[Mike M.]

I have no chidren,so I can tell you how I got hooked,as a child.My dad died when I was 6 weeke old.I was not without a father figure in my life though.A maternal Uncle led me,in the right direction with a love for the outdoors.He started out by telling me stories,of hunting and widlife.He would make it a point of showing the game he shot & the trout he caught.I got to help skin & or pluck the game.He would take me for walks in the wods and show me all the different,animals trees, plants,etc.
Then he bought me wildlife I.D. books & field guides,and I started to go to him with them and he would sit with me for hours,going over them.I could Identify all Pa.game animals by the 2nd grade.
Then came fishing,which helped satisfy my desire till I reached hunting age.All along he would take me shooting BB gun,.22 then shotgun.When old enough to hunt it was never an issue if he would take me,I was going.First small game then deer.
I guess what I am saying is go slow an spend as much time as they want to,in the outdoors.It worked on hooking me.

 

[limbhnger10]

Go for walks in the woods and make it a learning experience. Let them bring a "find" or two home on every outing. Then work it up to scouting for deer or turkey.

 

[jmdb25]

My dad had me in the woods since I was 5. Never pushed me never said you have to go. Even with Distractions like girls, and football I always wanted to go hunting.
I made a mistake with my oldest when he was 3. He had been archery hunting with me a few times and seemed to like it. Only short 2 hour hunts with lots for him to do. Since he liked that so much I took him squirrel hunting and ever since that day he does not like guns. Scared him. Now he will go bow hunting with me and he has hunting with a crossbow (he is now 6). I do not push him to go because I want him to like it. He now has BB guns so he is getting used to guns again. My 2 year old will get out in the woods this year to walk around but no hunting yet. Now we have way more distractions these days... and technology is the root of evil (video games). My oldest likes the hunting games on the Wii some of them are really good other not so good. My advice dont push him.

 

[Treestand]

i take my son(6 yrs old) on most of my outdoor events. he loves shed hunting and game cams. he is going to be a hunter for sure so look out deer here he comes.

 

[STEADY POINT]

My twins sons have been hunting since they were three. There little sister has been out since she was four. they have a little brother on the way and he'll do the same. Start them young and bring distractions and lots of snacks you ll be surprised. Good luck,

Russ

Steady Point!

 

[Fr.Mike Brecht]

I wish I knew?? I am the first hunter/fisherman/trapper in my family history. I use to cut school grab the .22-(earned with my own money mowing lawns---parents were afraid of guns) fishing rod- -bow -and head for the hills.I would make snares out of copper wire for jackrabbits etc. Fred Bear was my Hero.That was almost 45+ years ago. Raised 4 kids(never pushed one of them--and 'yes' they all love me now.(Two of them took hunters safty course)I would take them if they wanted.Take them to a pond of bluegills so they could 'First time out' catch fish(leave my rod home so I could give them full attention). You Name It!. Short- one hour squirrel hunts etc It just never happened. I also let them get involved in what they were interested in and was careful not to relive my youth through them(shameful what i see in T-ball practies-parents screaming and yelling at theier kids wanting them to be what they wish they had been) I even refused to allow 'play station' in the house 'or whatever' they are called now --it didn't help. (My oldest son is computer engineer) Not one took to the outdoors. Middle son loves guns (getting ready for second tour in Iraq -he mans the 50 cal.)-but not much interested in hunting fishing trapping. However!! oldest grandaughter(I have 5 grandaughters one grandson- and another grandson on the way )said to me she wants to take the hunters safty course!!HALLELUJAH!!--Maybe its genetic and skips a generation! LOL--Waiting on them two little boys to love grandpas guns /rods /traps/ and bows!
Mike

 

[Jaron]

Mike - It's men like you that I give a lot of credit to. I've been shooting since I was three and hunting with my Pap since I was 4. Not because I had to. Because I wanted to. I have also seen the parents at the tee-ball games. Those parents are in every sport and they're not just the dads. One thing that every parent has to realize is that their kids have their own special little personality. You can't manipulate it. If the interest is there, it's there. If it's not you need to support them in whatever they're interested in.

Know your kid, not what you want your kid to be.

 

[Fr.Mike Brecht]

Thanks Jaron-There is another side to this coin--I can't tell you how many kids( from our church) over the years that come from Non-hunting /firearm families that find out that I hunt and fish etc.And just beg me to teach them.Right now -a 15 year old asked me this sunday would i teach him to shoot. I told him that I would take him to the sporting clay range but first he would have to learn gun safety and gun edict.He asked me what I ment by 'edict' I said "well thats what your going to learn"
It might not be your kid but they are out there---Like me I had knowone to teach me yet I was desperate to learn!
Mike

 

[Jaron]

Like I said before, I give you a lot of credit. You seem like a really good man. Thank you.

 

[Bearklr]

I am a proud father of a 2.5yr old son. I recently recalled a thread I started on here a few years back about hunters being a dying breed. More specifically, as time goes on, it seems that its getting more and more difficult for youth to gain serious interest in the outdoors with so many "electronic" distractions. I am personally doing my best with my son at planting the "hunters seed"...but was curious of the thoughts/approach some of you other fathers out there have taken to pass down the heritage.

My son is 6 and already can't wait to get out there. I just kept talking to him about it and tried to make it fun. I got him a turkey box call,a slate call, a duck call and a goose call. Kids love things that make noise and I'd rather having him using those than a ray gun or something. Funny thing is he can now use each one pretty well. I also let him hang my antlers in his room and bought him matching small game clothes so he can "dress" like me. He loves putting on the gear and running the beagles. I also take him with me when I scout in the woods. He pretends to shoot the squirrels and asks a ton of questions. I basically try to make it as interesting as I can.

 

[mus42tang]

If I was a hunter with a young family, I'd worry about the time I got hunting and fishing.

Cause the child will make his own choices as an adult.