c_lou Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Here's the situation. My 4 year old daughter wants to come bowhunting with me. No Problem, any chance to spend time with her, I will gladly take. We are going to set up in a ground blind this year. I have a few good spots in mind, where I can get a shot on a doe during the first few weeks of the season (Our WI unit is EAB this year). Last night my wife asks me if I am really going to shoot a deer with Claire in the blind with me. I guess I never gave it a second thought. I started to think about it. She has always like taking pictures with me and my deer I have killed. She likes to touch the deer and asks lots of questions. She handled the death of our pet rabbit better than I expected. My dilema, should I just take her out and let her enjoy the woods and not take a shot if one presents itself, or should I let her witness a shot at a deer and the subsequent tracking. I won't let her watch the field dressing part, but she has seen us skin and cut up deer and has not been affected by it. I have explained to her why daddy hunts and what happens. We have watched plenty of kill shots on TV. I guess I don't see the problem in allowing her to be a part of my hunt. Any thoughts, ideas?..?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shockwave Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) i dont know if she could handle seeing the gutting process, a freind of mine took his daughter now she won`t hunt. every child is different so dont change your mind about taking her. If you want to take her, take her, just enjoy the time spent factor.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) I'd take the shot, but maybe not have her watch the impact if you're worried. I shot one with my daughter when she was about 11, spined the stupid thing. First and last time that happened, and she still remembers it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rifleman25 Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) Let her watch the shot. She wants to go, let her see the real deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) Sounds like she already knows whats going on to a certain extent. She sound slike she understand death and has seen hnting enough on TV, watched you cutting and skinning it. Maybe the gutting is a bit harsh on someone so young but the hunt and the shot should not bother her IMHO. I am sure she will have a blast if you keep her wram and bring snacks and maybe even something to do to past her time. (color books, game boy, etc...) I have taken mine out to box stands that were heated and gave them plenty to eat and do while waiting. Its the waiting that will get ya. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) Sounds to me like she can handle it. However, I guess you really won't know till you try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) Yeah, I'd say maybe not let her see the gutting process but if the shot presents itself, take it. Also like VT said, take some food and such. Make it fun for her! Alot of times that is what turns a kid off from something when they were young, they were either pressured into it, or they didn't have fun. Take some snacks, maybe a coloring book for if she gets bored, but it sounds like she enjoys herself. If you think she has a good understanding, go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) i am in the same spot as you! i am diffinatly take my son but the gutting will be done away from him to start. i thought about quiet activitys to take so he don't get bored. coloring books,snacks, and maybe even the match game we can play that without talking. with a 4 yr old i think the problem will be entertaining them and being quiet not what they see! JMHO the shot i don't think will effect them, the guttin is another story. are you close enough to home that if you get the shot the wife could come entertain her while you do the job? or maybe a huntin buddy that might be with you? the odds of you both hittin one the same night would be rare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) My dad didn't hunt, but when I was a kid we fished and slaughtered chickens ourselves. The sight of innerds didn't phase me at 4 years old. We slaughtered several goats every year and usually a cow. I was there from the shot behind the ear to the wrapping of the meet. If she's used to seeing it, I wouldn't hesitate. One of my earliest memories is of my dad gutting a cow. I think I was probibly 3 1/2 or 4, I don't remember it affecting me. Your daughter might be different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EAGLE Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) one thing to remember our children watch and mimic us if you go on and do the field dressing like it was no big deal then she will think its no big deal just part of hunting just keep her upwind and above all JUST HAVE FUN good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) I say let her see as much as she wants to see. If she doesn't like to see the deer gutted then she will turn her head and find something to distract herself. I think the big key is to involve her and make it something she would be proud to do herself. If you don't fret then she won't fret. Make it something exciting to see and do and she will follow your lead and brag to her mommy what she saw and did. It will be cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deadeye270 Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) Take the shot, let her do the fun tracking job and you will have a hunting buddy for life. like everyone else said let her skip the field dressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whttlbucksteve Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) Let her tell you what she wants to see and not to see.Congrats to you for taking her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) Take a doe down, teach her about hunting and tell her why we do what we do. I took mine out last year and she watched me smoke a doe. It ran straight at us and she was yelling "Shoot her again, she ain't dead." The doe expired about 30 yards from us and now my daughter is addicted to say the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhbowhunter Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) You and your wife are the ones who must ultimately make the decision. I am all for a gradual emersion into hunting. For a child there is a BIG difference between watching it on TV vs. taking pictures vs. actually hunting. I would be less concerned about the killing (although it needs to be considered) and more worried about an overall sensory "overload" of sorts. Your daughter is thrilled to be going hunting with you. Everything you do during the trip will be a new, EXCITING, and bonding experience. It may likely be a little overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. Her excitement is not drawn from the same well as yours is at this point. She is most excited to be out with you b/c she has no firsthand hunting experience to reference. A kill is an emotional thing (positive but still emotional) for all of us, but we have experience to fall back on, your daughter does not, a kill at the end of the day might have the opposite impact not because your daughter is upset by the actual act of killing but because the level of excitement pushes beyond some threshold. Remember she is going to be mentally and emotionally "supercharged" all day and likely tired. It is possible that a kill under these circumstances could be upsetting. Taking your daughter hunting, seeing deer up-close, and not shoot won't turn her off to hunting. She will still come home smiling from ear to ear. When I have taken the youngsters hunting I have followed this formula: 1. First trip out we are "hunting" but the focus is on just getting them use to being outdoors, quiet, and observing nature as a hunter in the moment, no killing. (Doing this has never resulted in a "bad day") 2. Next trip out same as above, we talk about the next steps of killing and what is involved. If game is spotted I leave the kill/no-kill decision up to my daughter. If after seeing the animal and taking everything in she says "No" then we don't shoot. 3. We stay in the above mode until she is comfortable saying "Yes". A child needs to feel that they have as much input into what is happening as you do. By having them help evaluate and make decisions they will feel more in control of the outcome and their emotions. Even if the kill is tearful I would much rather have my daughter thinking "Dad and I decided together that we should kill the deer and now I feel sad" (translation: We did something that I got sad about) VS. "Daddy shot a deer and made me sad." (Translation: Daddy did something that made me sad). With all that said, this is just how I conduct hunting affairs in my home. Looping all the way back to my opening remark: You and your wife need to decide what is in the best interest of your daughter and determine the best path to helping her make up her own mind about hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillLearnin Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Re: A dilema, Advice needed...(long) I am suprised no one has mentioned this yet but have you talked to her about it so she knows exactly what will happen when you take her out. Just pop in a hunting video and after one of the shots ask her how she feels about it. And remind her that it will be alot different in real life.!! Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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