Guest Andrea Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 For those of you with children.....what happened on that first trip to the stand?? How old were they? Did they sit still? Did they see anything? Shoot anything??? The first time I took my oldest son John, he was 7 years old. He was so still and quiet I had to keep making sure he was still awake. We did'nt see anything. The first time I took my youngest son Jack, he was 5. He could not be still. He could not WHISPER either. And he eventually went to sleep from the boredom. Last year I took them BOTH. We sat in a shooting house. They were quiet. Sort of. Jack kept cracking his knuckles, John kept bumping the side of the house with his elbows. Jack kept letting out really loud sighs of boredom. And MOM was about to lose it. We did NOT see anything. Anybody got any FUN memories they'd like to share?? Or NOT so fun memories?? LOL!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeStandBowHunter Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time My oldest does better than my youngest but I guess that is no surprise there. It's fun but those do have to be my less serious days though . I believe both my boys have fell asleep at one time out in the field. [ QUOTE ] John kept bumping the side of the house with his elbows [/ QUOTE ] BTW...where you hunting at I like to get them out there to get them used to it. I keep it at small game for the most part right now. Get them used to the basics first. If I had a nice built tower stand that had windows and doors and the size of a living room like you see on videos, than it would be a different story. But when your stuck with public lands and climbers and hang-on stands...yeah, we keep to the basics and only do the small game thing. Deer season is my "alone time" . My oldest who is 8 might get out there with me this year for deer but we will see...one step at a time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] John kept bumping the side of the house with his elbows [/ QUOTE ] BTW...where you hunting at [/ QUOTE ] We sat in a shooting house. Not quite big enough for all 3 to sit comfortably. Big mistake. Next time I will just take ONE child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WI2506 Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I havent hunted alone without a kid for many years... 4 kids basically one year after another ,they had to have me along side.. One fell asleep at the stand and another whinning at every turn the other was independent and did his own thing... last but not least was the girl who could outshoot the boys--then along came the brother in law from south dakota who cant hit the broad side of a barn but comes with money and snacks..that one didnt start hunting till he was 50 years old and knew it all (not). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deldeer Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time this is my favorite subject!!!! kids & hunting......my son was 5 when i took him the first time. i must say he did'nt do bad at all. he knew what he was getting into by the time we took him & we got alot of funny tales through the years. he is 17 now & hunts on his own, but we still laugh at the things he did.....i started taking my 7yr. old daughter last year, which is a little ironic because her nickname is "lil miss peta" because she loves animals so much, but she does understand the hunting aspect of it all. we were in my stand in md. last year & i saw a small buck coming through the woods right to us, i reached for my bow & told her there was a deer coming to us, she sat there & did'nt move. i was unaware that she did'nt see the deer at the time so she got antsy & jumped up & yelled at me " where is this darn deer at ??!!".....the deer looked at us then turned & ran to the next state!!!! i don't know who she scared more...me or that little buck!!!.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaCoyote Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I used to walk with my daughter when she was 3 or 4 chasing grouse. She's twelve now and will be going with me in a couple of weeks for deer. We struck out with turkey this spring, but she did shoot a pheasant at a Sierra Club youth meet. Very tough kid I'm a very proud dad. This girl will walk all day, and has never complained in the field. Sometimes when we get back to the truck if it's wet out. Can't blame her there. Shes very into the outdoors, you can tell by the questions. I used to bring my nephew but his whining was rediculous. He only hunted for a couple of years and decided video games would be funner. I'll be taking the 8 year old out this year on some "shorty" pheasant hunts, and we'll take her after turkeys this coming spring. If you guys and gals don't bring your kids you don't know what your missing. I only wish my wife hunted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWiggely Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I took my youngest last year, he was 5. We had been sitting in stand for just over an hour and he had been quiet as a mouse. He had his little binocs out looking up the hill for awhile and he says to me "Hey Dad, I see something" So I grab my binocs and start looking in the same direction as him. For about 5 minutes and I can't see a darn thing. So I say to him, what is it you see? He pauses for a minute