<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>i have seen both what you describe and my boy. and i have seen a lot of other good kids and some that just need someone to work with them. kids are all different due to different home lives, experiences, and parents that know how and want to parent. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
Bingo!! That is the whole thing in a nutshell. It takes responsible parenting/mentoring to help kids become responsible, safe, and ethical hunters. Not simply turning them loose in the woods because they can hit the bullseye! That does not prepare them for being a safe or responsible hunter. Nor does it prepare them for whatever they may feel when they make their first kill......
Will it be hopefully be with one shot, and a quick, clean kill being the end result? Will they feel the rush and sense of accomplishment when they take that animal....along with that touch of sadness most of us feel. Or will it be simply shooting? That depends on how/what they have been taught, and what examples they have had set for them. I find it very sad that many kids that would like to learn about hunting do not have anyone to teach them responsibly, if they have anyone to teach them at all.
I think here on the board we have some good examples of parents that are teaching, and have taught their kids to hunt safely and responsibly. All one needs to do is look at the pics, and read the stories some of our members have posted of sons or daughters after their kids hunt. Whether they had been hunting turkeys, deer, squirrels whatever.... the smiles on the kid's faces said it all!!
KHM, When I read your post it made me wonder if those kids had been pushed into those situations...much like some parents push their children to participate and excel in sports....football, baseball etc, etc. To the detriment of their kids IMO. What you described above makes me shudder to think about the risk some parent took in having a child that young involved in such a dangerous situation. Either one could have ended up with a kids death! Even if the parent was watching with back up thinking they would take care of it.....if their kid could/was not able to do so I personally think it was irresponsible....Heck, anytime, anyone is out in the field with either gun or bow be it hunting for deer, whatever the quarry.....there is always potential for danger. That "potential" needs to be understood and respected by all that hunt.
As I stated in my earlier post, it is something that I feel should be age appropriately introduced. First things first, thats basic woodmanship in my book. That is what my son who just turned 4 started learning last year. It is the first stepping stone on the path of learning how to hunt. JMO
As a mother that hunts, you can rest assured that teaching my only child to hunt, and shoot, is something I have no intention of taking lightly.
And when I do take him with me during hunting season, it will be for him not only to observe how I hunt, and what killing an animal entails.....but for me to observe him and his reactions, listen to, and answer his questions. It will be a long time, with many bridges to cross yet before my son is turned out on his own with any weapon in the field. He will have to be a "hunter of deer" first before he can be a "killer of deer". As he told me this past year when I had him out for some early scouting....."Mama, We have to thnk like a deer."
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I also feel that as far as being a shooter......that also should come first with range time only.....not at live animals!! Shooting targets and a live animal is entirely different. I feel one must master the basics of woodsmanship, and their weapon of choice be it a bow, or gun, prior to actually hunting. My son will have to be proficient at these things, along with passing State regulation courses. As his mother, for me to not see these things through would IMHO be irresponsible. When my son goes on his first hunt.....he will be armed with the knowledge, patience, and responsible ethics of a true hunter.....or he will not go period! <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
And thats my ramble for the day.....
Its not what you harvest...
Its what you learn...
Christine
Edited by - Christine B on 01/10/2003 10:55:13