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Daughters First Deer Hunt - How early is too early?
Posted on 9/13/23 at 8:35 pm
Posted on 9/13/23 at 8:35 pm
My oldest daughter is 5 years old. She’s been asking to go see some deer and this weekend is opening weekend. I’ll be bow hunting. I’m interested to know others experiences with their kids at that age and do you think shooting a deer in front of her at that age is appropriate or will it scare her.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 8:44 pm to CalcasieuTiger
Unless you have a 120yd pin I doubt you have to worry about shooting one in front of a 5yr old.
I would wait till gun season and bring her if she wants. Both of my kids started shooting guns 4-5 and being around dead animals when they were in diapers so it was not a shock for them to see the first one dead.
Just make it fun and let her look through binos take pictures of other animals and don’t harp on being motionless quite and stuff or it will burn her out quick.
I would wait till gun season and bring her if she wants. Both of my kids started shooting guns 4-5 and being around dead animals when they were in diapers so it was not a shock for them to see the first one dead.
Just make it fun and let her look through binos take pictures of other animals and don’t harp on being motionless quite and stuff or it will burn her out quick.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 8:45 pm to CalcasieuTiger
I started bringing my kids to the camp around 2 and hunting around 3. I just brought them to get them used to it, never to really "hunt". My oldest just turned 9 last week and she has killed 2, her first being at 6. I think she was around 4 when I shot one with her in the stand.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 8:53 pm to CalcasieuTiger
My daughter was with me at 3 years old and loved it.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 8:57 pm to CalcasieuTiger
I started taking my son around 4, but have never even attempted to get him in a bow stand with me. He was around them being hung up and cleaned before that. He just killed his first last year at 8 (after a couple swing and misses!). My daughter is 4, but hasn't shown any interest in going. She just likes to ride and walk around the woods. It's never too early if they're wanting to go, but don't expect it to be quiet, sit for long or go as you plan. Bring a bunch of snacks...
Posted on 9/13/23 at 9:26 pm to speckledawg
My rule was ... old enough to shoot, old enough to hunt.
Three daughters, one Son. Daughters are all close-to or over 40.
If they show an interest in shooting at 4 or so ... they're old enough to sit in the stand with you imho.
Two of the girls would fall asleep at that age. One of the girls and my Son were into it.
Three daughters, one Son. Daughters are all close-to or over 40.
If they show an interest in shooting at 4 or so ... they're old enough to sit in the stand with you imho.
Two of the girls would fall asleep at that age. One of the girls and my Son were into it.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 9:27 pm to CalcasieuTiger
Take her
Don’t expect to see anything to shoot
Pack as many snacks, books, and games as you think it’ll take to hunt 3 hours.
Then, after 30 minutes, when she’s eaten ALL of the snacks, played ALL of the games, and read ALL of the books, and she says she’s ready to go, pack up and leave immediately
Don’t stretch them out at that age. Work em in slowly
Don’t expect to see anything to shoot
Pack as many snacks, books, and games as you think it’ll take to hunt 3 hours.
Then, after 30 minutes, when she’s eaten ALL of the snacks, played ALL of the games, and read ALL of the books, and she says she’s ready to go, pack up and leave immediately
Don’t stretch them out at that age. Work em in slowly
Posted on 9/13/23 at 9:33 pm to CalcasieuTiger
I took my daughter at 7. A big doe walked out and she said “shoot it daddy shoot it.” So I did. She had fun but has never been back. She got into girly things.
My son, completely different, I started bringing him at age 4 and he killed his first at 7 and has been hunting alone since he was 9. He’s 19 now and ate up with it like a lot of us.
ETA: her camo pattern was outstanding.
My son, completely different, I started bringing him at age 4 and he killed his first at 7 and has been hunting alone since he was 9. He’s 19 now and ate up with it like a lot of us.
ETA: her camo pattern was outstanding.
This post was edited on 9/13/23 at 9:44 pm
Posted on 9/13/23 at 9:38 pm to CalcasieuTiger
Mine started coming out with me when she was 3. Those were some of my favorite hunts.
We don’t see a whole lot of deer, so she doesn’t come as often as I would like her to, but it’ll come with time. She’s 9 now and makes a couple hunts a year, still waiting on her first deer.
We don’t see a whole lot of deer, so she doesn’t come as often as I would like her to, but it’ll come with time. She’s 9 now and makes a couple hunts a year, still waiting on her first deer.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 10:44 pm to CalcasieuTiger
There’s a finite number of times your daughter will sit in the stand with you. Don’t pass one up. . . Or expect her to be still and quiet enough to get one in now range. (Although I swear the deer don’t seem to mind kids as much)
Mine all went the first time at three.
