Take a kid hunting?

[Waterfowl Wacker]

Hey everyone... I was wondering on what you all thought of the take a kid hunting day... I've heard some people say it wrecks the hunt for the "real" hunters... I say.. If your a "real" hunter why wouldn't you want to introduce some new kids, younger generations, the hunting future, to hunting with little pressure where they can get some good shooting in and thus get them hooked... just because a few kids went out a shot some ducks a couple weeks before season doesn't mean that your hunt is over for the year... I have never really noticed a huge hit to the waterfowl population around here after take a kid hunting day... I myself ( only 18 ) will be taking my girlfiends little brother out hunting on take a kid hunting and hopefully get him hooked... I know thats when I got hooked.... I think their "our" future and the future of hunting depends on them... So take them out... Show them a good time and get em hooked! Just wondering what all of you thought?

[peeldo17]

I agree. Intorducing kids to hunting is one of my favorite things to do. The people who dont like it are just the ones who never got to go hunting as a kid. Take all the kids out that you can and get them hooked. You never know one day they might be taking you hunting.

[Rich Good]

I say take them out I think however a hunt later after the season is a better way to get a kid hooked. Like when the birds are migrating, not loafing.

[Ryan Kleinschmidt]

Taking a kid hunting is a great thing but NOT BEFORE THE SEASON OPENS!! Set aside a day during the season for them. 90% of kids that are taken on the "take a kid hunting day" are also in the field on the opening morning as well. This one day 2 weeks before the regular season really messes up a lot of things. They bust geese off their roost ponds and they disturd a lot of ducks in the area, a lot of which are not even ready to be hunted. Like I said, its a great idea but its done at a poor time of the year IMO.

[Jason Mears]

Those kids are the future of our sport. Its 100% vital to the future of hunting to get those kids out there and introduced to hunting and good ethics.

[Waterfowl Wacker]

Taking a kid hunting is a great thing but NOT BEFORE THE SEASON OPENS!! Set aside a day during the season for them. 90% of kids that are taken on the "take a kid hunting day" are also in the field on the opening morning as well. This one day 2 weeks before the regular season really messes up a lot of things. They bust geese off their roost ponds and they disturd a lot of ducks in the area, a lot of which are not even ready to be hunted. Like I said, its a great idea but its done at a poor time of the year IMO.

I agree with you about busting geese of of their roost... But where I will be going and have always gone there are no geese roosting and I have never really ever seen geese on the pond exept for the occasional loner you can call in while its passing over... Other than that I have not seen a problem with disturbing a lot of ducks but where we go there is not to many kids that go out... So that is probabally why...
Good luck and good hunting!!
Shoot em' up!

[h20fow1er]

They bust geese off their roost ponds and they disturd a lot of ducks

I wish they would do more "disturd"ing around my areas. I'm tired of stepping in all of it!:D

In all reality it is a great program for the kids. The guys that are taking their kids to bust roost ponds are the same guys that are going to bust the roost pond during the regular season anyway.

Set aside a day during the season for them. 90% of kids that are taken on the "take a kid hunting day" are also in the field on the opening morning as well.

So should opening day be take a kid hunting day? and we can move your season back another week? There are some contradictions in your post. Which would you prefer, a day or weekend for the kids, or a weekend for you, and a kid?

Children ARE our future, hunting included. They need gratification to continue with something. Some of us have been waterfowling for many years. And wouldn't you have enjoyed that extra weekend with dad in the blind, before the weather got nasty, cold, etc. A time that would be dedicated solely to you. Where there could be some great quality time with that father, friend, etc? My son is 4 1/2 and this will be his third year in the blind. And we will go during the youth season. He'll be taking his pop gun to "shoot" his limit. we'll try not to push the birds around to much.

Happy hunting to all!

