One of the key things to remember when taking young kids out either hunting or fishing is to make sure that the focus is on their "fun level." 90% of the time they're just happy to be out their with their Dad (or Mom). But that can be very short lived when the task at hand is sitting still and silent for an hour or more. A small doodle pad and box of crayons in a blind can extend the trip by another hour or two, or even a small tube of elmers glue and a pocket fulll of pine cones can keep a kid quiet and entertained for quite a while.

A box blind is a great way to start, but don't forget to pique their interest with a pre-season scouting trip or two just meandering around looking for tracks, bugs, toadstools, etc.

Also, child development experts say that children do not start to form what we call "true memories" until about the age of five. So don't feel too bad about leaving your 3 or 4 year old at home despite their protests.

Remember too that children are typically much more temperature sensitive than adults are. What to you is a brisk mornning might be downright freezing to them, or an "unusually warm" afternoon to you might seem broiling to them. Plan accordingly.