My Granddaughter is 7, and always asks to go along on my deer hunting trips. She loves to be outside. However, she will get bent out of shape if I kill a spider in the house. She doesn't mind the meat carving after I've quartered it up, but I haven't figured out how to ease her into the actual shooting. All she has ever hunted is paper, and not a bad shot. Since she is showing an interest, I don't want to put her off killing a deer if she isn't ready.
Hunting advice/opinion
- Thread starter johnfred1965
- Start date
I would wait a couple of years. Too much pressure too early can end it for life. It needs to be HER idea.
civil82
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm working on getting some video together. A close friend's 7 year old son killed his first this year, I was able to spend it with them in one of my "honey hole" spots to get him some action.
One of my friend's comments was that the parent can't be the puppet master - the child has to want to do it, and their comfort/interest has to drive the amount of time spent in the field. We were fully prepared to call it a day if he wasn't actively engaged in observing the scenery or was uncomfortable, cold, etc.
It all worked out, he is still checking for the chest hair the we assured him would grow now that he got deer like dad does
.Only she can make that decision.
I have a son and two daughters I also have 3 grandchildren 2 girls and a boy and 2 great grand children I take or have taken along not hunting .
My youngest daughter didn't want to kill a deer . Funny now that has changed they all hunt .
First year she went hunting she shot a paint ball gun . Successfully spotted a buck . And a few doe.
With patients I told her and also explained that hunting was the only reason we had deer to start with . The money we pay in fees for licensing and the tax we pay on all sporting goods . Provided money to regulate the The conservation Of the game and fish . Then I think she seen we killed game and harvested it . And all the road kills not only did the suffer but they were wasted . I showed her in the paper the results of of the country's were in they had 4200 reported car deer accidents with two death of people and many injurys.
My advice is go slow let her tell you if she is ready . And I hope it works out.
Nothing to me is better then hunting with your family Now I'm the one who don't care to kill . Merry Christmas Larry
My daughter is very empathetic to animals or anything living for that matter, her room is like a zoo, we have pet everything you can think of and she is a hunting machine along with her friend. I was very careful with her, we started shooting together when she was 5 yrs old, took a lot of time explaining the why we hunt as we were eating wild game, we make tasty meats so it was not like my growing up eating over cooked aged mule deer but something all my kids love to eat. I spent a lot of time showing her all the important things about field craft, we spend a lot of time on tracking and finding game, learning what animal were tracking from the slightest signs, the difference between Mt lion and wolf tracks, the nuances of the mountains.
I saved my deer tag to only kill with her so we spent a lot of time picking out one deer and we hunted it all season looking for that one shot. When it was time for her to be in on a kill I made sure it was perfect, she was my spotter and giving me a range even though I didn't need one and I shot three deer though the heart so there was no chance of a deer dragging or screaming, we spent a lot of time again talking about how big of a decision it was to take an animal, she wanted to be right in it gutting, she gagged the whole time but still hung in there.
This year I have the pleasure of watching her and her best friend hunt, these two young ladies are 12 and I'm so proud of how they conduct themselves I can't even express it, my daughters goal this year was a 3 point mule deer buck taken with one round perfect shot placement, both girls had to shoot their deer twice last year but being prepared for that possibility they took care of business but they were wanting to do better this year. My daughter and her friend both made their goals, my daughters friend spotted a deer for my daughter and they both worked together to get that deer, my daughter put a perfect shot on a 3x4 mule deer with her 223 and he piled up in 10 yards, by the time my buddy and I got there the girls were half way through gutting it themselves, my buddy and I then got to watch our two daughters drag the deer back to the truck all by themselves, it was a moment as a dad you will never forget and it was an awesome moment for my buddy and I. Those girls skinned him out and are learning to cut their own meat, they spent an hour skinning the head out on their own for a euro mount they are all hands on BUT we've maintained their empathy to living things around them, put the time in on everything around the kill, it's worth it!!
You Tube. Plenty of videos showing young kids hunting with commentary on why they do it.
I appreciate the answers, and as far as the meat, she loves my deer chili more than I do, if it is possible, and I laughed out loud about using the paintball gun, I will have to look into that!