[Goose_Reaper]

I think it is def a great thing to take your kid hunting. My daughter is 14 months, and these pics were takin at easter, and then in May. She wasnt even a year old, you think she has wat it takes? :) She knows were the ducks r and what they look like. I hope I can take her as soon as she wants to really go..Soon as we think she can sit for longer than 5 mins, doubt that will be forever...Lol

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/4940/dsc00415ar2.th.jpg (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00415ar2.jpg)

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7746/untitledgk0.th.png (http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledgk0.png)

[h20fow1er]

My son got his first teal hunt in at 18 months... Those are nice as they are typically fast and furious. Hunts don't last to long and they happen right at daylight. Keep her interested and you will have a hunting partner quicker then you think. My boy is counting the days till sunday... his first teal hunt of the year.

[Michael Weiss]

OK....I want to know who voted for a "bad thing"?????? Whats up with that??

[birdartist]

and you wont have to hunt them when they are big............................

[kyfowlman]

The hunts I learn the most from are the ones when my son and his buddies tag along. You want to learn what your child is thinking,take him/her with you.During the slow time you never know what the topic of conversation is going to be.

Famous quote of Kyfowlman Jr. while picking up decoys just before dark "Dad,look at all those blackbirds".......no blackbirds,10 green heads locked up right on top of us.

[roe doe]

i started taking my eldest boy out when he was 10.he,s now 13 as his own gun and will be coming to scotland with me again this year

[Mark Brendemuehl]

I like the idea, but in many ways I don't like the idea. I have had lakes LOADED with ducks that after that youth season were almost bare. One memorable year, Woody caught 3 cripples in one morning before we even got the decoys set up.
I grew up hunting in Wisconsin when bird numbers were SO bad they had point limits. Shoot a hen Mallard, she is worth 100 points, and your hunt is done for the day! I never needed a special day to hunt birds, and we had very few birds to hunt. It was special that my family included me as one of the older guys during the regular season.
Like anything, there is good and bad points.
Mark

[Eric Wolf]

Dont worry Mark, I wont shoot all of your ducks off of the lakes on the youth hunt out by Kandiyohi and I will try not to cripple any. Hows the water level look out there?

[Mark Brendemuehl]

Eric- the bigger waters are ok, and will probably be really good. The smaller potholes are all but empty. I have several spots that I take photos at that are bone dry, and I haven't EVER seen them dry.
Look on the bright side though.... pheasant hunting is looking great!
Mark

[Marshall Starkey]

I know personally out of all the big deer i've killed and the waterfowl hunting I've done i am most proud of a six pointer that my friend's eleven year old son shot when i took him hunting last year.Nothing compares with being able to pass what you know along to a youngster and watch them enjoy things as you do.

[h20fow1er]

My first duck was a hen mallard. One shot, 100 points, one limit. I'll never forget. My uncle looked at me and said Congratulations. You get to go to school and tell your buddies you filled your limit with your first shot. I then got to watch him fill the rest of his limit on green heads. I was young. 11 or 12 maybe. Point was, he forced me to learn duck identification the hard way. I'll never forget it.

[oscar]

My son is 8 years old and goes on probably 75% of my duck/goose hunts. He does the whole package with me. Preseason decoy and blind work, scouting dog training etc. I woke up one night right before school started at 2:30 in the AM and he was out in the living room with the new MPW catalog circling things he thought we needed. We satyed up until 4:00 am taliking about hunting and birds etc. Priceless!!

[Letmland]

My sons are 3 and 5 yrs old, I have been taking them goose hunting with me since they turned 2. I can tell you there is nothing more heart warming than seeing their faces after someone shoots a goose. The table is then set and you get to answer all the questions they have. It doesn't matter what the questions are, because it is bringing you closer together and forming a bond that is hard to break.
As far as whether it disturbs birds or not. It doesn't matter because the youth hunt is just that YOUTH, it isn't about you shooting your limit it is about them getting a chance to be in the field just like the people they look up to.

