two years I didn't take a gun as I focused entirely on his safety and education in the squirrel woods.
He began shooting a bow at 4 and going to 3-D shoots at 5. Indaina State champ at 8 years old (Bowhunter Round-Up 12 and under). He was "ready" to bow hunt deer when he was 12 but we lived in Kansas at that time and the law didn't allow a youngster (at that time) under 14 to hunt deer. We moved to Missouri and at age 13 he bow-killed the first deer he shot at on opening evening. I witnessed the whole thing from 20 yards away.
My grandson has been a different matter. He sat in a ground blind (went to sleep) at 4 years old. At 5 years old he was in my ground blind when the largest live deer I ever saw in KY walked by -- my buck tag was already filled. He needed to go home after less than an hour in the blind. He had very little interest in the hunt.
He is 8 this year and he'll be going along again as an observer.
The youngster must want to go. He/she must be kept comfortable. Try to prevent boredom from dominating the experience -- be ready to end the hunt before that happens.
Talking to the youngster about possible outcomes of the hunt (see nothing, miss a shot, kill the animal, wound, etc.)is important. I wouldn't force any part of the experience, especially field dressing on the youngster until they are ready (when they say they are, not when we think they should be).
These early experiences are important. They can have much influence on the youngster's reaction to hunting in the future. You can end up closer to your children than most non-hunting parents ever imagine. Or, your child could resent hunting if he/she doesn't like it and hunting steals you from him or her.
I know for some of us it seems implausible that the hunt could be boring to our youngsters. I sometimes get bored hunting. However, I have past hunts to think about and know that at any time inaction can be interrupted with the most exciting moments of my life. The youngster doesn't have that memory bank to keep them fired up.
I've known some folks who tried to force the issue too much and turned their kids off hunting. That's too bad because hunting is a very positive life experience for most folks.
One more tip. When the child asks to go (son or daughter) make it happen as soon as you can!
I think i pushed my first son a little to early and he lost his want to go.
I waited untill he REALLY wanted to go before i took him deerhunting with me and at 12 or so he got it back. He's a real shooter now and turning into a bowhunter.
I hope it works out for you. God Bless.
My answer is TAKE HIM OUT and watch them get pumped so its time to fuel the fire.I sent you pictures of my sons hunts from 4-9 years old he has taken 5 deer, groundhogs,squirrels,And a hog last week.
he is definitely interested in going. here is a pic of his first animal taken this past spring:) he was tickled over his trophy...but i think i was more proud
(http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg258/bailebr3/cmanfrog.jpg)
A lot of quality time and fun in store for both of you! According to the Outdoor Writer's Association, only 25% of the children of hunters become hunters these days.
At 5, I would say keep it short and sweet. Make it as interesting as possible, make up some games or let him play with his DS......
Just dont be bumed if you dont see anything...
Great picture and yes the ds really helps them pass the time.And bring plenty of snacks.Good luck.
My boys started coming Deer hunting when they were 6. As said above keep it short, If they are ready to go, go. It's about enjoying the woods with them. Not getting a deer. Just seeing wildlife made them glad them came so talk up any, birds, bugs, squirrels... whatever, activity in the area, what is sometimes mundane to us can be fun for them.
My boys started coming Deer hunting when they were 6. As said above keep it short, If they are ready to go, go. It's about enjoying the woods with them. Not getting a deer. Just seeing wildlife made them glad them came so talk up any, birds, bugs, squirrels... whatever, activity in the area, what is sometimes mundane to us can be fun for them.
i was younger than that when my dad was watching deer and elk run away because I would not be quiet. He never stoped taking me. I will never forget it or thank him enough. Neither will your son.
brandon take that boy with you!
i started dove hunting with my dad when i was 4 or 5. i made a great bird dog! take lots of snack and drinks. make it fun.
