Apprentice Hunters - Should They Share In The Spoils?

ronecol

ronecol

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So my two teenage grandsons (14 & 15), both in the apprentice program, will be hunting with us for 2 or 3 days of the 2nd week of the deer season again this fall. Should they share in any deer taken the days they hunt or maybe a percentage of the deer taken during the entire week or maybe not at all, or maybe only if one or the other or both actually kill a deer? Keep in mind that as apprentice hunters they must share a firearm with their mentors (me & their dad) which means while they are hunting there is no possibility of me or their dad killing a deer. At 14 & 15 these boys already have as much “bush” savvy as some adult hunters. They live with shooting capability in their back yard. They have had supervised shooting since age 10 with gun safety drilled into them. They have been spending a few days in the deer camp with us since about age 10 and have been in the apprentice program since age 12. Apart from the deer camp they also participate in bear and predator hunts. They both have their trappers license, spend countless hours involved and regularly send firs to the North Bay auction and have demo’d skinning techniques at the convention. The oldest also recently took first place in a local bass fishing tournament.

Unlike in a recent thread where a participant didn’t get his hunting act together in time for the hunt but it was still felt by many he should share equally in the spoils, these lads did and do have their act together and have been learning and participating for the past 2 & 3 years respectively but they have never been part of the equation when divvying up the venison. Should they be?
 
It seems simple enough to me:

If the two of them were adults that you could describe in exactly the same way, would they get their share?

Answer that question, and you have your answer for the grandsons.

Just my 2 cents.
 
ronecol said:
So my two teenage grandsons (14 & 15), both in the apprentice program, will be hunting with us for 2 or 3 days of the 2nd week of the deer season again this fall. Should they share in any deer taken the days they hunt or maybe a percentage of the deer taken during the entire week or maybe not at all, or maybe only if one or the other or both actually kill a deer? Keep in mind that as apprentice hunters they must share a firearm with their mentors (me & their dad) which means while they are hunting there is no possibility of me or their dad killing a deer. At 14 & 15 these boys already have as much “bush” savvy as some adult hunters. They live with shooting capability in their back yard. They have had supervised shooting since age 10 with gun safety drilled into them. They have been spending a few days in the deer camp with us since about age 10 and have been in the apprentice program since age 12. Apart from the deer camp they also participate in bear and predator hunts. They both have their trappers license, spend countless hours involved and regularly send firs to the North Bay auction and have demo’d skinning techniques at the convention. The oldest also recently took first place in a local bass fishing tournament. Unlike in a recent thread where a participant didn’t get his hunting act together in time for the hunt but it was still felt by many he should share equally in the spoils, these lads did and do have their act together and have been learning and participating for the past 2 & 3 years respectively but they have never been part of the equation when divvying up the venison. Should they be?
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If mentoring new and aspiring hunters is the objective, ask yourself what would you be teaching them if they weren't included in this way?
 
Rule around here is if you help or are the landowner you get meat. Key word is help, one doesn't need to pull the trigger or participate in the actual hunt.
 
When I was young, dad kept me out of the share ........ plan.
I (we kept) what I got.
Otherwise dad would pay two shares and take two shares.
Narry an argument as dad had the truck and it was the one always being used.
 
Sure come along, help us, work hard, maybe shoot one too but no, you get no deer.

Like really? It shouldn't even be a question.

This isn't like playing kaiser on the adult table.If they participate they are part of the group in all aspects.
 
ronecol said:
So my two teenage grandsons (14 & 15), both in the apprentice program, will be hunting with us for 2 or 3 days of the 2nd week of the deer season again this fall. Should they share in any deer taken the days they hunt or maybe a percentage of the deer taken during the entire week or maybe not at all, or maybe only if one or the other or both actually kill a deer? Keep in mind that as apprentice hunters they must share a firearm with their mentors (me & their dad) which means while they are hunting there is no possibility of me or their dad killing a deer. At 14 & 15 these boys already have as much “bush” savvy as some adult hunters. They live with shooting capability in their back yard. They have had supervised shooting since age 10 with gun safety drilled into them. They have been spending a few days in the deer camp with us since about age 10 and have been in the apprentice program since age 12. Apart from the deer camp they also participate in bear and predator hunts. They both have their trappers license, spend countless hours involved and regularly send firs to the North Bay auction and have demo’d skinning techniques at the convention. The oldest also recently took first place in a local bass fishing tournament.