and says... "Squirl Tracks" Wigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time Ty started going with me as soon as he could walk almost_I stillhunt so slow was good for him-remember that little red snowsuit creeping along with me-had a 4 year old chunk of ice a few times but he gutted it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time Austin start going with me when he was 3 yrs old I think.And even back then he was strangely quiet and pretty focused on what we were doing.Hes 10 now, got one deer under his belt with a ML.Ill be waking him up in a few minutes, its the first morning of youth duck season and he wants to go.Be his first duck hunt he gets to carry a gun on.Should be fun.Start em young, keep at it as long as they showan interest.Itll pay off in the long run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time My youngest has been going out with me since he was 5. I knew better than to try sitting with him, so we did some slow (and noisy) walking. He broke every branch he came across, threw acorns, yelled at squirrells for being too loud, and repeated asked where the deer were! LOL He's 10 now and this is the first year he can hunt in our state. He is quite, doesn't yell at squirrells, and doesn't break as many sticks....We are going to try a buddy stand and see how that works. I know he won't make it through the whole day up there, but I'm hoping to make it through a morning. My oldest isn't into hunting much, so he's very quiet (napping) when I take him.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I will be taking my daughter on her first deer hunt this year...Looking forward to it. She is six, and I am planning on bringing her on warmer days so she will stay cozy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colescott1 Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time Just last weekend, I dedicated the weekend to taking my kids on their 1st hunting trips. Set up a brickhouse blind along a fence row overlooking an alfalfa field that runs into the woods where I have my ladderstand. 1st time I've ever hunted out of the blind, and 1st time I've ever sat out in the field. Friday night was my 3 1/2 year old sons turn...got to the blind at 4:30, coloring books and "Video Now" in hand. He did great until about 6, then became figety...flicking the side of the blind, constantly asking if the deer were out yet, etc. Although nothing came out in the field, we had a great time, and considering, I think he did awesome toughing out his first hunt for 2 1/2 hours. We left around 7. Great part, on our way back, we got to see 4 does that we tried to put a stalk on....no shot, but he had a blast. Saturday night was my 6 yr old daughters turn. Same story...to the blind at 4:30pm, coloring books and Video Now by her side. Right at 7pm, she said she had enough, so I started packing up. I look up, and see a nice buck had stepped out of the woods 65 yards in front of us. She suddenly forgot she was bored and tired. For the next 15 minutes, we got to watch 3 bucks feed into about 40 yards. I drew back on the biggest one a couple times, but just wasn't comfortable with the distance out of the blind. The two huge ones turned and slowly walked back towards the woods. A basket racked 8 pt stayed and fed. With daylight fading, and my daughter about bursting at the seams, I decide to try the can call to convince him to close the distance. Luck was on my side, as he walked diagonally towards the blind. At 25 yards, and my daughter encouraging me to let one fly, I settle the pin and release. Solid hit. Ran back into the woods and crashed about 10 yards in. So, on my daughters 1st hunt, my 1st hunt out of the Brickhouse, 1st hunt on the field edge, I take my 1st racked buck with a bow. Yep...I'm thinking that one's engraved in both our heads for a long time to come. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time My kid (now 20) has absolutely NO interest in going with me. I keep inviting him but he wants nothing to do with it. I certainly wish I would have started hunting earlier so I could have taken him when he was younger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted October 8, 2005 Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time [ QUOTE ] I will be taking my daughter on her first deer hunt this year...Looking forward to it. [/ QUOTE ] Me too. My daughter's soon to be 12. Matter of fact......we're going to pick up her new deer rifle tomorrow afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 9, 2005 Report Share Posted October 9, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time Started taking my oldest daughter when she was about 3 or 4, always to elevated blinds. She would go with me to watch, never have killed a deer yet with her with me. She has done pretty well for the most part with sitting still and being quiet. She loves to read, so she takes a couple books with her and will read some. I generally only took her at the younger ages when the weather was good, not too hot, not too cool. She has seen a lot of deer, and some pretty decent bucks, including a 18 inch wide 8 pointer I had to pass up on the closing day of our 2003 ml season due to having already filled my antlered tag on the opener. Got her out last year at age 8 for her to be the hunter for the first time with my ml with a slightly downcharged