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Take A Kid Hunting?

by Jeff Caldwell :: Featured: February, 2003

Taking a kid hunting is undoubtedly the best way to insure the future of our sport. But it must be done with several things in mind. When I use the word "kid" I am referring to young children, that will not be participating in the hunt as far as shooting game goes. This age varies in each province and state, but I am talking about a kid under the age of 10-12.

The first and foremost thing to clarify is the mutual consent of the parent and/or guardian  to take them out hunting. This may sound easy but if the Mrs. is not happy about you taking your 4 year old to the woods, then maybe you had better sit down and get that part straightened out. This becomes even more important when parents are separated, divorced and stepchildren come into play. Nothing will ruin the outing for the kid more than if there is a big argument when they get home, or the refusal of a parent to let them go. So get these issue clarified long before the planned hunting trip and it will go much better for all concerned.

Here are several other things to consider in no exact order:

Plan on a short outing the first time you head to the woods. It would be unwise to have a big day of hunting ahead of you as young kids endurance, and attention span is far less than ours. Each kid is different and after your first time out, you will have a better idea of what to plan the next time.

To make it more enjoyable for everyone try and pick a day with decent weather. Nothing is worse than having it pour rain , and the youngster starts complaining of being cold and wet.  In our climate snow conditions are a HUGE factor. I once tried taking my 2 boys ( ages 5 & 6 ) out when the snow was 2 ft + deep. Needless to say it didn't go so well, even with me breaking a trail they just couldn't manage. It certainly was not fun for me, trying to get 2 kids and 2 beagles back to the truck in over 2 feet of snow. I will not be trying to repeat that any time soon !!!!

Pick a good hunting spot that is easy to get around in. Places with trails are excellent for kids to wander and explore in. This is even more important when you have hounds with you and you have to manage getting kids and dogs back to the truck in one piece. Lots of game will keep them interested as well, I know my guys get a kick out of seeing the rabbit come through with the beagles in hot pursuit. Memories like that stick with them for a long time.

If you are carrying a firearm, make sure you follow all your usual firearm safety as well as some extra caution thrown in. Kids are always watching you and your actions are noticed and copied. No matter how young, talking about firearm safety is a good thing. I always talk to my kids about it and explain why I unload to cross a fence, or why I carry my gun a certain way. Its amazing what they have learned already. Another consideration along these lines is the type of weapon you choose to take with you. A 12 ga shotgun is probably not the best choice for a youngsters first time in the woods. You can make kids gun shy just like you can a puppy, maybe take a .22 rifle with you the first time or two.

Hunting with dogs ads a whole new curve to the game. It is wise to take another adult with you in these circumstances. I am sure we have all had a time or two when we have ended up in some god forsaken creek bottom, or briar patch. Its bad enough being in there yourself let alone having a kid with you. If you have another adult one of you can stay out of the thick stuff while the other retrieves the dogs. This also becomes a safety factor if there is a flooded river, ice etc... we have to keep kids away from such dangers, as well as an obligation to our hounds who follow their game no matter what. Another factor that hunting with dogs brings, is the fact of possibly having a dog that is not use to kids and is unsure how to react. I do not know any hounds men that keep mean or aggressive dogs, but if there is any doubt maybe leave that dog at home.  It is also a good idea to teach the kid a thing or two about dogs and how to handle them. This is a bonus for you as they will be able to help you handle and catch dogs depending on the kids age etc...

Take a snack and something to drink with you. If the kid you have out in the woods, is anything like my 2, heck they will be hungry and thirsty in the first hour you are out. My guys think its great having a snack or lunch in the bush so I often time my hunts for the late morning and take a few sandwiches with us to have lunch on a log !! Again its memories such as this that leave a lasting impression on a youngster.

If you make a kill on an animal, try and have a look at it before the kid gets a glimpse. Its not always a pretty sight and you don't want to upset little Johnny if it an unpleasant sight. I am not saying that it is a bad thing for a kid to see what happens when you harvest an animal, I think it is very important. But use some judgment with each animal harvested to minimize any possibility for a bad memory.

I am sure that I have missed a ton of stuff that could prove helpful for a parent ready to take their kid hunting for the first time. But I have related some of the things I have found out by trial and error with my boys and I hope by passing these along it saves one kid a bad memory of hunting. I feel that we should bend over backwards for our children so that they will have only good memories , and at the least will support hunting even if they do not take it up for themselves.

Take a Kid Hunting!