Guest Blogger: Kasey Werner on Teaching Kids to Hunt

Kasey from HuntAndFishGuides.com sent this guest post over on Halloween. Enjoy!

This September (2011), Michigan hunting laws were changed to allow children ten years or older to firearm deer hunt. This really excited both my son and I. Finding things that you and your children enjoy doing together creates some of the strongest bonding experiences possible. There is almost always the chance to teach them something new as well, even if it is just the new experience itself. Hunting has always facilitated some of the most long-lasting bonds that people have. The recent death of my Grandfather really brought this point home to me.

When I was a kid my Dad wasn’t around. It was my Grandfather who stepped in to fill that role. Some of my most cherished childhood memories are of my time with my Gramps, many of those revolve around hunting. I remember waking up when it was still dark, piling on layers of clothes until I looked like a bodybuilder, and tasting coffee for the first time. We would make our way across the field out back and find our spot. Once we settled in, I’d get bored. I fidgeted and sighed, daydreamed, and fell asleep a few times, none of which are desirable hunting skills. With seemingly never-ending patience my Grandfather would explain how and why these things would lessen our chances of a successful hunt. When we were hunting Gramps treated me different. Every question I asked was answered and explanations were long and thorough. I was treated like an adult.

Those hunting trips taught me how to be a responsible and effective sportsman. Recently I realized something else they taught me; how to be patient while teaching my own child how to hunt. Things that we take for granted are completely new ideas to a young mind. Concepts like staying downwind, being silent or getting to your spot before the game is moving require more explanation than you would think. Children are why machines, so be prepared. That infinite patience that most of us were given as children should be foremost on your mind.

Teaching children about hunting can be a daunting task. There are so many different aspects to the sport that you’re really only getting them started, they will spend the rest of their lives “learning”. Hunter’s safety is a great first step. This will teach them how to handle a firearm, and to just be a safe hunter in general. I’m sure anyone reading this knows what hunter’s safety entails so I won’t go into a lot of detail. One tip I would give, is to go with your child to the class. It will help them focus and show them that the material isn’t to be taken lightly. It will also give you the peace of mind of knowing what they know about being safe, so you can add anything that you feel is important.

Get your child comfortable with a firearm. In hunter’s safety class my son shot two rounds out of a .22, and two rounds out of a 12ga. This does not equate to any kind of real training. I would recommend spending several months before hunting season getting them familiar with the exact firearm that they will be using. If you have access to others, by all means teach them how those work as well, just make sure they are very capable with the firearm they will be hunting with. Most firearm accidents are a result of not knowing how to safely handle them.

Most hunters have a preferred strategy. Explain to your child what this is and why you use it. I don’t like crawling around or going for long hikes so I have a blind set up about a mile from home. This is what works for me. I made sure to let my son know why I do it this way and some other methods that are popular. Maybe later we’ll try out some new techniques together, that’s part of the fun of hunting with your child. Just explaining the different strategies and reasoning will get them pretty excited about trying to outsmart their game. Whatever hunting methods you use, show your child before opening day. If you do any work on your hunting area take them with you. If you have a set path or spot take them out and show them. The more you expose them to all of the different aspects of hunting the more positive reaction you’ll get.

Make sure they will be warm and comfortable and highly visible. This doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune on new gear. Just make sure they will be warm and able to move freely. If they are too cold or their clothing too restricted they will feel miserable and not enjoy the hunt. I would also highly recommend making sure that your child will be very visible, regardless of what laws are in place, to avoid any tragic accidents.

Teaching your child about hunting can be very rewarding. You will have a common interest to share, create a deeper bond than you had before, and have a lifelong hunting partner. Figure out what way your child learns best and approach it from that angle. For example, my son likes to read about things before he tries them, so I find him all the hunting literature I can. After we discuss it, we go out into the field and practice what he learned. The more care you take in ensuring your child enjoys the learning process the better. Above all, be patient, don’t rush things, and remember the acronym K.I.S.S., keep it simple stupid. Don’t bombard them with every little detail you’ve picked up over the years. Start them out slow and build on that knowledge one day at a time.

Comments

[Rudy]

Great article on getting the future of the outdoors involved early! The only thoughts that I would add is, this applies to all kids not just our own. This could be a friend of your child or a child of one of your friends. And to not start out with the kids on all day or even half-day hunts. Take them for an hour or two as kids are not used to sitting still and quiet for long, so this part will take some time.

I look forward to reading more of your posts!

[Jenn]

I've enjoyed this post! We certainly look forward to getting our little ones out in the woods and marshes around here :)