Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

We take our 4 year old hunting with us every year and I wondered how many other people did the same. I guess for us it may be different because mommy hunts too, so she can' t stay at home with me while daddy has all the fun! ;) This year she has expressed that she isn' t that thrilled to be hunting so I need some ideas on how to make it more appealing to her.

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

I' m taking my 7 year old son with me this year--i bought a ground blind so he doesn' t have to sit still and maybe will like it better than trying to " be a statue" .He is really wound up about it so we should have fun.

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We' ve thought about a blind, but haven' t found an area where this would work. We take turns still hunting so she doesn' t have to sit still. I think she just has other things she would rather be doing and of course there is the gross out factor when we do get something down.

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

Lady Arwen,
This is only my 4th year bow hunting. Last year, I took my daughter with me it the woods. I harvested my first deer with a bow with my little girl right next to me, 23 feet up an oak tree. She helped me track it, field dress it and then drag it out of the woods. On the drive home, she asked if she could come up the following week with me and my two brothers. Talk about your " Priceless" moments...

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

Congratulations on your first deer! You' re very lucky to have a daughter that wants to go hunting with you. I bet the both of you will remember that first experience always. I suppose some kids are just naturally more interested in hunting whether they be boy or girl. My hope is that as our daughter grows she will be more enthusiastic about the whole experience.

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

I take my 9 year old son and 5 year old daughter whenever they want to journey with me....

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

:DI take my son (he' s 3 1/2). We usually don' t stay very long, as soon as he gets bored we get down and got to the truck. We hunt out of a 15' tower blind so he can move around a little bit. We usually bring a couple of toys and a coloring book, and some snacks. :D I don' t try to force it on him, he' s just happy being out in the woods with dad...probably not as happy as dad is though;)

>>>---DAVIDP---SILERCITY,NC--->

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

My daughters, now ages 14 & 10 have been hunting with me for years. My oldest killed her first deer last year. It was a nice mature fat doe. We had a small, young 4 point in front of the stand for over an hour, but I wouldn' t let her shoot it. She shot it perfectly at 153 yards. I was so proud words cannot explain. My 10 year old wants to try and take her first this year. My son turned 3 this year, but I think I' ll wait one more year before I take him, he' s still a little too hyper and gets bored and restless easily.

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i use to take my nephew starting when he was 8 or 9, now hes 19 now and lives far away anyway he lost interest when he discovered his magic friend ,lol !!!!! however if i had a kid to take i would!

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

My daughter (now 16) was 11 when she took her first deer. She has taken two shots and has 2 deer to her credit.

My son (now 12) was 10 when he took his first deer. He has taken several with a gun, several with a bow, and just recently, several with a crossbow. He tried the crossbow and is now back to his compound.

We hunted as a threesome for years out of a ground blind. Since my daughter is afraid of heights, we still use it for her. Best investment I ever made when they were younger. They could play around or lay down to take a nap if they got bored. Yes, we were caught by a lot of deer and didn' t get a shot; but, we still had a lot of fun and cherish those moments when we look at the pictures.;):)

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RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

I haven' t taken my kids deer hunting yet, I just don' t think either of them is ready. My daughter is 7 and she went tree rat hunting with me last year. Was one of the worst days (weather wise) that I' ve gone hunting. But we had a blast anyway, and it was dad that wanted to go back to the truck not her. I owe her a good hunt. The boy was susposed to go with us then but he came down with a fever during the night and momma put her foot down on him going last year. I do plan to take them out again this year. If having one in the woods was sooo much fun I can' t wait to get them both out at the same time.
B

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

My son is 5 1/2 years old and average size. He will be coming on some of my deer hunt this year. I just bought a Double Bull ground blind and a deer decoy. When ever I take the blind out, he' ll be with. He shoots his Hoyt compound at least once or twice a week. Let me tell you..... he can shoot. He shoots with a release and a peepsight and a single pin. I think his Beeman carbon Hawks are 20" long. He consistently scores 280 to 290 at 10 yards. I think his draw length is now 16" , pretty small, and he started at 13 lbs. draw weight. Now he is at " 25 POUUND DRAW WEIGHT" and I got him a bowfishing set-up for his Hoyt. When we first went his draw weight was 18 lbs. and the arrow would bounce off and maybe take a scale off. Now with 25 lbs. of pull, he can get most shallow fish in. He really loves to bowfish. What kid wouldn' t love shooting and pulling in 8 to 18 lb. carp !!!

Good Luck!

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Taking my 12 year old nephew with me moose hunting. Dragged him around turkey hunting for 2 years. I take my daughters turkey hunting every year (their 9) and they will be going moose hunting when they are alittle older.

