Apprentice Hunters - Should They Share In The Spoils?

I am wondering if the OP is being serious or just trolling with this post? Frankly, I even wonder why these types of posts are even put up. I would think that a discussion with your respective hunting group would be more beneficial than coming on to a forum and soliciting a bunch of anonymous opinions. IF you need a contractual agreement on how to share meat after a successful hunt perhaps you should a contractual lawyer and have the papers drawn up and sent to your fellow hunting party mates for signature. Sheesh!
 
man, some strange families out there I swear.
if you are were bringing strangers or even friend's kids I'll understand, but your grand son???
my granddad would have given me the whole deer, roasted and all..........just saying...
 
IF you need a contractual agreement on how to share meat after a successful hunt perhaps you should a contractual lawyer and have the papers drawn up and sent to your fellow hunting party mates for signature. Sheesh!
not worth hunting with people that are like that, probably why the old ways of doing things are dying with the old timers.

I get lots of offers to go hunting with others, but get turned off when politics like this take away from the enjoyment and go with my own family instead
 
I am wondering if the OP is being serious or just trolling with this post? Frankly, I even wonder why these types of posts are even put up. I would think that a discussion with your respective hunting group would be more beneficial than coming on to a forum and soliciting a bunch of anonymous opinions. IF you need a contractual agreement on how to share meat after a successful hunt perhaps you should a contractual lawyer and have the papers drawn up and sent to your fellow hunting party mates for signature. Sheesh!

Sheesh, for sure.

What a ridiculous way to think about hunting. I don't hunt for "spoils" that need to be doled out according to some esoteric formula that a lawyer could defend in court. We hunt. We're friends. We're nice. We're generous. What else is there?
 
Well, you say they have been in camp since 10 and in app program since 12 and now they are 14 & 15.

So my question to you is, what have you done in the past? Looks like you gave them none of the meat if I read it right.
Were the boys happy with what was done in the past or have they expressed opinions to the contrary?
Has the boys father said something to make you ask this question? Maybe he is unhappy?

You say there is no shortage of game meat in the family so really it isn't an issue, is it?

Maybe other guys (not sure from your post exactly how many guys are in camp) in camp don't want to share?
Is that the issue?

Since I am not familiar with the App program, does it mean they are also sharing a deer tag?
So if they get deer with your rifle do they tag it or you? Obviously if they tag it then you can shoot a deer also, so by them being there, there is an opportunity to take more deer.

All the politics aside, maybe the guys in camp could just pitch in and get the kids a rifle of their own when they are allowed to carry it themselves, or maybe a nice knife or back pack?

We would love to have some grandsons in our group to help drag and skin and for sure they wouldn't be going without something for all the work
 
I will add my first, and only, hunting experience to the discussion.

Several weeks ago, my project manager, who is considered more of a friend than a "boss," took me out hunting for ruffled grouse. I ended up using his extra 12ga, and his ammo, during the hunt because it was clear that I shot his 12 pump much more effectively on skeets the week prior than my 20ga O/U. I offered to compensate for ammo, and even provide the food for the mid-hike lunch. He declined.

We ended up getting 4 grouse. I shot one, he shot the other 3. He showed me how to pluck and gut it to roast over a spit on an open fire. He provided me with all of his knowledge, what to look out for, what to listen for. After the hunt, he handed me the other 3 grouse and said, "Here, take these home, practice what I showed you."

I learned throughout the hike that he hadn't been bird hunting in years. He was just as excited to take a new hunter out as I was to learn. Sure it was great to have some tasty birds to eat, but the whole experience and his generosity was much more satisfying.

If he would have said "You are my apprentice, you deserve nothing" I would have understood, but the fact that he went in the total opposite direction made me feel that had value in the hunt other than "acquiring meat." We both valued what the other person had to offer.

Subsistence hunting may be a different story, but if people don't feel valued then what is the point?
 
