Upcoming Hunting Trip

[Whitetail Addict]

My oldest Grandson, 5, came up today, and as usual, the first thing he wanted to do was shoot.

I always try to pump him up, telling him what a good shot he is, how "that shot would have killed a deer" etc., and that we'll go hunting together when he gets a little older.

When I talk about the two of us hunting together, he gets all misty eyed, smiles, and stares off into space thinking about it.

We were done shooting for the day, and waiting for Mom to pick him up, when he said something that made my day.

He looked at me kind of sad, and said I don't want to wait til I get older, I want to go hunting with you now. What could I say? I told him we'd go hunting sometime soon.

So, I'm planning a hunt, and trying to think of as many ways as possible to keep things interesting for him.

He wants to hunt from one of my brush blinds, so we'll spend some time in one of them with some snacks, and something to drink.

He doesn't have the patience to sit for long, and I know he can't be still, and quiet long enough to see a deer, but it would be awesome if a deaf, and blind deer would walk by while we were there.  :D  Maybe we can spot one on the way there, or back.

I'll show him some tracks, and a rub along the edge of a field, and I'm hoping he'll get a shot at some of the starlings I see all the time. Of course we'll do some roving along the way too.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share the plans of our big hunt with you. I'm looking forward to it more than any hunt I've been on.  

Bob

[Basinboy]

You have the right idea. Don't worry about killing. Just spend time with him and keep it fun. And I speak from experience, when he says he's ready to go, bring him home. He will enjoy the walk back to the truck roving just as much....

[mangonboat]

Bob, you lucky dog! I would take your gransdon on a scouting adventure to find a healthy white oak well off the field edge and let him help you make the blind and clear some shooting lanes. Deer tend to come in late to fields and all but the fawns are very wary, so a blind well off the field may get him close to a deer before his patience wears thin. I guarantee that once he has a deer within 50 yards, he will have the patience of Job for the rest of his life. I can still remember the drops of dew on the tips of the whiskers of the first doe I saw hunting  with my Dad almost 50 years ago.

[SELFBOW19953]

If baiting is legal, spread a little "yellow salt" in the area of your blind, maybe just a bit out of range-who knows what will show up.  If there is no shot, he will learn that just seeing is lots of fun too.

[Whitetail Addict]

Thanks for the ideas, I appreciate it.

There isn't much chance of Blake actually shooting anything on our "hunt", and he knows that shooting game is only a part of hunting, but I am hoping he'll get a shot at a starling or a red squirrel, just for the experience. For his size, and not being able to work with him as much as I'd like, he does pretty good, but anything the size of a bird, or red squirrel that he might manage to hit, would have to be one unlucky critter.

mangonboat, I hadn't thought of that. The snow settles my brush blinds every winter, and it would give him some hands on experience doing a little touch up work, and clearing some shooting lanes. He'll have fun doing it too, thanks.

SELFBOW, baiting isn't legal here, but it would be a great idea if it was. I'm sure he'd see more birds and animals sooner, and more and sooner is what It's all about with a 5 year old.  :D  

I was thinking about it last night, and I remembered that we have to cross a little creek not far from the blind I'm taking him to, and like most kids he hates to pass up a chance to get wet, so I'm sure we'll spend a little time there too on the way home.

I'm already planning a frog hunt for our next big adventure. Grandpa may do a little shooting on this one.    

Thanks again.

Bob

[SELFBOW19953]

What about a small food plot near your blind?  All you need is a couple handfuls of bird seed and a rake.  Rough up the soil, spread the seed, and walk over it to get good seed/soil contact.  In a week or two you'll have new growth and maybe even a few that will go to seed.

[The Whittler]

It won't hurt if he can do a little stump shooting as you walk in and out. Grand kids are great it's what keeps us G parents young or feeling young. Good for and have fun with the little juy.

[MnFn]

My wife and I are guardians for a special needs young adult.  We have had "T" in our lives since he was about six.

He has difficulty keeping quiet or staying still for any length of time.  EXCEPT when we go hunting or fishing!  Then he has the patience of Job. I try to take him once every deer hunting season.

It is amazing to me how much control he can exercise when he knows he has to be quiet to see deer. I will let him rattle some horns occasionaly. And he loves that.

You may be amazed how well your grandson does as well.

[Whitetail Addict]

I hadn't thought of rattling. I think I'll let Blake do a little while we're in our blind. I'm sure he'll get a kick out of that too, once I explain the idea behind it. Thanks MnFn.

Bob

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Bob, take him out for wood chucks and maybe stump along the way.

I bet you will answer a million questions.... Plus he will not have to sit so still.