Mine all went the first time at three.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 11:25 pm to Huntinguy
I have 5 kids. They have been coming with me since they were 3. Some like to come more than others and that’s fine. My oldest daughter 15 now always wanted to come. She started at around 3 carrying her to the stand for short afternoon sits. At 6 she killed her first doe. She’s killed probably 20 deer and as many hogs since that that age. Cherish it bc now that she’s a sophomore in HS she still comes but not nearly as much as she used to. My oldest is in college in Lafayette and I remember his first hunt like it was yesterday. I really enjoy when he kills something now but when they are in a stand with you asking a million questions and eating snacks that’s something you’ll remember forever.
Posted on 9/14/23 at 5:38 am to CalcasieuTiger
This is what I look forward to most in the season now. Can’t wait until my son is old enough to start going. My 8 y.o. girl likes to go but as sports and girl things get more important, it’s less hunting. But she still goes a few times a year. As everyone said, bring plenty snacks. I already eat a bunch of little Debbie’s but you have to triple that. Also keep a small stash hidden that way when they fall asleep playing a game, you can sneak out that extra fudge round!
Posted on 9/14/23 at 6:05 am to CalcasieuTiger
I took mine for the first time in a box stand when she was about 4. She shot her first deer last year at 10. This year she is gonna bow hunt with me.
Posted on 9/14/23 at 8:38 am to Honest Tune
I took mine to the stand at 3 and he first shot one at 8. Make sure there are plenty snacks, books, etc to keep them occupied. Mine was not really interested in the deer until it was time for him to actually shoot one. From that moment, he quit looking at his books and games and started really paying attention to the surroundings. Great fun teaching him.
Posted on 9/14/23 at 9:17 am to CalcasieuTiger
I took mine all at 3 or 4 yrs old. Just know they can only be still and quiet for a short period of time at that age. 5 yr old might be able to sit an hour if you bring enough honeybuns. Prepare to get out and walk around looking for tracks, flowers, rocks, etc.
I wouldn’t be planning on killing anything with my bow with a 5 yr old with me.
I wouldn’t be planning on killing anything with my bow with a 5 yr old with me.
Posted on 9/14/23 at 9:51 am to CalcasieuTiger
Remember you are bringing a 5 year old deer hunting. Kids can’t sit still for extended periods. Enjoy the time with her. Don’t get upset or mad if she makes noise or asked 1000 questions.
Posted on 9/14/23 at 9:58 am to CalcasieuTiger
I've been taking my daughter since she was 6. She started target shooting at 8 years old or so.
She's 12 now but hasn't had the opportunity to kill one yet.
We still hunt in a 2 man box stand together.
My 9 year old son is hell on wheels. He loves to go and wants me to shoot everything that moves. I'm not letting him hunt alone until he's 25.
She's 12 now but hasn't had the opportunity to kill one yet.
We still hunt in a 2 man box stand together.
My 9 year old son is hell on wheels. He loves to go and wants me to shoot everything that moves. I'm not letting him hunt alone until he's 25.
Posted on 9/14/23 at 10:14 am to CalcasieuTiger
quote:Of course. Deer are animals, we eat animals. They know that from the start of being able to understand. I never had the thought of not harvesting game in front of them.
d do you think shooting a deer in front of her at that age is appropriate
Now, I am incredibly careful of the language I used around them. I dont talk about shooting ones head off, or using terms of being overly violent.
It is a process, treat it as such and you will never have an issue. Also, allow them to participate in the cleaning, explain to them how things work. Again, they know that when they are eating a burger they are eating a cow. It is part of life. I dont think it will be scary.
Posted on 9/14/23 at 10:17 am to Big_country346
That is a whole lot cuter than my hunting partners!
Posted on 9/14/23 at 10:24 am to Clyde Tipton
quote:My 14 year old shot his first one at 8. He has shot one a year until last year when he shot three.
My 9 year old son is hell on wheels. He loves to go and wants me to shoot everything that moves. I'm not letting him hunt alone until he's 25.
It was awesome having him in a stand by himself last year. I have his little brother with me now. Hearing about his hunt thru his eyes is so much more fun than me seeing it myself. I encourage that as soon as you feel they are mature enough and safe enough to sit solo to do it, but every kid is so different. I had to wait until his excitement died a bit. He would think everything in the woods was a deer and every deer a buck for most of his life with me, I was nervous about that, so waited for him to mature.
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