When To Take Your Child Hunting With You

As a parent, you can't wait until the day arrives that you can take your son or daughter hunting with you, but there is that question of "When is the right time for them to come with?" Unfortunately, there isn't one good answer.

Many factors must be considered when answering this question. Your child's interest, personality, behavior, and the list continues. In general I would say you can begin exposing your children to hunting as early as 3 and sooner. My daughter just turned 2, yet we read hunting magazines all the time. This is a great start to exposing your children to the outdoors. We go through our Petersen's Bowhunting or The Trapper & Predator Caller magazines. She points out the bucky's, bunny's, elk, bear etc. We've also taken our daughter to the petting zoos. She loved feeding the big bucks and petting them. Any type of exposure to nature will help build their interest into the sport.

The main point to keep in mind when beginning to take your child with you hunting is patience. You are going to have many times where they are cold after 15 minutes, they're hungry, have to go to the bathroom or yell when the big buck comes out. Part of bringing them into the sport of hunting is that you have to sacrifice your success for them. Over time they will learn from you the importance of keeping quiet and being patient. Sacrificing your success for them will give you much more greater satisfaction than any trophy could.

Another area to remember is that the more you take them, the better. Take them with you every time. They will begin to truly understand the sport the more they do it as with anything. If you only take them once in a while, they are over excited and will forget the special little tips you can give them. Give them something to do. Have them carry the binoculars or map. The more they can actively participate with you, the more they will be interested. It also gives them a sense of responsibility. A lesson more valuable than many others.

Overall, have fun and enjoy this time with your children. If your child shows a love for the outdoors, feed that interest and keep feeding it. Actively make them a part in your hunts and they will provide enjoyment and satisfaction to you beyond your imagination.