[Paul Beyer]

Reaper, nice pics. Keep her in there and take her in the field to scout. I get to spend hours away from the house and chores taking the kids 'scouting'... Great way to spend one on one with the kids.. Enjoy

[Ryan Kleinschmidt]

I like the idea, but in many ways I don't like the idea. I have had lakes LOADED with ducks that after that youth season were almost bare. One memorable year, Woody caught 3 cripples in one morning before we even got the decoys set up.
I grew up hunting in Wisconsin when bird numbers were SO bad they had point limits. Shoot a hen Mallard, she is worth 100 points, and your hunt is done for the day! I never needed a special day to hunt birds, and we had very few birds to hunt. It was special that my family included me as one of the older guys during the regular season.
Like anything, there is good and bad points.
Mark


Mark, that is exactly what I was getting at. It is a great concept but it has its issues that need to be looked at.

[quackaddict]

Besides the fact that youth waterfowl day educates birds and busts geese off the their roosts, many of the adults who take the kids somehow manage to end up with a shotgun in hand killing birds for their kid. I have seen and heard it many times. You hear single or double shots like you would expect from a beginner and then suddenly BANG BANG BANG in quick succession. The old skybusters teaching a new generation of skybusters. If you want to take your kid out do it on opener day. If you care so much then take time out of your hunting to teach him the right way. Don't mess up mine. A friend of mine took a kid out to some of our best potholes on youth day last year and jump shot them all. We didn't kill a single bird off of em all year after that.

[h20fow1er]

Seriously... youth waterfowl day(s) are no different then any other day during the season. The hunters that are jump shooting honey holes and roost ponds are the same ones that are going to do it during the season. Those sky busters will still be skybusting. The ditch sneakers will still sneak ditches. As in everything there are bad apples that will make a good group look bad.

I do take my kid opening day, and every day he wants to go. He is only 4 so the weather and location of the hunt plays a large part with his time in the field right now. I do not care about my hunt. It's all about our hunt and the time that we spend together. Some day, when you have a child I hope you introduce them to the field. You can share with them the joy of the sunrise, the whooshing of wings over your head, and the rush of the first flight of teal swooping through the decoys in the morning. You can enjoy the conversation in the blind, the quality time spent bonding together. A time reserved for them. Rather that be on an opening day, or a youth weekend is your decision. I just hope it is never about the Kill. Selfishness is something that should not be passed on.

[Jeremy Kriese]

I say whenever you have the oppertunity to take a kid hunting you should jump on the oppurtunity. This way they learn at an early age and get hooked on it. I think it is much better for them to be out hunting than doing other things kids might do.

[Ryan Kleinschmidt]

Seriously... youth waterfowl day(s) are no different then any other day during the season. The hunters that are jump shooting honey holes and roost ponds are the same ones that are going to do it during the season. Those sky busters will still be skybusting. The ditch sneakers will still sneak ditches.


Thats where you are wrong. During the regular season everyone has the chance to shoot these early resident ducks before they get pressured out of the area. I'm not gonna lie to you and say I could care less if I don't shoot a duck and anyone who says different isn't telling you the truth. Sunrises are great but you can sit home and watch the sun rise. During the youth day, they get educated by adults showing kids "how it's done". IMO, a high % of the adults that take kids on the youth day DO NOT KNOW "how it's done", my opinion of course. My wifes brother is 11 years old. He has been duck hunting with me for two years now, he knows what its takes to be successful, the right and wrong way to do things. He does not want to go out on the youth day because he would rather be involved in my hunts during the regular season. I take him almost everytime I go and I know a lot of dads and other guys who do the same for their kids. Its not like the take a kid fishing day. What would you think if they allowed youth deer day the weekend before you were able to take the stand. There again, most kids would be in the tree during the regular season as well. That may be a little extreme but its the same concept. Like I said, it's a great idea and KIDS DO NEED TO GET INVOLVED, but it should be designated during the regular season. I am all for kids learning about the outdoors!!

[Wile E.]

We don't have youth specific days here in Saskatchewan, but I often see dads out with their kids regardless. My Pa first took me in a goose blind at about 18 months of age. He said I was good with gunfire, but got a little cranky when a hot empty burned my forearm. He said he took over the chore of dressing me for the next couple of days so my mom wouldn't see and ask any questions about the mark. Despite the initial bad experience I was almost always out with my dad from age 10 on, I hope when I have kids they do the same.

