EverettJ89
Active Member
I love this idea, he will love building his own blind
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Introducing a 12 year old to Deer Hunting
- Thread starter EverettJ89
- Start date
I think I took to it when I was a kid because I idolize my dad, and I could tell as a kid that he was FIRED UP to go. There were some times we went when I was super small, but then there were also time I had to stay home until I was "old enough." I think the trips NOT going built the desire more than the ones where I did go. I wanted to run with the big dogs in a terrible way. When I started to get "old enough" he made it clear that if I couldn't hang, I wouldn't be coming back out. Looking back, he set pretty small standards, but they seemed big and important and I was dead set that I hit them. I carried my own (small) pack. I didn't whine (too much) when it was cold(ish). I sat (relatively) still when deer were in the plot. That's what men who got to go hunting did, and by golly that's what I was going to be.
I'd say if the kid has a good relationship with you, he'll probably want to go. Keeping him from being miserable but also pushing him a bit while making sure he knows that only the guys that can hang get the glory of going will probably do more to keep him interested than catering to him or worrying if he gets to shoot something. I hunted a long time before I got to pull a trigger. Probably 4 seasons?
I'd say if the kid has a good relationship with you, he'll probably want to go. Keeping him from being miserable but also pushing him a bit while making sure he knows that only the guys that can hang get the glory of going will probably do more to keep him interested than catering to him or worrying if he gets to shoot something. I hunted a long time before I got to pull a trigger. Probably 4 seasons?
EverettJ89
Active Member
He will be gun hunting.
So I'm thinking it will be a combination of ground and stand to start.... the youth hunting days in VA are the last Sat/Sun in October. Sunday hunting is on private only. I think I am going to take him scouting with me a couple weeks before and give him some options to choose from on some public pieces around me for Saturday where we will be on the ground... and than take him to a piece of private I hunt Sunday and put him in a stand that is close to the truck and has a lot of does that bed nearby - that is if he wants to hunt Sunday also. I am by law supposed to be close enough to him to take control of the firearm if need be on these youth days, so I plan on hanging in the saddle with him in the same tree.
If he really takes to it than I think I will get him a bow to start practicing with for next year, and we will do more gun hunting come november/december.
BOWHUNTER14
Well-Known Member
Does he have any firearms training?
EverettJ89
Active Member
I think being challenged is why most of us do what we do, and I think he definitely has a desire to run with the big dogs, as he has two older brothers age 18/19. Anyone who grew up a little brother knows the feeling you describe about staying home and not being old enough for a lot of stuff, and the desire to join in on whatever that was with either big brothers or dad.
I think I'll challenge him by letting him make his own moves in the woods during the hunt after taking time this summer to teach him what I know about hunting/the woods.
EverettJ89
Active Member
Yes he does, we have been shooting several times and he has always handled himself well, and treated the firearms with the respect he was taught to give them, and has remembered the safety rules taught to him from the first time we shot.
BOWHUNTER14
Well-Known Member
Well it sounds like you and him are already a step ahead of the game. I always cringe when I see people take youth out that have never shot a high caliber rifle and expect them to double lung something. Best advice I can give is try and instill good ethics from a young age and take it easy on him. Let him enjoy the experience, you may be able to sit all day in a saddle or blind but youngins can't if he sits down and wants to leave an hour later then let him make that decision. I mean you can try and coax him into sitting longer but when its time to go its time to go
M. Wilson
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2020
- Messages
- 410
The biggest thing I learned, like many others have said too is not force it on them. Let it be their idea and their desire to hunt. I put all the work in and the step son saw and killed deer the very first sit. However, he hasn’t been back. I feel it’s because I forced it on him, wanting a hunting partner so bad haha. Let it be enjoyable
I am going to offer some counter advice to what others have said, mostly based off my upbringing. I would not be concerned about the video games or phones, cause they would stay in the truck. Dont spring that on him morning of though, discuss it more than once well in advance. I also would not start with a deer hunt but would opt for starting him out on small game like skwerls and start teaching woodsmanship with the opportunity to shoot something. A deer hunt would be goal to achieve. Teach him about a compass and map beforehand but let him navigate back to the truck with guidance as needed. Point out mast trees, tracks, etc. making it an all day Q&A. If he gets to shoot some skwerls, teach about marking where it feel or the last place he saw it, an important lesson for deer hunting later. Teach him field dressing on a critter small enough for him to handle easily and about meat care. Just my thoughts...
Yes. Squirrels first.
Hang-n-Rugger
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2019
- Messages
- 1
I know this thread is a little dated, but I'll throw my experience in for future readers. I started my son at around 7, he brought his bow with but wasn't allowed to shoot. In my experience, they get bored and cold very fast relative to us (overweight old people). We could do ~2 hours at a max, and I was careful that when he was done, we went in. I pushed a little, but maybe 10-15 minutes longer, not much. We didn't use a blind, and I didn't want him in a tree that young, so we just ground hunted. He helped find a place to hide. He never saw me shoot one, but we shared some really cool experiences where does were within a few yards of us on the ground before getting busted, it was just a lot of fun even though we didn't shoot anything. Saw some really nice deer a long ways off that he still talks about. We never really needed snacks because we didn't hunt that long. 2 years later, he shot his first deer with a bow and he had a blast again. I also took him turkey hunting, and ground blinds are great for young kids. I definitely let him use the phone and play games. I could see doing longer periods in a blind, with snacks and drinks and a tablet, but that isn't the path we took. We did shorter trips in the woods without a blind. Good luck.