Kids are a lot like dogs. Stop a activity while they are still very excited if you want them to retain that excitement. Don't wait until they are bored.
i killed my 1st deer with a 4-10 slug when i was 6... belive it or not i was sitting by myself when i shot the deer. my dad made a little deer drive where we would alwayse bump deer across this loggin road. big doe ran across the road 10 yards infront of me. i pulled that little gun up and popped her right behind the shoulder!! lol.
take him
yeah i thought of a great lil farm close to our house. its only about 40 acres but its close and we can setup on a bluff that is full of squirrels. we will probably end up shooting at a few:)
i was just unsure because my dad didnt take me until i was 14 or 15yrs old. he never deer hunted only quail and rabbit hunting.
I was a about that age sitting in a 90 degree antelope blind playing my Nintendo Gameboy. Because my Dad took me then, we'll be sitting in an antelope blind again in a week, 22 years later. Make sure he has fun and you guys will be doing it for many years to come!
Definitely take him. Been taking mine since he was 4. Bring snacks, gum, etc.
Took my 3 year old grandson hog hunting in March, he loved it and is constantly asking to go again.
(http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh403/hlewis2/Tosohatchee%20Feb%2011-13%202011/DSCF2834.jpg)
We had to take a break to let him throw sticks at gators,
(http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh403/hlewis2/Tosohatchee%20Feb%2011-13%202011/DSCF2828.jpg)
and he spotted the only hog first, someone else got it, but he did spot it.
(http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh403/hlewis2/Tosohatchee%20Feb%2011-13%202011/DSCF2838.jpg)
I was busy watching the marsh.
Have another hunt planned with him in 2 weeks, this time over a feeder. For being so young he doesn't really talk in the woods. He's learned if he stays quiet he'll see more animals. Any animal makes him happy, that's what makes it all worth it, just seeing how the smallest things make them light up and gleam.
The only thing I can add is discuss with him befor hand what you are willing to take. The first time I took my son a doe came within range, I was about to draw and he quietly told me to wait for a buck. It was a good chance to teach him about filling the freezer but if I would have been smart enough to tell him that does were fair game first the story may have been a lot more interesting!
I let my daughter take her small digital camera. Got lots of squirrel/chipmonk/tree/leaf pics. No deer but she really enjoyed it.
Crayons and a small coloring book sure do wonders.
For the first few years, the "hunting" trips I took my boys on were nothing more than outings.
There was practice being quiet, and discovery of all sorts. Lots of snacks and lots of laughs.
We would stay as long as they wanted, and most times, when we went home, it was after a long time in the woods.
Good times...take him as soon as momma will let him go.
I am a firm believer in taking your kids when they first express an interest. I started taing my son when he was three. I killed a deer with him that year (rifle) from a double ladder. He has been hooked ever since. He killed his first deer with a gun when he was six. Since then he has killed a lot of game with a rifle and a few things with his bow as well.
Without getting too far out of whack with this thread, I think that minimum age restrictions on hunting, expecting kids to hunt with a bow right away, and imposing trophy standards on kids are the biggest threats we have to the future of hunting. If we don't get them out there early and often they will find other things to occupy their time. If we don't allow them to experience success the same will be true.
Here are some things that have worked for me when hunting with kids:
1. Use nap time to your advantage. Even older kids will nap in the stand if you wear their little tails out in advance or if they get up early enough. When my kids were young,I used to time things where they would sleep the first hour or hour and a half of a hunt and then I could keep them busy for another hour or two. Worked out well.
2. Make sure they are not cold, wet, or otherwise miserable. When it turns into an endurance contest, the fun is out. Sleeping bags, ponchos, etc. are essential when weather dictates their use. A sleeping bag pulled up to the waist or chest is great for keeping a kid warm.
3. Games with a plan. I always let my kids take nintendo, etc. in the stand, but would use it as a last resort. I never let them use it right away, and I always made them put it away at "prime time". Over the season, and after a number of successful sightings, "prime time" gets longer and longer.
4. Food. Kids get hungry and besides it is rude to talk with your mouth full!
5. Don't forget scouting and teaching. It is easy to forget that the experience is all new to kids.
6. Get them on a blood trail early. I am amused by people that want to hide the fact that a dead deer is the net result of a hunt. Blood will not gross them out and neither will gutting a deer.
