ORIGINAL: NY Bowhunter
Try to get the kids involved in other ways of hunting. "Seeing" deer isn't the only thing that matters. I understand that is the ultimate goal to peek a kids interests, but there are tons of other things to get them involved.
Take them out with you and your buddies setting up stands and trimming shooting lanes. Explain to them why you're setting up a stand where you are. Talk to them about the wind and where you think the deer will be traveling to that particular stand. Show them food and bedding areas and where they travel back and forth. Take them scouting. Show them deer beds, scrapes, rubs, heavy used doe trails, etc.... Talk to them about the moon phases, cold fronts, the RUT
. Explain to them everything that affects deer movement and why. Give them a feel for putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Start them out young with the knowledge that it's more about throwing up a stand in some tree hoping for a deer to walk by. If you sit and don't see deer on a particular hunt explain to them why that may be (other than the DEC has the entire NYS herd screwed up[:-]). Let them hang around you and your buddies when you tell your war stories. They'll feel like one of the gang and get interested. If you want, shine some fields after dark in your area so they know deer are around.
Very true NY Bowhunter! When I put in my fall crops, the kids were there to help as I explained everything I did. I also started this past spring an "Annually Family Tree Planting Party" in which everyyear as I plant various trees along the property, the kids are involved. However, with that said, NY does need to lower the age, 16 is just ridiculous! My kids are 8 & 10, the best I can hope for thus far is the fact at age 14 they can hunt a doe with my DMP tags. My nephew is 13 now and I already told him to get ready for next year!
As for seeing less deer, I agree to an extent. During bow season I saw plenty, during rifle is almost zero. Too many neighbors doing deer drives and "recycling" their tags. Many only have one doe tag, but yet they shoot 2-3, butcher them right away and don't use the tag unless DEC happens to be around. I think many hunters need to look in the mirror for the issues, just because DEC gives out the tags, doesn't mean you should use them up if your not seeing that many deer. We need to make the right decisions, but hey, keep shooting the spikes and four pointers and complain that you don't see any big bucks????? Hello........
