I'm getting fed up with these hunting shows. Why do they even bother to buy expensive camo clothing when all they do is have someone drive them up to a tower blind and let them pick out a deer with the biggest antlers and shoot it. Then they brag about the monster buck they got...If you or i took these guys on a Real Deer Hunt they would'nt have a clue on how to get in or out of the woods. Just goes to show that hunting will soon become a rich mans sport. It saddens my heart to see this because they will never know the True meaning of hunting. To go out in the woods, scout, learn to track, read sign and, and most of all not haveing to kill an animal to have a succesful hunt. Some of my most memorable hunts is when i came home with nothing more than a heart full of memories of watching wildlife going about there daily routine and spending time and sharing stories with good friends...'' Now thats what HUNTING is about.

Well I think the best way is to take your kid in the woods and teach them so that when they walk into a course they can get 100% before they take the course. I do get your point just ribbing you a little.

I think you missed his point. I don't think he's saying that a kid shouldn't be allowed to kill a big racked deer. I'd be more happy to see a kid drop a monster then if I did it myself.

If this is true, you only saw what this kid did on the show.Which made it seem like Dad hasn't taught him hunting skills,more like he taught him how to use a credit card to buy a trophy.Whats wrong with taking two minutes out of the episode and show the kid doing some scouting or Dad teaching him something.

Two examples of what I've seen in the recent past.

1.Last year NYS youth Turkey weekend. My son camped out in a WMA psyched for this special hunt. Couldn't get anything going in our first spot,so we went to the back up. Two trucks sitting there,one has a guy in it and we start talking. Find out that his son is hunting with a guide and a cameraman and Dad is sitting in the truck waiting. He tells me that the guide knew there were birds in the area and he was keeping in contact on te radio. Son and I get back in the truck and my boy turns to me and say's" what's that deal Dad?" I just shook my head.

2.One of the neighborhood kids tells me he wants to hunt. Dads not a hunter so I agree to take him. We scout, set up stands and I try and teach him what to look for why we're doing it. Well this honestly thought it was going to be no problem shooting a big buck, because that's all he ever saw on shows and video's. Hunted one season.

I started taking my kid scouting in one of those baby back packs.

Started taking my son for short hunts in second grade.Make em fun bring lots snacks and don't plan on getting anything.You definately won't hunt as hard.

How old is old enuff?

There really isn't a good answer. It really depends on the kid, and the adult. Some kids will be ready at 6, some at 10, some never.
It depends on how well a child learns and how well the adult teaches and how much time and preparation is spent.

How did I teach my kids.
Let me start by saying that my kids have allot of exposure to firearms. They see me compete and practice just about every week. Lots of time and exposure on firearms rules and safety. They know that a gun is not a toy. They have seen what happens when I shoot steel and what happens when a deer is shot.
With that as a base, and occasional trips shooting 22s and even some of my other competition guns, we did the following.

First,
both went on 10 or more hunts last year. Normally, I hunt out of climbers. But, I took them to green fields and shoot houses so we could talk and learn. Both of them were with me during kills as well as recovery and cleaning.

Second.
I bought a Mossberg youth model shotgun and cut the stock back to fit them. Fitted an extra recoil pad and put an aimpoint on it. I also filled the remaining void in the buttstock with lead shot to help with the recoil.

Third.
We did lots of dry fire practice with a VERY deliberate sequence of actions. Did this every time (kids do well with lots of structure and repition). Goes like this.
1. Place gun in ready position (the back of a chair simulates a shoot house window, if needed, I put the gun through the window and then they take control.)
2. Aim (put the dot on the spot)
3. Safety (with finger OFF the trigger, take safety off)
4. Aim
5. When, and only when, dad says finger on the trigger and FIRE.
We practiced this in my house, using two chairs and pictures of deer in various positions taped to the wall. Of course we made sure the weapon was unloaded and took all appropriate saftey precautions.
Once the boys were proficient with the dry fire practice, we went to the range.
Using featherlight field loads, we practiced the same sequence at the range shooting at various targets out to about 35 yards. Let me tell you, with the aimpoint, they just don't miss.
My reason for the feather lights was to avoid turning them off with recoil. I figured that they wouldn' t mind it and when it came to real hunting we would use 3" mag loads. My thought was that with the excitement they would not even notice the recoil with heavier loads, I was exactly right, they were so focused on the event that neither even noticed the stouter loads.

