Hunting with Kids

[Bob Palmer]

My 11 year old has started bowhunting with me this season. We have been out twice and he loves it! However, we haven't been into critters too much. Our hunting, so far, has been limited to a couple ladder stands I have out. Now the question...we would like to become more mobile. When hunting alone, I generally use a climber! How do you all hunt with your kids? Climbers? If so, which one? Portables and climbing sticks? Looking for any insight that would provide a safe and portable option!

   

[BobCo 1965]

Personally, I like to hunt from tree stands when I am alone.

But when my son comes with me, we always hunt from pop up ground blinds. One thing with the blinds, though is that we have to leave them out for a few weeks before hunting from them. We've had good success. He sits in the middle of the blind, and I usually back into a corner of the blind.

FWIW, I am just not comfortable letting him go up in a tree yet. We have found that pop ups can be just as effective as anything else. Plus you get the added benefit of being ground level and having a bit more leadway to the vitals.

[JO_EZ]

I have the same situation. One kid is 13 and the other is 10.

In order to avoid spending a fortune on tree stands, I have decided to put the 13 year old in the one climbing stand that we have and build brush blinds near by for the 10 year old and I.

We have a couple of elevated options at my Parents' place where we can fit 2 people, but for our public land excursions, we will be 1/3 up and 2/3 down.

[SportHunter]

A few of my friends hunt with their kids in ground blinds or two man ladder stands. If you want to be semi mobile the ground blinds should work for you. The blind rigs they make these days are simple to pack and set up.

[Mike Vines]

Both of my boys (6 & 7 now) join me atleast once or twice a season each for the last 3 years.  I know when heading out that it is going to be a bike ride and hike in the woods with both of them, but most importantly, it is going to be time well spent with each of them.  We always sit in natural blinds, and last year my oldest was wearing my ghilli suit and had a chipmunk run over his foot.  It left such an impression on him that he (at 7 years old) felt compelled to write about it and sent it to our (Michigan Longbow Association) Editor and she included it in our quarterly magazine.  He now says he is famous.

So in my eyes success is in the eye of the beholder.  That was better than any 10 point hanging in my garage.

Go outside, it's a great place to be.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

When I was young, My dad would place me in a ladder stand and the build a ground blind nearby.

On Public property it was a couple of self made strap on tree seats and we would build quick ground blinds and set up in the same area.

Some of mybest memories came from that time.

[Izzy]

Boy in a ladder and me on the ground. Or both on the ground next to each other. Weve killed 3 bucks in the last 3 years together from the ground and from spitting distance. Not much scent control either time and no attention payed to the wind. Makes you wonder. Either hes my good luck charm or deer like the way he smells.

[David Dumke]

Originally posted by Izzy:
Boy in a ladder and me on the ground. Or both on the ground next to each other. Weve killed 3 bucks in the last 3 years together from the ground and from spitting distance. Not much scent control either time and no attention payed to the wind. Makes you wonder. Either hes my good luck charm or deer like the way he smells.

May be a bit of both.    

I've got a little brother, (not by blood but I've known him since he was 4), that is 9 now and I want to ask his father to get him in to hunters safety as soon as possible and was thinking of starting a self bow for him to practice with. I'm not sure how he'll take to it but I'd like to start being there for him a bit more than I have recently. Archery is a great way to get kids in a good mood. Was never able to get a bow til I was 19 (this year) but that didn't stop me from disassembling shoes, cutting branches off of trees and finding some smaller branches for arrows!

[Mark Baker]

By the time they were old enough to hunt (12) both my boys knew what they needed to know about treestand safety.   I figured if they were old enough to be responsible enough to take a life, ethically, then they should be able to handle the safety responsibilities that go along with that.   First comes the skills, then the "gravy" of being able to hunt.   12 year olds are much better at climbing trees than I was.....it was just a matter of learning correct techniques.  

Having said that, stands were always hung by myself, and everything in place, and getting in and out was fully supervised by myself....and I also had a stand clearly in view and close proximity, so that if any problem arose, he could get my attention at a glance.  

We did'nt use ladder stands then, and now that we do, I would highly recommend that option.  And the double ladders (2 seaters) are a great option.  

Hunting off the ground is also a great way.  

Another great way to keep kids interested and seeing game, especially the younger ones, is to conduct small one-man pushes with a friend to help.   We liked to do these during mid-day, and not in the same areas we did our stand hunting.  It is very important to make up ground rules for possible shooting with first-time hunters....and it's a great way for some action at close quarters with kids who are along for "the fun" and experience.    Pushes have to be carefully planned and executed to be of any use for bowhunting, of course, and that needs to be kept in mind with young shooters, and even with yourself setting the example for young eyewitnesses.

My son Kory, at 12, killed his first whitetail doe from a one-man push, a perfect double lung shot with his recurve, and I was there with him to witness it.   Great memories!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I want to applaud all you guys who are taking out youngsters.

I think getting them out at an impressionable age and making an impression (safely) is more imporatant than how or what you are hunting.

           

[jcar315]

My kids are 12 & 13 years old. Over the years of hunting with them time together takes one of two forms:

1. Ladder stand together (great opportunity to review tree stand safety / how to use safety harnesses)

2. Ground blind of some sort sitting together.

They both seem to like the ladderstand a little bit more. Always strive to make it as much fun as I can with them.

[Bob Palmer]

Good advice all! Thanks! Just for clarification, he's been hunting with me since he was 5...this is just his first year toting a bow. He started gun hunting last year and did real well!

He is good in a treestand and familiar with all aspects of safety. I prefer a ladder with me in a hang-on beside him...they just aren't all that portable   :(   I have a few climbers, I'm just hesitant having him use one just yet.

He is used to seeing quite a few deer! This years pattern is off and I'd like to be able to adjust on the fly. So I'm looking for portable, run and gun options. Been leaning towards two hang-ons and a set of climbing sticks. I also like the idea of ground blinds!

Keep the ideas coming...I appreciate the advice!!!

[Bjorn]

My son and I have ground hunted since he was 9. He could only shoot ground squirrels and 'play' hunt large came until age 12 (california law). He killed his first hog 2 weeks after his twelfth birthday; just turned 18, and has taken numerous hogs and an elk.
Hunting together is a heart warming experience.