Unlike in a recent thread where a participant didn’t get his hunting act together in time for the hunt but it was still felt by many he should share equally in the spoils, these lads did and do have their act together and have been learning and participating for the past 2 & 3 years respectively but they have never been part of the equation when divvying up the venison. Should they be?
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what exactly do you mean by this line "Should they share in any deer taken the days they hunt or maybe a percentage of the deer taken during the entire week"?

do your grandsons not currently get any game meat to eat from the hunts they participate in if an animal is taken? do their parents not partake in the hunt with you?

Also, is this "apprentice program since age 12" you speak of an actual provincial program for new hunters in your province? There is no such thing where I live
 
I never knew that meat distribution was so complicated. If it was my son and grandsons (don't have the latter) I'd tell them to take whatever they wanted, and just be happy they let an old phucker come along.
 
This is why I always have a frank conversation about meat shares before anybody even goes hunting.

I have seen all kinds of silliness result from assumptions and miscommunication around meat shares, sometimes resulting in very hurt feelings that end hunting partnerships.
 
Dogleg said:
I never knew that meat distribution was so complicated. If it was my son and grandsons (don't have the latter) I'd tell them to take whatever they wanted, and just be happy they let an old phucker come along.
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same, but these are 14 and 15 yr olds, are they living on their own already? not sure why this is even an issue if the family member they are hunting under already gets a fair share for his entire family
 
They're both young enough that I'd assume they're both at home so if the family was eating deer for supper I'd sure hope they wouldn't be denied some. Really as said before this shouldn't even be a question.
 
Brian46 said:
what exactly do you mean by this line "Should they share in any deer taken the days they hunt or maybe a percentage of the deer taken during the entire week"?
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If they hunt Fri & Sat would they share in deer shot Fri & Sat or of the 6 day hunting week should they share in 2/6 (1/3) of the deer shot for the week?

Brian46 said:
do your grandsons not currently get any game meat to eat from the hunts they participate in if an animal is taken? do their parents not partake in the hunt with you?
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There is no shortage of wild game in that household.


Brian46 said:
Also, is this "apprentice program since age 12" you speak of an actual provincial program for new hunters in your province? There is no such thing where I live
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http://www.ohep.net/Programs.cfm?ID=1
 
If you/they are paying/working for their equal share then they should be treated as any member in the group. if your group is able to support another 2 hunters I would see no problem, But best to talk to the group before assuming and getting feedback. Remember this if other members have somebody that they wish to introduce to the group. In my area I am lucky to see any deer during the hunt and while I would consider allowing one hunter to join me, I wouldn't want him bringing two sons with him and taking 3/4 of the one deer that we might get.
 
In our camps we share the meat evenly for the most part. I do "most" of my deer hunting solo, or with one partner. The bigger animals it's always a "team" split. We all pay our share for butchering/sausage making ect. Has served us well and everyone goes home happy and more importantly, eager to return with the group next hunting trip.
These days it's so hard to get the younger folks fired up and eager to be in hunt camp, doing their share and being part of the "whole" experience.
I'd say they should get "some" share of the meat, a reward for putting in all the effort they have had to put in just to get there and be able to hunt.
 
ronecol said:
If they hunt Fri & Sat would they share in deer shot Fri & Sat or of the 6 day hunting week should they share in 2/6 (1/3) of the deer shot for the week?
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why do they need their own individual share? do they live alone? Any time I have hunted each family gets a share, not each person.



There is no shortage of wild game in that household.
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then why does each person need an individual share, sounds odd to me, but that is up to you how your group does things. For example, If I went hunting with my two sons and a friend and we got a moose, we would split the moose between our two families evenly. Me and my sons would not take 75% and give the other guy 25% no matter who actually shot it.




http://www.ohep.net/Programs.cfm?ID=1
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is this Ontario program required to enable you to buy your own hunting license when you are of age?
 
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