[h20fow1er]

I am telling the truth. I could care less if I harvest a duck or not. I have shot 125 + ducks (in the decoys) a year for the past 8 years. I am at the point of crapping feathers over here. I don't need to shoot another bird to prove anything to anybody. It's not about that for me.

And sunrises at home are great to. Nothing beats sitting on the porch in the fall when the leaves are turning, sipping on some coffee and watching the world wake up. But it is nothing compared to doing it in the marsh or field. Those are two totally different experiences for this city dweller. And I use the word city lightly.

Kids are a project. They are built on the mold that we create for them. Yes, there are people doing things different then you or I like. It may be wrong by us, but as long as it is within the law and their own ethics, who are we to say that it wrong in general. Yes, they will repeat what is taught to them. If you raise a skybuster, a sky buster is what you have. But couldn't the same be said for your nephew? (I AM NOT attacking you in anyway. please follow me here.) He does not want to use the youth season, as the person that is teaching him does not believe in it.

And educated birds are educated birds. Do you think the birds get dumber the further south they fly? By the time the birds get to us and further south they have been there and done that many of times.

I may be reading a bit much into it, but when someone says During the regular season everyone has the chance to shoot these early resident ducks before they get pressured out of the area it appears that they are upset not because the birds got pressured out. But that they didn't get the chance to do it first. And if anyone wants to do a youth deer hunt. By all means come to Kansas. I'll show you wear them prairie rats are at.

[spud]

i think taking a kid hunting before the season gives a kid a better chance to be able to shoot at something, kids are going to be the future of our sport, we need them to keep this sport going, to all others who don't agree, i think that is selfish. If it bugs you that much grab a kid and get out on that day.:eek:

[h20fow1er]

Spud, While I agree with you, there is one problem. Adults can not hunt on the kid days weekends. I think that is where some guys have an issue.

By taking or shooting a gun you break the very principle of the day itself. Not to mention many federal game laws! ;)

[spud]

opps, i should correct myself there, it just means more to me to be able to watch a kid shoot some ducks or geese when you are there with them. The look are there faces are priceless. Sorry i forgot people can not read my mind, lol.

[h20fow1er]

I knew what you meant! :D Not sure that everyone else would though. I get more joy out of boy shooting things with his pop gun then I ever could shooting one myself.

By the way. If anyone in central - eastern kansas has a kid that wants to go. PM me. We'll work something out.

[quackaddict]

You all aren't seeing my point here. I have no problem with taking a kid out and letting him hunt. That basic fact isn't in argument here. H2ofowler, I may not have children of my own but I do give hunts to anyone who I meet who will at least give it a chance and work a little bit. I have taken a 9 year old with me and we had a blast, we didn't even see a duck that day. What I don't get is why there has to be a youth day for ducks. If we had a youth day for deer people would be up at arms because some kid popped "thier" trophy buck before they could. If you care so much about getting your children or whoever into the sport then you should have no problem taking them when both of you can hunt. There is no reason for a special day. If you want to go earlly take them on a september goose hunt. This would get rid of the guys who only take their kid out so they can shoot as well.

[Brittany Sorensen]

I totally support taking youth out on a youth day. My dad did that with me and I had a BLAST!!! Even though I hunted the rest of the year, it was a cool day for me to go out and try hunting on my own. My dad, of course, came along and helped and mentored, but I felt it was a special day for me and other youth. I am too old to hunt on those days now, but am looking forward to hopefully helping other youth get into hunting in the future.

[h20fow1er]

Shoot my buck. I don't care. I have shot plenty and there is only so much room on the wall anyway. Besides, if you want to get comparative, then we have the equivalent of a youth season. well not really. But you don't honestly think that today's modern muzzle loaders need a special season do you? I have bow hunters and muzzle loaders shooting bucks a full 4 months before my gun ever gets in the field.

I totally understand where you are coming from. I do take kids. I take kids all year. We both agree that kids need to be in the field, the time line is what is keeping us apart. What about the kids that are from non hunting families that do not have the proper late season gear? These early hunts give them the option of coats, sweatshirts, etc. It's all about the maximizing of their days in the field and making it more enjoyable for them. Not every state offers a September goose season. So that is a dead option.