I think some of the people who are getting upset by the OP's question don't really understand what he is asking. Under the hunter apprenticeship program, essentially you and your apprentice count as one hunter - one gun and one tag between the two of you.
So let's assume you go up to your deer camp with your usual 6 guys but this time, three of your buddies each bring their grandsons along as apprentice hunters. I think what the OP is asking is whether or not the meat gets divided up 6 ways or 9 ways.

Obviously in the OP's case his grandkids will be eating some of their dad's share...I don't think the op was asking if they get to eat any, I think he was asking if they should get a full or partial share just like their dad would.
 
BTW I am not trying to be a jerk here! IMO the only reason I think these types of posts are trolling in nature is that people who know how to share just do it and don't feel the need to come on this forum and start a thread about sharing. The ones that tend to start these threads seem to me to be looking for a reason or justification to justify cutting somebody out of a few pounds of meat. My opinion is that if you want 100% of the meat than do it all yourself and you don't need to worry yourself about sharing.
 
I think some of the people who are getting upset by the OP's question don't really understand what he is asking. Under the hunter apprenticeship program, essentially you and your apprentice count as one hunter - one gun and one tag between the two of you.
So let's assume you go up to your deer camp with your usual 6 guys but this time, three of your buddies each bring their grandsons along as apprentice hunters. I think what the OP is asking is whether or not the meat gets divided up 6 ways or 9 ways.

Obviously in the OP's case his grandkids will be eating some of their dad's share...I don't think the op was asking if they get to eat any, I think he was asking if they should get a full or partial share just like their dad would.

Read above - nobody is getting upset. This whole question is just plain lame. Go talk to your party about the division of meat. Is the OP going to tell his party that because Glock4ever or Yomomma said to share on CGN that his party is going to care?
 
wow some complicated game shareing.

when I do the camp setup the game sharing is simple, yo shot it you tagged it its yours. If someone helped you it is only polite to offer them some compensation.

If I set up camp provide all the equipment and do most of the cooking and cleaning and your staying with me and shoot and tag game then its only polite to offer me some compensation.

if your not a polite person don't expect to get an invite to stay in my camp.

as for you lads, if they are helping out they should share, if its their kill and their tag they should be taught to be polite and offer up some of their animal to the people that helped them.
 
BTW I am not trying to be a jerk here! IMO the only reason I think these types of posts are trolling in nature is that people who know how to share just do it and don't feel the need to come on this forum and start a thread about sharing. The ones that tend to start these threads seem to me to be looking for a reason or justification to justify cutting somebody out of a few pounds of meat. My opinion is that if you want 100% of the meat than do it all yourself and you don't need to worry yourself about sharing.

I sensed the situation was the opposite; the group doesn't think Grandpa should get 3 shares of meat because he brought his 2 grandsons, so now Grandpa is coming on here trying to see if others support the idea that his grandsons deserve a share each.

Either way, the notion of having to get this specific and detailed about sharing is foreign to me, but then again I typically do not hunt in groups.

If my buddy comes to help me recover a deer as light is fading (or I do the same for him) then the helper gets a hind quarter or whatever.

Personally, if I were to bring my daughters (both licenced hunters) with me on a moose hunt with 3 other guys, I would expect 1/4 of whatever was shot. Not 1/2.

My daughters, of course, will end up eating about 1/2 my share anyway.

Years from now, when my daughters have their own families to support, they'll be entitled to their shares in any such situations.
 
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My first time group hunting I helped push properties for a full week; some of the older guys couldn't hack it so we younger guys got pressed into the duty.

Our group shot two deer over the week, and I never saw a single ounce of meat. Worse still, I never got an explanation why. Somebody got them, but it sure wasn't me.

The experience really turned me off; why did I come out every day of the week, do all that work, only to get nothing. A single pound of ground venison would have made me feel fine, but instead, I was left with a sour taste.

If someone helps, apprentice or otherwise, give them something.
 