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My 14 year old took his first deer last year, and this year will be his first archery season. He is practicing often and passed his bow proficiency test last week (we hunt on a military base that requires everyone to pass a proficiency test). I was so jacked! Then I told him that he still has to pass the hard part, convincing me that he is ready. Four weeks to go and I will be bow hunting with my son! WOW!:D:D:D:D:D

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I' ve been taking my daughter hunting w/me since she was 4, she' s 8 now. we hunt in a blind and I' ll bring the sleeping bag and the coloring books,heck even Barbie comes with. but if she gets to cold we go. try make it fun for them,because in the long run they' ll want to hunt. if you force it on them and make em stay they' ll hate it later. Now my 4 yr old son wants to go now this year, glad I invested in the DB Bs5 blind now the whole family can go[:-];)

(KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE)[8D]

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Well this year will be the second one for my twin girls, they are 11, last year they, one at a time went gun hunting with me, this year if things go well I might take them bow hunting as well. They have helped me drag, dress, skin and butcher deer. The look in their eyes when things start happening is priceless, next year if they do well this year I will start them gun hunting.

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I have three sons, Ages 18, 17, and 2.5. I haven' t taken my little one hunting yet, but he' s been in the woods helping me ' scout' . He points out the ' dweer twacks' all the time!!

I started taking my older ones when they were 4 years old. I let them start hunting after they passed the hunter safety course at age 9. They had to work a few more years passing Dad' s hunter safety course, but by age 12, they were both hunting in a stand on their own, albeit within shouting distance of me. Both got their first deer at age 13 and one got his first with a bow at age 14. Between the two of them, they have shot about 15 deer in their young lives. The best deer was a 100 class 8 point.

Even now when they have developed the interest in ' girls' , they still hunt and don' t want to miss it! One of them told his girlfriend that on Sept. 13th, he would be hunting, and that she would have to adjust to not seeing him as much. That' s what I call setting priorities!!!:D

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My little man is 4 1/2 and I' ve been taking him squirrel hunting since he was 2. I think that I' m going to try a bow hunt this year. If I can get him away from squirrel gravy and biscuits.

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RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

David hit the nail right on the head!
The main things are ....don' t force them...don' t stay too long. I take my son (6yrs old in Nov) and have for the last 2 seasons (during gun season only). We go out in the afternoons when the temps are decent, and stay until he' s ready to go. He' s always had fun, and always asks when we can go again. I gave him his own set of binoculars, and that occupies him pretty well. Something to eat and drink is a must as well. Looking forward to this year for sure! :D

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

you guys are right!! anyone who doesnt tkae his kids becuasee he is afraid of what he might miss has already missed the point! Letting kids go at the ownpace is the BEST!

my 7 year old has been for three years and this year will get to carry his on little bear bow. He will never get a shot but he is so excited to go! and feel part of the action! When he is tired we are done!

Good luck ALL!1

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

I started taking my boy with me at age 6. He will sit in a ground blind all day if we are seeing animals. If the hunt is slow I keep a game boy in my pack to help keep him going.

Im proud to say he wants to sit until o-dark-thirty because he is afraid we will miss something if we don' t!

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I have taken my grandson for years now but he thinks he' s gettin to be too big for his britches....he' s almost 17 and too busy with the girls. I have enjoyed his company though!:)

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

Good Stuff!
I have a five yr. old who' s been asking. I guess I know the answer.

Thanks

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

My oldest started squirrel hunting with me at about three and a half, sitting in a ground blind while bow hunting the same year, helping me chase English setters after pheasants the following year along with his own treestand.Last year ,at the age of ten, he took his first two whitetails with a bow.His little brother, now three, gets to start his hunting carear this fall.(he started shooting a longbow this summer). Now I can' t imagine spending time in the woods without them.

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I started my oldest when he was 8 (now 18). I took him turkey hunting in Western MD and it poured rain on us and we saw and heard nothing. He was a trooper though and never complained and we left early. He took his first deer with a bow at age 14 (it scored 128 even) and now is more interested in girls than hunting. [:o]

My youngest (now 12), loves to go out with me and wants to kill a deer himself, but his proficiency needs to improve a bit before I let him try.

RE: Who takes kids hunting w/them?
 

I started taking my kids with me when they were 4 or 5 yrs old. My daughter is now 18 and my son is 16.

My son is an avid hunter now. He has taken deer with bow, rifle, and muzzleloader. Bowhunting is his favorite means of hunting.

My daughter goes with me on occasion but she does not hunt. She just likes to sit with me and read while I' m on stand.

The times we spend together hunting are some of my favorite and most memorable.

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I take my 13 year old brother w/ me every chance I get!