I had my girls in the shed watching me cut them up at a very early age. My youngest once asked that I put its coat back on.
We found that teaching them this was about food and the natural order of things, they seem to understand that this is not scary or heart breaking. Don't wait. Take the time to explain how and why things work, otherwise some crazy liberal teacher will get to her before you do.I brought my girls hunting a few times before the first one decided she wanted to shoot. That "easing into it" seemed to work for me.
Don't rush it and if she wants to go, take her hunting. If she decides not to shoot when the shot presents itself, then let her pass on the shot. And do not shoot it if she decides not to shoot. Just tell her its ok and keep it fun. Who knows, she might just kill the next one that walks by. My daughter, who is now 21, has bow hunted with me quite a bit and never shot a deer (she's hell on pheasants and grouse). She has had plenty of opportunities, but I suppose she just likes the close encounters and observation. At least she's into hunting and we have a way to connect on some level through her teens. One of these days, she'll let the arrow fly.
I have two boys, both took deer at an early age. My oldest was 6 years old when he got his first deer, my youngest was 5. It has been a contest to who does better and who can shoot better than the other. I don't think my oldest understood everything that came with taking a deer, until it was over. It was a life learning moment when it came time to process the deer. After that, I don't get to hunt unless they are there. Spend the time, let them shoot paper, balloons, suckers , what ever. The most important thing Is the time spent. I don't know how many afternoons I have spent with them hugged up with me watching the sun set and thinking this is what it is about. Hold on to them, teach them, and enjoy what you are doing
My oldest decided this year he was holding out "for the big one". He wanted to take nothing less than an 8 point, he passed on a couple shots, he had a goal, and he meet his goal. I have never been prouder or happier for him.
Family and time spent together is what it's about.
My oldest decided this year he was holding out "for the big one". He wanted to take nothing less than an 8 point, he passed on a couple shots, he had a goal, and he meet his goal. I have never been prouder or happier for him.
Family and time spent together is what it's about.
I started taking my current 7 year old son deer hunting with me last year. Tried to take him squirrel hunting with me at 4 years and thought we had everything understood. As we approached the woods he asked me when we were going to catch and pet the squirrels. We shot cans and puddles instead of squirrels. Last year my son saw me kill and clean 2 deer. I bought him a 7mm-08 youth rifle this year and have taken him multiple times. Unless you are hunting from a box or ground blind, all of the stars have to line up perfectly for this to work. We have had one shot within 100y and he decided not to pull the trigger. I did not and will not pressure him to take a shot. He cited concerns about making a bad shot and wounding the deer. I feel in no hurry to get him a deer. There is no question that he is learning every time he goes out and is also having fun. I plan to keep it fun.
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
I have three daughters, they all hunt and enjoy it. The youngest one was very tender hearted when she was young. Your comment about not killing a spider was exactly the type of girl she was. I never pushed her, kept target shooting with her a lot. My other daughters would get so excited during the draw it was like the lottery and I could see my youngest starting to think about it. Hunting stories helped and when my other daughters filled a tag we would brag it up, lots of "good job" and high fives. My youngest finally asked to put in at age 16. She drew an elk tag, we were blessed with lots of game and perfect hunting conditions, she filled her tag. When field dressed it I didn't gut, I removed the quarters and deboned it careful to keep it as clean as I could, simply because I know how she would react to blood and guts everywhere. She has been hooked ever since. I'm glad I didn't push her, I think it might have soured her. Every kid is different, good luck. Nothing makes memories like being in the woods with a child.
One last thing. So my daughter didn't like killing spiders and bugs. One day I came home and she was crying. I asked what was wrong and she took me to the back porch. There on the concrete laid a daddy long leg, squirming unable to walk. She explained that one of its legs was smaller than the rest so she got a pair scissors and cut all the legs the same size. you got love kids!
One last thing. So my daughter didn't like killing spiders and bugs. One day I came home and she was crying. I asked what was wrong and she took me to the back porch. There on the concrete laid a daddy long leg, squirming unable to walk. She explained that one of its legs was smaller than the rest so she got a pair scissors and cut all the legs the same size. you got love kids!
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