Turning a CHILD into a HUNTER

I’m not a father nor do I have any experience molding someone into being a hunter but here are my thoughts...

Growing up as a child I remember (as maybe you do) hating to do things that my parents were pushing me to do. I had no interest in some things and just hated to HAVE to do what they wanted. With that being said, don’t push hunting on him to the point where he may feel the way I did when I was pushed to do or try something. Talk hunting with him, take him to the field, the range, show him the game you bring home ect...

Show your love for hunting but don’t make it seem like he has to do it. Make it fun, don’t take him out for the first day of hunting and make him sit there all day and find it boring (especially if your not seeing any game but dont make it seem like getting game determines a successful day in the field). Kids have short attention and get bored very quickly. Think back to when you first were getting into hunting and the things you enjoyed during the early years. I’m sure he will enjoy the same stuff so try to show him those things.

These are the things I will do if I ever have a son or get the chance to introduce youth into the sport. It would be a shame to have him reject what all of us on here love but me personally I’d rather have him hunt and love it then hunt and hate it.

One big thing for us is we have a cabin and we are there almost every weekend when I can turn the water on,My boys have grown up being at our cabin every weekend we fish shoot bb guns and just hang out outside,When hunting season would roll around everytime I would shoot a deer in archery season I would call the boys on the talk-about and have my wife bring them up to where I was and they would help me track and gut and drag the deer out,And yes there was a few times I shot deer right at dusk and they were in the pitch dark woods with me draging out a deer with me this was at 3-6 years old its just what they know they love it,Then we move on to this year now we each take one with us during rifle season and they were there for every deer we shot I got three and my wife got three they are now 7-9 and they are both talking about how they are pumped for spring gobbler and groundhogs,so my advice is they will do what you do if you dont spend much time in the outdoors its hard to expect them too,So if you are a real die hard hunter like we are you dont really even have to try to get them into it its just who they are,If you dont go out fishing,hunting,hiking,or just being outdoors its hard for them to get into it just my 2 cents

Naturally, I can only speak for myself. Nobody turned me into a hunter, I think I was just born into it. My dad did not hunt until it became apparent to him that I was going to accompany my 2 uncles and their sons hunting at their invitation and with his permission. I read and re-read every outdoor magazine I could find, made paster of paris cast of animal tracks, learned the names of trees and how to navigate in the woods - without much help from anyone. Eventually, my dad bought a couple of shotguns and off we went, both of us learning at the same time. The fondest memories I have of my dad are when he and I were hunting. That's when we actually spoke to each other and got to know each other. Maybe there is a way to turn a child into a hunter, but I don't know what it is. I introduced both my son and daughter to the outdoors at young ages, hiking, watching animals and introducing them to the joys of the 4 seasons and respecting nature. The both hate the outdoors and will have nothing to do with it. I tried everything I knew of and spent a great deal of money trying to get them interested in some aspect of the outdoors but they would not appreciate it or my efforts. My wife cautioned me not to "force" anything and they would eventually come arround. I agreed with her and took it light. Writing this kind of breaks my heart because along with all the other failures I have regarding the raising of my kids - this one, this love of hunting and the outdoors, was the one I very much wanted to leave them with. Well, I got far afield there and became self centered. I appoligize for that. I sincerely hope you have far and away much better success than I did.

Just try and make everything a positive experience and fun. If you go fishing and they aren't biting well, let him (or better yet JOIN him) skipping stones, looking for bugs, whatever. Also be careful as to the other folks you expose him to. If he hears a buddy of yours complaining or talking about illegal or unethical behavior, then that will always be on his mind. Trust me, kids hear EVERYTHING, even if it seems that they are not paying attention. In my opinion, the most important thing is to put him first. You've had your time, and you'll get more later, but for now, his feelings and interests should come first. Take him for small game, let him catch sunnies all afternoon, stop hunting and go for a burger if he wants. If you do your part, his interest and persistence will gradually increase to the place where YOU'RE ready to go home and HE'S asking to fish for "just a few more casts" or "wait another hour or so and see if that buck comes past"