The "Do's" of Taking A Kid Hunting

Taking a kid hunting, whether it’s your own child or even a stranger through a mentored hunt program, is a totally different experience from hunting for yourself. Though there could be plenty of challenges, it’s one of the most rewarding activities as an experienced hunter. Giving back and providing newcomers with the lessons that come with hunting will have an impact on them forever.

DO take a kid hunting! But make sure it’s something they want to try. If they’re pressured into hunting by a parent or peers, their experience might be negative if they’re uninterested or just not quite ready yet. Be sure they are enthusiastic or at least willing to go of their own accord. 

DO take the pressure off. Hunting for kids is supposed to be a fun way to enjoy the outdoors and feel the satisfaction and pride of providing meat for their family. No matter how many big buck YouTube shows they watch, kids do not need to feel any pressure to harvest a trophy animal. Celebrate their accomplishments and allow them to make mistakes without feeling as though they let someone down. 

DO introduce a youth hunter to small game hunting. It is less common now for kids to start by hunting rabbits and squirrels than in past generations, but it is truly a great activity that helps them practice marksmanship, looking for sign and is more mobile than sitting in a deer blind. Rabbits and squirrels should probably get more attention from hunting mentors than they do!

Small game hunting with beagles can be a fun intro to hunting for youth hunters.

DO take responsibility to make sure they’re meeting legal hunting regulations. Have the kid read the hunting regulations ahead of time, but ultimately you need to be sure they have the legal tags and stamps, and are meeting other equipment regulations like blaze orange or certain calibers. 

DO prepare ahead of time. Hunting is a lifestyle with great responsibility. Be certain the youth hunter is comfortable and accurate with their firearm. Almost as important as hitting the range is having some conversations ahead of time. Do they have any worries beyond just regular nerves? Have they accepted the reality of taking an animal’s life? How will this affect them emotionally? Being in the game physically and mentally ahead of time goes a long way. 

DO try to keep them (mostly) comfortable. The sometimes-misery that comes along with hunting is part of the fun and memories, but making sure your youth hunter is warm will keep them less fidgety and out in the stand longer. Hand warmers and warm clothes can add hours to a hunt. 

Hunting out of a box blind allows the two of you to sit near each other and communicate. Double tree stands are another good option for deer hunting with kids. 

DO ask questions. During the hunt, keep the youth hunter engaged and get a feel for how they may be reacting to different new experiences by asking a lot of questions. Kids may surprise you with funny observations or much-needed information that you would never know without asking questions. 

DO point out observations in nature. Even if you’re not seeing hide nor hair of your targeted species, chances are you will spot other critters out there to point out. Even something as benign (or irritating) as a squirrel can provide plenty of entertainment. Keeping a lookout for and pointing out other wildlife creates great memories and a connection to nature. 

One of the most important lessons for kids while hunting is to observe and appreciate other wild animals in their natural habitat.

DO allow the youth hunter to make mistakes. Not dangerous or irresponsible ones, but it is absolutely okay to allow a kid to learn the consequences of their actions. Is the loud shuffling and talking going to scare a deer? Let them see it for themselves instead of shushhhhing them every few minutes. 

DO allow the youth hunter to make important decisions, whether or not they feel comfortable taking the life of an animal in that moment being the foremost. If they choose not to take a shot, that’s their decision. If they do choose to, it’s their own decision uninfluenced by outside pressure.

DO be patient. Kids are loud, can be nervous, and are new to the activity of hunting. It’s a lot different than hunting on your own. While we want our youth hunters to experience success in the field, remember they’re learning and try not to get too caught up in the moment. Patience goes a long way toward making sure they feel comfortable. 

DO bring snacks!

DO celebrate big time. When your youth hunter is successful, it’s a huge deal! Celebrate it! And continue to celebrate throughout the year by mentioning when their game animal is being prepared for a meal. The feelings of pride and providing food can last all year and contribute to hunting for the right reasons. Even further, let them choose and make their own recipes!

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