Public marshes can also be a problem. Hypothetically lets say I take a kid out hunting and someone comes in and down winds us. Then sky busts everything coming in. Is it a day in the field. Yes. A day worth being out, certainly. A day where an important lesson is learned, most definitely. Fair to a 12 year old kid trying to learn how to hunt? NO!

[Eric Bragg]

I am 12 and stared hunting at about 5 or 6 and I love it!!! I thank every kid should go hunting at least once.

[David Ortley]

If a friend of my dad's had not taken me out I wold never have enjoyed the past 35 years as much as I have.

My son and I are hosting two young men, 12 and 15, during our two day youth season. Both of their dads hunted years ago but do not now. The boys want to hunt but their dads don't have the gear or current knowledge. It is a great way to introduce a kid to the outdoors. Hopefully, he or she will be bit by the waterfowling bug. If not, they will never forget the lesson in sportsmanship and ethics. The ride up the river in the dark with a dog in your lap is worth the price of admission!!

Shooting some birds will be a bonus- but there is a lot more going on during those hunts.

[G Doyle]

I totally support having a day or weekend set up just for youth. I am 20 now and I hunted on the youth days when I was younger. Everyone that I hunt with always showed up at the blind to help and have fun. Now I take kids out hunting and they LOVE it. Last year me and my grandpa, who took me, took along my little cousin of 12 yrs. He could not shoot well at all and he shot at a lot of birds. He finally ended up with a limit both days and had a blast. My grandpa and I had just as much fun as my cousin, Kyle.
For those who think that it scares off birds, these are MIGRATORY and there are a couple weeks before regular season starts anyway. I just think that this is a great program and should keep it up.

Grant Doyle

[NWMO H20-FOWLER]

My Kids R 3 & 5 And Hardley Ever Do I Hunt With Out Them That Is What Huntin Is All About Family And Tradition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well At Least My Huntin Is!!!!!!!!!!!!and Dont Forget The Family/huntin Lab Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!later Jack

[BGOOD]

Well here in Manitoba we have a special season called Waterfowl Heritage Days, which allows kids 12-17 to hunt the first 7 days of September without a license (must be accompanied by licensed adult). We also put on 12 mentored youth hunts throughout the province each year, which is growing every year after starting with one 6 years ago. The birds are not affected by our youth season here but we can't compare to the numbers of hunter in the states. We can thank Delta Waterfowl, Manitoba Wildlife Federation and Manitoba Conservation for developing this season. Delta was the very reason the youth hunts were expanded and are growing every year. They even have a youth hunting director for all of Canada.

[Aaron Hitchins]

Well here in Manitoba we have a special season called Waterfowl Heritage Days, which allows kids 12-17 to hunt the first 7 days of September without a license (must be accompanied by licensed adult). We also put on 12 mentored youth hunts throughout the province each year, which is growing every year after starting with one 6 years ago. The birds are not affected by our youth season here but we can't compare to the numbers of hunter in the states. We can thank Delta Waterfowl, Manitoba Wildlife Federation and Manitoba Conservation for developing this season. Delta was the very reason the youth hunts were expanded and are growing every year. They even have a youth hunting director for all of Canada.

That is a great idea!!! Do non resident youth have to buy a liscence for that? If not I might be visiting you guys next September ;)

Aaron

[DrakeslayerIllinois]

If some of these so called veteran waterfowlers are that upset about the early youth hunts ,they seriously need to consult a physycian (hope I spelled that word right)for menapause pills they sound like my wife around xmas after 30 days of straight hunting.At our duck club the youth hunt is our opening day and I would not trade for anything. This willbe my 10 yearold Samanthas second year shooting on the youth hunt but her6th year going on it her brother Drake is 5 this will be his 3rd year.When your worrying about the kids ruining your hunt by their big weekend its time to hang it up.