BigB
Active Member
I’m a dad of two boys they are now 17 and 13. I also was raised in a non hunting house and had no clue. I started at 18 and figured it out and I’m still learning at 46. I started teaching my boys with BB guns and reinforced gun safety. They learned too use iron sights. Then learned with a pellet gun and scope.
I took both my boys with me at a young age when they went we hunted from the ground only in a blind. Or we would make our own blind and let them help. Big thing for me was making it enjoyable and a learning trip as well. When the kids are ready to go just roll with it don’t force them too stay. Just take it as it comes.
My oldest son on a trip with me blew a hunt for me. I had a large buck come in at 25yds. As the buck got broadside I drew my bow and my little 6yr old started to giggle/laugh needless to say I didn’t get that shot....
. It was an excitement/nervous giggle/laugh. He has done this multiple times when hunting with me.
Both my boys harvested first deer at 7yrs old. With my oldest son the part I screwed up with I think was gutting the deer. I didn’t do a good job explaining that and it turned him off from hunting for a while. As young as he was probably should not of had him help as much as he did. All kids are different and probably handle that kind of thing different.
Biggest thing to be honest make it safe & fun he is a kid. Enjoy the time afield with him and help him learn so the passion continues.
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I took both my boys with me at a young age when they went we hunted from the ground only in a blind. Or we would make our own blind and let them help. Big thing for me was making it enjoyable and a learning trip as well. When the kids are ready to go just roll with it don’t force them too stay. Just take it as it comes.
My oldest son on a trip with me blew a hunt for me. I had a large buck come in at 25yds. As the buck got broadside I drew my bow and my little 6yr old started to giggle/laugh needless to say I didn’t get that shot....
. It was an excitement/nervous giggle/laugh. He has done this multiple times when hunting with me. Both my boys harvested first deer at 7yrs old. With my oldest son the part I screwed up with I think was gutting the deer. I didn’t do a good job explaining that and it turned him off from hunting for a while. As young as he was probably should not of had him help as much as he did. All kids are different and probably handle that kind of thing different.
Biggest thing to be honest make it safe & fun he is a kid. Enjoy the time afield with him and help him learn so the passion continues.
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Just a quick answer to one thing that hasn’t been directly addressed. I haven’t started a kid hunting, but I have with young adults, and I’ve taught plenty of kids to catch their first fish, and my partner’s 11yo got his first deer out of our food plot last fall.
Expectations: on the one hand, you have to be prepared for disappointment. On the other, I think anyone who kills any deer is going to be plenty revved up. No need to worry about him being disappointed because it’s a small buck, or a doe—and lots of states allow youth / apprentice hunters to kill a wider range of deer. Any deers a good deer.
Last, I hear so many dudes say they really hope to pass it on, and because I work with young people, I also get to hear even more say that they don’t hunt/fish any more because a. Dad MADE me, and b. It was cold. Don’t be that guy that makes hunting torture in the name of toughening a kid up. Doesnt work.
Expectations: on the one hand, you have to be prepared for disappointment. On the other, I think anyone who kills any deer is going to be plenty revved up. No need to worry about him being disappointed because it’s a small buck, or a doe—and lots of states allow youth / apprentice hunters to kill a wider range of deer. Any deers a good deer.
Last, I hear so many dudes say they really hope to pass it on, and because I work with young people, I also get to hear even more say that they don’t hunt/fish any more because a. Dad MADE me, and b. It was cold. Don’t be that guy that makes hunting torture in the name of toughening a kid up. Doesnt work.
BigB
Active Member
^^^^^This if the kids are ready to go just go. If you force them to stay or get upset with them. They will not wanna continue that experience. Just understand they are kids/teenagers make the best of it.
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I didn't read all the comments but personally I would think long and hard about starting him out on deer. Every kid is different but when you shoot a deer up close and personal its a whole other experience. My sons first kill is posted on here under "Quasi Saddle" when he was 12 as well. Unfortunately, he has never wanted to go with me again. While he tells me he likes it, he has never gone with me again. If I had to do it again I would start him off with small game and work up. Truthfully, its a different time and era and kids aren't the same as they were 30 yrs ago. On a side note; I would let him do what ever he wanted when ever he wanted in the tree stand. Make it fun for him.
243 is a great caliber for kids and deer. At the end of the season when I have a lot of bulky clothes on i will use my my sons youth 243. Be careful if it has an exposed hammer like a model 94. I was using one in the winter with heavy gloves and the hammer slipped under my thumb when I was loading it, luckily I had it pointed in a safe direction and just shot the base of a tree.
If he is in a tree stand try to be near him in the same tree so you can talk about things you see and if a deer comes in you can help him through the process.
Don't ser your expirations too high and boy will you have fun when he gets his first.