A Little Hunter’s Introduction
How to Introduce Your Child to Hunting
The whole dream of Angels & Antlers came to life by complete accident. My daughter, Mikita, and I met various groups of people who enjoyed the sport, while I was on the heels of heartbreak. Never in a million years would I have guessed that either of us would have been prepared to take on such an activity. I realized I needed to stop wallowing at home in sadness and get out and enjoy my daughter again. We went with our new friends and the both of us felt excitement and wonderment as the trails opened up before us.There are so many reasons to take up outdoor pursuits with children. Hunting with youngsters when done properly can help pass down a great hobby and lifestyle, teach conservation and stewardship and let a child develop their own keen sense of observations which builds their confidence. In our case it was great for developing bonding time; time that allowed us to focus on our relationship with each other instead of relationships with electronics or other influences. Physical fitness and mental readiness, self-control, discipline, team work, and a respect for what shares our habitat… In my opinion, all key characteristics that good citizens of our world share.
But, as in every sport, the key is knowing your child. What do they like, what aspects of the sport are they ready for, and where do their strengths lie. Hunting offers a great sense of fulfillment, but not all parts of the sport are for every family member. Some like the scouting, some like the chase, some like the harvest, some like the butchering (seeing the way bodies fit together can be so coooool), and some simply like the dinner on the table! It’s important to respect where your youth falls in to regarding hunting so that they continue on with the tradition, keep the sport alive, and have many happy memories after you’re no longer around to guide them.
Here are a few ideas regarding introducing your youngster to the world of hunting…
WHERE TO START
Who loves hunting? Anyone who loves the outdoors! With that in mind, you want to get your child as involved as possible exploring the land around you. Every bit of it! Hikes, picnics, walks, camping, climbing, snowshoe, quad… There are so many varied activities to do that will get your children excited about the time they will spend with you outside. Visit as many different terrains as you can with them. Let them share with you vast Prairie skies and wheatland or heavy forest with spongey moss carpets and the smell of pine. Get muddy in the swamps and streams, looking for fish, frogs, muskrats and other critters or visit meadows with rabbits, insects, and birds. Go wildberry picking!
Be prepared without being crazy. It’s important to have the proper shoes, clothing, hydration etc… because being hungry and cold leads to a miserable child and a miserable experience. Start off with shorter time fragments and work your experiences up to longer events. And be FLEXIBLE! This isn’t about what your idea of the day should be; this day is completely about how your youngster views the world and their place in it.
LEARN FROM ME, YOUNG GRASSHOPPER
Once you’ve had a bit of time in the outdoors and your child is comfortable, consider inviting them to partake in some of the aspects of hunting that fit their development and maturity. Hunting has so many aspects – Scouting, tracking, calling, harvesting, dressing, butchering, packaging, cleaning up, and of course cooking and enjoying! Have conversations with your children. Find out what interests them. Discuss proper and ethical hunting prior to going in to the field. Share appreciation of a meal from game. Share wildlife videos and pictures, always keeping an eye on how your child is coping with the information given to them. The key is to not push your child to the next step before they are ready. Let them choose the activities that they wish to engage in. My son enjoys the social aspect of sausage making time and even enjoys the skinning of the animal whereas my daughter is an excellent fieldswoman. Encourage growth in the areas that suit YOUR child!
EDUCATION AND NEVER TOO SAFE
Your child turns 16 and wants to borrow the car… Do you just throw them the keys? They feel they’re ready but as a parent you’re all too aware of the pitfalls and dangers that lie on the road and even within the vehicle itself. Hunting is exactly the same.
Start with your local hunting laws. When your youth decides they are ready to start hunting, take them to your local Fish and Wildlife office and seek out information with them. What is the minimum age, accompaniment, education classes required? Are there safety courses or clubs that promote archery and youth shooting in your area? Check with your Fish and Wildlife, or ask about 4H groups. Make sure whatever group your youngster is getting involved with, safety is a key component to the teachings. Keep in mind that if you share some of the involvement with the education then your child will be more eager to share involvement with you in the field. Plus it’s always good to have a refresher. If you hunt safe and show them your commitment to safety, they will follow in your footsteps and respect the hunter’s code of conduct as well.
MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE
Your youngster will enjoy hunting more when they acquire the skill set that helps them achieve results. If you were to stick a brand new video game in front of them in the beginning there would be frustrations. They would be trying to figure out how to pass levels in the game, how to unlock certain codes to gain powers that make winning the game easier. As they start to figure it out, the game becomes more enjoyable.
Hunting becomes more enjoyable in very much the same way. The more developed the skill set, the more interest in the sport. Provide different opportunities for shooting. My children enjoy playing the target games that are available in the local sports store. Battleship (where they try to shoot each other’s targets), Blast the Zombie, and endless others. While keeping it fun, focus on the safety aspect and proper form. Then move in to opportunities with different species. Just like not all aspects of hunting are for everyone, the same can be said for different game. My son enjoys shooting pests such as gophers and coyotes. My daughter is more in to big game or whatever she is going to eat.
A youth hunter is more likely to carry the tradition in to adulthood when they have had more experiences as a youngster! Recognize with your child all the hard work and effort that goes in to the sport, successful or not! There is always a reason to rejoice!
Get ready to get in to the field and make some memories! By keeping in mind that with each moment you are in the field creating a new memory, you can keep the atmosphere positive and encouraging for years to come!
