Getting your kids to hunt

migrant hunter

migrant hunter

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My 11yr old son did his hunters Ed online yesterday, but he has no interest in hunting. He's not athletic or outdoorsy, and his mom coddles him. When I drag him to the range, he can shoot pretty good, although he prefers handguns to long guns. He's shooting reduced loads in the .243 and I'm working him up to full power loads.
Basically my question is, how do you peel kids off a screeand get them interested in doing something active?
 
Pretty tough if both parents aren’t on the same page regarding screen time.But I’d try find a way to make it super fun for him. Even some small thing that you can incorporate into the day, that he just loves doing. A stop for ice cream or subs, etc. on the way home.

My boys are late teens now, but I’d take them for day hunts and overnights when they were small… the big draw for them was cooking on campfires, playing in the creeks/rivers, and above all, they loved MH meals. Like giddy excited to have one. Haha.
 
I got my son into grouse hunting. On the worst (best?) day, it's just a long walk in the woods with dad. We talk about all sorts of silly things that he wouldn't be able to get away with when mom is around.
 
I’m going to agree with adding in something that he really enjoys to the outing. Having a supportive partner is extremely helpful as well. All my kids hunt and fish and have been accompanying me since they were toddlers. It might be too late for this but starting them early is huge. Best of luck with getting your son involved.
 
He is 11 force him out the damn house. The old saying it's to nice out side to be stuck in doors still stands. I got kicked out my house more times then I can remember. Make up a concept like woods time meaning while you are in the woods you don't use screens. Start out with grouse, rabbits, or squirrels.

Edit: If he is tech oriented it might be a good idea to go at this through tech as well. Using computers and Hunting APPS you could try to find crown land with him, maybe work on getting some maps, and top down photo's of the area. Print them off and try to make plans with him, from start of finding the land, to thinking about where your going to scout or go first. To going out on the land, and actually hunting.
 
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Teach him about what you are seeing, plants, animals, what's edible what to stay away from. Teach him to light a fire, navigate through the woods. Make it interesting.
 
It is more fun for the kids to shoot reactive targets than punching holes in paper. targets like full water jugs , cookies , crackers etc. This made it more interesting for my kids and they all hunt.
 
First things first, take away the screens. There's no benefit having an 11 year old online. In fact, it's only detrimental. Parents need to get more involved in their kids' lives instead of letting technology do the parenting for them—not saying this is the case in your situation, but it's incredibly common nowadays and people treat it like it's no big deal when in reality they're setting their kids up for failure. Anyway, once his screen time dependency starts to wain he'll probably be more interested in outdoorsy activities.
 
Hunting means different things to kids than it does to adults. May I suggest a barn full of pigeons and a pellet gun? Or a pasture full of gophers and a .22? Shooting muskrats that are digging holes in the banks of a stock dam? I think it's a mistake to take kids "hunting" when the first thing they'll hunt is a serious and precious as a deer. Make it fun, exciting, and something where they can shoot and be successful several times per outing.
 
You’re probably a bit late to the game getting him out. But take him out make it fun feed him snacks and he will come around.

I started taking my oldest boy out when he was 2 looking for shed and checking cameras. Took him hunting at 3 and he has been there when I’ve taken deer and bear as well as when his papa got a moose last year.

Make it fun, don’t push them with crazy hunt or bad weather and take snacks.
 
Oh, he's been shooting for years. He's shot gophers since he was 6 or 7. He's been with me when I shot a couple of deer. We shoot gallon milk jugs full of water and food colouring, we shoot steel, we shoot clay pigeons. His 9 yr old sister loves to shoot, loves to fish. He just doesn't care. I'm going to start getting him outdoors more as the weather has improved. I walk with a weighted backpack in the summer and he's shown some interest and came with me a few times.
We went yesterday for the first time this year. I don't want to turn him off and it might just not be his thing, but I want to get him out this deer season so he can at least know if it's not for him.
 
Careful.

Think back to your own childhood. Was there things your parents forced you to be involved in that you can’t stand to this day?

Not everybody’s cut out for it. Focus on your daughter. Continue to make it fun for her. Take lots of pics that she’ll want to show her big bro. A little “FOMO” can go a long way. A couple years ago my son decided to stay home and play video games instead of coming fishing with me. So I took his sister to the best spot in my gps, she caught a pike almost as long as she was, then I took her out for ice cream way past her (and his) bedtime. The next day she excitedly showed him all the pictures and the fish… The boy hasn’t missed a fishing trip since. Your mileage may vary, lol.

But if he hadn’t of felt left out, I wouldn’t have pushed it any further. I’m glad they’re both my little fishing buddies now.
 
migrant hunter said:
He just doesn't care.

We went yesterday for the first time this year. I don't want to turn him off and it might just not be his thing, but I want to get him out this deer season so he can at least know if it's not for him.
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Sounds like a sure fire way to really turn him off of hunting to be honest. Why do you care so much if he likes hunting/fishing/shooting? I'm all for getting the next generation involved with hunting and such, but if it's not their thing, why push it? If you were an artist, and painting was your thing, would you expect the same of your son? He needs to paint just so he can know if he likes it or not?
 
I think i started my daughter too early shes 9 now and finds no interest in coming hunting ,even though she called a tom into 60 yards last weekend she was more excited when she seen a cute squirrel !
 
Take children hunting and fishing, as soon as they can walk; never wait until they passed a hunter education course. A child raised in the outdoors will evolve into a person who loves the wilderness/nature and becomes a proficient outdoorsman.
 
Parents job is to give kids the encouragement and opportunity to try as many things as possible. Sounds like you’ve done that and while it’s meaningful to you, it’s not his thing. All the shooting and other things he enjoys, take advantage of that and do those things with your son. Just my opinion.
 
Jimbobob08 said:
Parents job is to give kids the encouragement and opportunity to try as many things as possible. Sounds like you’ve done that and while it’s meaningful to you, it’s not his thing. All the shooting and other things he enjoys, take advantage of that and do those things with your son. Just my opinion.
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I'll quote cause im slow.

Yep its not your choice. Taught my kids to do what they like. That's how I live. That's how I want my kids to live. If you're not having fun you're doing it wrong. I didn't have a father that hunted. Other than for a promotion and money. F that. Your kids will find their way. Keep them safe. Never say when you live under my roofing you do as I say lol
 
I started my boys off coming goose hunting with me.
We’d take a blanket for them to snuggle under, some snacks and the dog and hang out by a puddle that I’d scoped out earlier.
We’d just go out after I’d get home from work and stay till the end of the day. Just a couple hours or so.
Always some action though. The odd coyote or deer to look at and a we’d get a few geese.
Then make jerky on the weekends. Jerky can get kids interested fast. Haha
They’re both in their twenties now and are pumped for the fall bear, deer and bird seasons.

Good luck. Nothing more fun than seeing your kids smile.
 
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