My first time group hunting I helped push properties for a full week; some of the older guys couldn't hack it so we younger guys got pressed into the duty.

Our group shot two deer over the week, and I never saw a single ounce of meat. Worse still, I never got an explanation why. Somebody got them, but it sure wasn't me.

The experience really turned me off; why did I come out every day of the week, do all that work, only to get nothing. A single pound of ground venison would have made me feel fine, but instead, I was left with a sour taste.

If someone helps, apprentice or otherwise, give them something.

That sucks. I would hunt with someone else after that.

I know some groups who really get worked up over this, especially where I live, because around here, "camp" is generally someone's house and everyone goes home every night and some guys are shift workers and only make it out hunting a 1/2 day here and there while other guys take a week Vac and do the whole week hunt and then do the butchering etc while some guys don't show up to help so it can create tension if you let it.

Or just share it all equally like we do and everyone has a great time.
 
Is the OP going to tell his party that because Glock4ever or Yomomma said to share on CGN that his party is going to care?

Of course not. But what is wrong with the OP asking a question so that he has an idea of how others would approach this? That's a big part of what makes this forum great, the opportunity to learn from from others.

Instead of accusing the OP of trolling, why not help him out? Pretend you're hunting for the entire week as part of the OP's group of hunters and one of the guys has his two young sons there for 2-3 days hunting under his guidance. Let's assume only two deer get shot, both the day after the boys leave. Does the guy who had his two boys up go home with 3 shares or 1? That is what the OP is asking and it's a bit complicated and that is why I think he was looking to some fellow CGNers for some guidance.
 
As a mentor you have to instill the proper morals and qualities. If you hunt as a team don't be so shallow as to say "my" animal or be "that" guy that if he shoots it , it is his.

As a teacher you set examples.Worry about your apprentice more than yourself, that first few experiences hunting will shape that person into the hunter of tomorrow.

If you are the person that a) worries about getting that last ounce of MY meat or B) gotta worry about what everything is costing you so you don't loose a nickle then maybe time for bird watching as a hobby.

Yes, I hate footing the bill for everything , it isn't right but some folks would sell a used car car to their own mothers for a profit.

They on the hunt , they get an equal spoil as well as putting in equal effort , apprentice or not.

Be a mentor not an accountant.

I think some of the people who are getting upset by the OP's question don't really understand what he is asking. Under the hunter apprenticeship program, essentially you and your apprentice count as one hunter - one gun and one tag between the two of you.
So let's assume you go up to your deer camp with your usual 6 guys but this time, three of your buddies each bring their grandsons along as apprentice hunters. I think what the OP is asking is whether or not the meat gets divided up 6 ways or 9 ways.

Obviously in the OP's case his grandkids will be eating some of their dad's share...I don't think the op was asking if they get to eat any, I think he was asking if they should get a full or partial share just like their dad would.
 
As a mentor you have to instill the proper morals and qualities. If you hunt as a team don't be so shallow as to say "my" animal or be "that" guy that if he shoots it , it is his.

As a teacher you set examples.Worry about your apprentice more than yourself, that first few experiences hunting will shape that person into the hunter of tomorrow.

If you are the person that a) worries about getting that last ounce of MY meat or B) gotta worry about what everything is costing you so you don't loose a nickle then maybe time for bird watching as a hobby.

Yes, I hate footing the bill for everything , it isn't right but some folks would sell a used car car to their own mothers for a profit.

They on the hunt , they get an equal spoil as well as putting in equal effort , apprentice or not.

Be a mentor not an accountant.

I agree with the above 100%. Not exactly sure why you are quoting me, I was just trying to explain what the OP was driving at as it seems some people are misinterpreting what he was asking.
 
If you are hunting as a group then all rewards are equally shared. Anything less will diminish their experience. If you don't want to share the spoils of the hunt then go hunt alone. It's as simple as that!
 
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