7. Give them something to do. Tally the number of chipmunks or tree rats they see. Draw a picture of a deer. Color in a coloring book. Take pictures, use binoculars, etc. My daughter used to take sticker books to the stand. She put an elmo sticker on an old compound bow I used to hunt with. It is the only compound bow I still own. Dumb huh? But I keep it for the memories.
8. And that leads me to the most important part. When they act like kids instead of hunters, remember that you made a choice...a wise choice... to include them in something that you like to do. You are building memories. The memories you are making now will taste better in your old age than any backstrap you slap on the grill.
Carbonkiller, you dad was wise. I didn't get my son involved in rabbit hunting until later. Action in rabbit hunting (shot direction) is often unpredictable. Shot opportunities happen (if not using dogs) quickly and with little time to plan.
On our first rabbit hunt my son and I would approach a likely spot to jumb a bunny (small brush piles). We'd stop before jostling the pile and discuss which way a rabbit would likely go and we'd determine shoot and don't shoot directions. The rabbits were unbelievably cooperative that morning. We hunted for about 30 minutes and jumped 3-4 rabbits and ALL of them ran exactly the direction we predicted they would.
I also found my son and daughter not to be the least bit squeamish about blood, field dressing, or even with a sound a doe made as I made a finishing bow shot one morning. Maybe this is because they had seen so many dead beasts come home with me? More likely a natural curiosity.
By the way, after a few years I sensed my son was getting a little weary of my casual safety reminders. Finally, one afternoon I told him I did this so he might not have to live with having shot and killed me. This had more impact than any advice I gave him aimed to protect him. I think, like many young people he saw himself as invulnerable. Yet the idea of accidently shooting his Dad got his attention.
Just be prepared to leave once he is had enough.
Keeping him in the blind beyond his current patience and interest level may set up a lasting disdain for hunting in the future.
He needs to be able to enjoy the experience w/i his own current capablities.
all great advice guys! thanks to everyone for the help. i think we will have a blast and gain some good one on one time. hes had a time adjusting to not being the only child here lately. alot of difference between him and his 10 week old brother:)
Took my son on his first deer hunt when he was 5. It was the day after Christmas and he wanted to go instead of playing with his toys !! We were gun hunting from the ground and his job was to look for squirrels and tug my pant leg when he saw one. When the 7 point walked out he whispered "there he is shoot him now". It was a great hunt, I couldn't keep him out of the way as I field dressed the buck. He examined the heart, lungs, liver had tons of questions and then offered to drag him out for me! He grabbed the antlers a gave tug and when the deer didn't move he looked up and said "whew these things are heavy!"
It was a great day. He had a back pack full of squeeze drinks and beanie weanies.
Take him huntin and have fun
the first time I took my son he was four, I pulled off a crazy shot within a half hour of sitting down on a hill side. It messed him up for life, now 30, he still thinks that he should be able to shoot a deer in a half hour. My daughter was two, I carried her on my shoulders. I would flatten out some weeds and she would play with anything she could find, like beetles,voles and shrews and put them in her pockets. She still has an affinity for little creatures. Just don't hike the little ones too far, and take wet ones along. They always need to 'go' as soon as the hike in is done.
I kind of think the DS is not necessary. We all grew up without using electronics in the deer stand. I shot my first bird when i was five and shot my first doe when I was seven with a .243. It depends on your child as to how long the hunts will be. But remind him/her that the longer they stay still, the higher the chances will be in them seeing a deer. I think only 25% of children adopt their parent's interest in hunting because 75% of parents dont know how to make it interesting for their particular child...if the child is competitive, you can challenge him to be a better hunter. If the child has less of an attention span then the you have to use other tricks. Find what they enjoy about hunting and focus on that, not what you enjoy. Good Luck!
My grandson, Ben has been going with me for the last three years. He just turned 8 last week. He has his DS for making the three hour truck ride to camp, but it stays in the truck (his choice) when the hunting starts. He also comes with me when setting up stands. Let your son be a part of all the hunt preparations. Make certain he is involved in the weeks and days before the hunt and encourage and develop his ability to anticipate.
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_0415.jpg)
I watched my dad shoot a deer when I was 3 years old. All I remember is crawling on our bellies to get within rifle range. If he wants to go, take him!