load. She did great, and had opportunites on several does, but never would squeeze the trigger. She said she was too shaky, and was afraid to make a bad shot and injure a deer. This year she gets to hunt the youth hunt weekend with the wifes .243. This year also plan to get my 4 year old out some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted October 10, 2005 Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I have 3 boys...13,11 and 9. They have all been coming with me to hunt since they can walk. I have a big box blind that I sit in with them. They always used to get antsy and restless. I used to bring coloring books for them if they got bored. Now the big guy more or less hunts on his own(within reason, airgun only). The 11 year old is my project now, the 9 yo could wait a few...he is still somewhat attached to mommy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M00N Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I started my hunting with my father for small game at age 12 and still go every once in awhile for small game. I will be going small game hunting next week sometime pending on weather conditions and work schedules. My father started taking me deer hunting when I was 13. I've hunted almost every year since then with him and still do at age 20. I've managed to harvest a button buck (first deer) and two does (130lb & 180lb). I'm going again this year in December for another attempt at my first racked buck. I only hunt with rifle at the moment (Rem .243), but I am considering getting into crossbow hunting someday when I can afford the equipment to do so. I also turkey hunt, but only have been out twice. Once in Fall Turkey in 2004 (Called my father in a Hen) and once in Spring Gobbler in 2005 (Called in 2 gobblers, but none harvested). I will be going again in May 2006 for Spring Gobbler. Not going to make it out for Fall Turkey this year due to his work schedules and my lack of a hunting partner (I refuse to hunt alone). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tyshe17 Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time First time I took my little brother, we didnt even sit down in the house blind before I killed a spike at 140 with my pistol. He is my good luck. I think I am 4 for 5 while hunting with him. But now he is going by himself and doing just fine. A couple of times he got cold and we were able to walk up a doe later in the morning, but we had some great times. Actually this past year I got to sit with him and watch him shoot a doe. It was awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldawg Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I didn't dare start taking my kids out until they got to be 12. They just couldn't stay in one spot very long. When my daughter turned 12, she went out on her first TZone hunt. Public land, and some guy cuts off the main trail in to the swamp at 7 a.m. He sits down no more than 20 yards from her. I was ticked, and she kept on farting around swinging sticks and things after that. An hour later, I just couldn't stand it anymore, so I yell at her to come over by me....no answer. So, I figure I'll really goof this other ya--hoo up, and I start yelling at the top of my lungs for her...still no answer. I can see that she is still moving, and no shots had been fired anywhere's in our vicinity , so I got out of my treestand and walked the 100 yards over to her. There she sits, headphones on, singing out loud to herself...I about busted a gut laughing. By this time, I hear the other ya--hoo mumbling to himself and he gets all huffed up, and leaves. I yelled to him to make sure he doesn't get lost on the way out. She never hunted after that year, except on a few drives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time Carlee went with Pappy and I on a mule deer hunt last Nov. we were just riding around the ranch in the pickup, but she thought we were hunting. she even yelled hello to some of the deer we saw. LOL She didn't understand why the ran away, she thought they were going to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I have been taking my son since he was 3. It lasts about 30-45 minutes and thats all I could expect. It was cool though. I love the little guy. My 3 yo girl has no interest what-so-ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest generallee Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I dont have any kids, infact im still a kid myself. IM only 19 yrs old, but i finally talked my sister into going with me and this coming weekend is the opening rifle season here in GA. I planted a foodplot just for this hunt and put up a buddy stand to help her hopefully kill her first whitetail. Im sure it will be great time no matter what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest asilvia68 Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Re: Taking your kid hunting the 1st time I have been taking my 13yr old goose/duck hunting with me since he was 5. This year will be his first year deer hunting with dad. He is excited as anything to go. My daughter who is 9 aked me the other day to take her goose hunting so she will be the next in my family. As far as my 2 little ones....hahahahaha they are way to hyper and wouldnt last 5 minutes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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