Kenneth from Pennsylvania asks,
Dear Bill, Thanks for all the awesome content you have put out over the years. I have learned a ton and really enjoyed following your hunts over the years. My question today is what advice you have for starting really young hunters in the deer woods. I have two sons that are 6 and 4 and they are showing a lot of intrest in all things outdoors. I am planning on starting the 6 year old this year from a blind with a crossbow that he has shot all summer. I am wondering if you believe there is an age that is to young to start a hunter and if you believe getting them into the field before a certain age could be detrimental to there intrest and possible futurelove of the sport? Also wondering what advice you have besides the obvious of keeping it fun and exciting for them? Thanks in advance and thanks for staying true to yourself and the sport though out the years. Ken
Bill responds,
Topic: When to Start Young Hunters:
You definitely need to keep it fun when hunting with young hunters. A blind is ideal. Our son shot his first deer from an old log cabin when he was six years old.
Kenneth,
Our kids started at age six, but they were going with me blood trailing deer for a couple of years before that. They loved blood trailing and seeing the deer get field dressed got them over the squeamishness that sometimes comes with dead game.
They understood the process pretty well before they ever picked up a gun. Both started with .50 caliber muzzleloaders loaded way down with just a single 50 grain powder pellet. That load was very lethal out to 75+ yards and barely kicked.
If you start a young hunter with a gun, do so with a .22 in the backyard (or the range) and use hearing protection. Don’t let them shoot the bigger gun until the actual hunt or they will quickly develop flinching related to the recoil and noise.
In the field, they won’t notice either. Good luck. Hunting with your kids will be the best memories you will have from their young days. (10/1/22)