[Stuart McCullough]

I take my children every time I get a chance and love every minute of it. Since mine are to young to carry a gun I also get in on the Junior hunts in CA with some of the kids from my community. Start them young and they will appreciate it.

[WATERFOWL WACKER II]

I loved the youth hunt when i was a kid and i will take my kids out on when i think they are old enouph. As far as scaring ducks and geese out of the area, there is not actuly thast many kids that go. Those ducks and geese are are going to get shot at and just head somewere else because they are locals and thay wont go to far theyll simply find a new roosting pond, which is going to be the refuge around here and thats were all the geese are anywase.

[David Rearick]

Always a good thing. I think it is important to get kids in the field, and I think the best advisor is their parents. Any body I hunt with is mor than welcome to bring their kids along on any hunt. I have some spare blinds they can use.

[Arliss Reed "Cuz"]

It totally baffles me that someone would oppose the chance to get a kid out in the marsh or field and introduce him to the awesome sport of waterfowling. I'm 23 yrs old and im going into my 11th season of carrying a gun but ive been going along with my dad since i was a couple WEEKS old, and those memories of going along with my dad are memories I will cherish forever. I work at a WMA here in northen MN and we did hunter bag checks on youth day, and FYI there was only 3 parties out hunting, 3!! how many ducks is that gonna scare away, newsflash..none in the 2 weeks since the youth day we have had more birds here than ever before. Those of you who are opposed to this idea should really sit back and think about what you are saying, and you guys claim that you love to take a kid out hunting, but it seems to me that you are so worried about killing ducks that you wouldnt have the time it takes to be a good mentor to these kids who need help IDing the ducks they are shooting, not to mention keeping a close eye on them and the FIREARM they have in their hands. Plus the pressure involved with opening can be a bit overwhelming for a kid, I think he/she would have a lot more fun if it was just them shooting at the ducks, not worrying about trying to shoot the ducks that their dad (who all he cares about is how many ducks he kills) is going to shoot before they have a chance.

Kids who Hunt, Fish, and Trap dont mug little old ladies..so take a hunting for crying out loud.

[Jeff Kreit]

Good thing !!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/1goose/100_0395.jpg

[jamesmc]

We have a youth only weekend here and the only thing I dislike about it is the fact it is the weekend after season is closed. I think It should be before regular season so the kids can get into some quality shooting and not have to work extremely well "educated" birds you have to deal with during the later part of the season. Kids are our future and we should embrace that.

[Arliss Reed "Cuz"]

Jeff thats a great pic, those are genuine smiles if ive ever seen them.

[GreenTimber]

i think take a kid hunting day is a good thing, but i disagree with the "bust the geese of the roost thing", I dont think one day or a even a weekend will matter that much to effect the outcome of the hunting season??? If anything it outta help spread the geese out. I dont think this is a reason to not have the kid day. But i think the kid day hunt should be either before season or after, i dont think it helps to do it in the middle of season, you dont have to wait for "kid day" to take a kid hunting.

[Camo Man]

How about a great thing, I would be willing to bet that is how the majority of us got started. I know I did. All thanks to my dad!

[David Ortley]

My son and I took two youth hunters out on two separate days of the Montana youth season. A dad of one boy came with on day two. The look on these young men's faces when they lifted their first duck says it all!! Both bagged a goose to boot. I am sure I will have two more hunters going after birds in the future but that is fine by me.

"It is better to go hunting with your kid, than go hunting for your kid."

[ANDY TURP]

It's hard for me to imagine anybody not supporting any type of "youth hunt" simply because the vast majority of us were probably introduced to this sport as a youth. I look forward to my states youth hunt as much as opening day for myself. Don't get me wrong guys, because I still love shootin birds, but without new blood in the sport what kind of future does the sport really have. As much as I hate to admit it I like everybody else on this board am not getting any younger. Besides that just look at a smiling kid who just shot their first duck or goose, and tell me it isn't all worth it Ohio has a youth hunt this weekend and bright and early Saturday and Sunday mornings I'll be doing my best to hopefully some kids the right way to do it, and who knows maybe they'll catch this "illness" we call waterfowling.