Fourth.
Every time I got a hunting magazine we would go through all the pictures of deer playing "would you shoot? where would you shoot?" etc.

Fifth.
Dress well and recognized their limitations.

I can honestly say that both my kids were ready. As I said earlier, each kid will be ready at a different time. My 6 year old is MUCH more ready than my 8 year old. He sits still longer, is more deliberate in his actions with a firearm and has a much longer attention span.

Overall, you get out of a child what you are willing to put in.
One last important point, not too much pressure, don't make your kid go if he or she really doesn't want to. Use positive pressure and enticements of fun and learning.

Someone mentioned earlier that the classroom isn't a substitute for the field. I agree 100%, learning "on the job" is invaluable. But being exposed to safety and appropriate actions via a class environment is very valuable as well.

Good luck
R
Hank

Ding,Ding,Ding we have a winner.

ahankster
As you can see in my post I have a son and he spends most of his time in the woods.HUNTING ,fishing digging and just seting and looking at the squirrels.

I can tell you I turned the hunting show RIGHT off.The big thing that I beleave is crap is A kid 8 years old HAS KILLED 13 deer. He cant even hold the gun up let alone shoot 13 deer.

I took a 22 marlin and cut it down to my sons size[barral and stock]. He can hold the gun and shoot it. We do not shot it much but he can.

My son will set for a good 1/2 hour befor he is ready to move.If there is ANY wildlife at all he would set there all day.I think if they are going to pesent shows like this they should TEACH kids how to hunt NOT hold the guns for them.

AS a lifes test this is just the start.This young boy will think every thing is just handed to him.The boys that have to go set a few weeks watching the animals and LEARNING will be way better off in there life latter when they do anything in life on there own.

In utah you aren't allowed to even take the course itself until you are 11 years old, then you can hunt small game and waterfowl(and bear and cougar![&:]) at age 12, but biggame at 14.

I agree 110% with ahankster.
Quite frankly if I had my son on a guided hunt and my son was told to pass up rack bucks because of his age and level of experience i would be pissed off.

I killed my first buck when I was 5 or 6. Everybody in my family took their first buck by the age of 8, including the newest members. I took my nephew out last deer season to get his first buck. He was 7 at the time and I made him pass on alot of bucks, but he finally got a mature 8 pointer on the 3rd evening.

Thats awswome.TXhighrack.
That will be an unforgetable experience in your nephews life.
He will always appreciate that memorable experience.
You must be thrilled.
I have yet to witness my stepson bag his first buck.He just turned 12
and never expressed an interest in hunting, until this year.
He did shoot his first blue grouse this fall(biggest blue I've ever seen) and just loved the thrill of being outdoors.I'm having it mounted for him.
Over the Christmas Holidays he asked me if he could deer hunt this year.
I enrolled him in the CORE program and he passed his theory and practical.
I shot my first deer when I was 9 used a 30-30.
I've already purchased binos for him and I will be purchasing Josh a rifle and scope in the next month or so.
I'm leaning towards either a .308 or 30-06cal(will use the rem reduced cartridges).That way he have a very capable cal gun that shouldn"t feel he has outgrown as he gets older.
He is a big boy 120lbs and in great shape so he should handle the recoil fairly well with lots of practice should be able to group his shots out to a couple of hundered yrds.
I do have a .22 and a the same 30-30 to practice as well.I can"t wait till the season starts again.
Anyways congrartulations on you and your nephew and good luck next year.