Off the Fence

[mountainhunter1]

I grew up originally in North Carolina and my father got me into the woods at four years of age. I was almost nine when I finally killed one and I did it by myself with him not sitting with me. I was so little when I first got into it, and to help me overcome my flinch (most all small kids will have one to start with), he would put either a empty hull in or a live unshot load into the gun and I never knew if the gun was going to go off when I pulled the trigger. That broke me real fast on the flinching part because you look pretty stupid jerking the gun and it just going click on an empty hull in the barrel.

Those were just different days though. Kids had to work on the farm and were just a lot more mature at a given age than most are today. My parents let me go fishing in a boat by myself on the lakes on our property by the time I was 6 years old. Mom just made me promise to wear my lifejacket the whole time I was on the water. I often think about that and laugh, because the state today would probably take a child out of the home for neglect if they knew any parent was letting a 6-year-old take a boat out on the water by themselves with no one else present.

[Prospector]

I don't personally hunt or agree with the Youth season concept myself. I mean, take a kid hunting- that's awesome- but do so when everyone else who buys tags and licenses can as well.

While I disagree with your take on the youth season, I always said for me and my son and nephews, youth season was all season.

I can absolutely respect that.

[sasquatch1]

I grew up originally in North Carolina and my father got me into the woods at four years of age. I was almost nine when I finally killed one and I did it by myself with him not sitting with me. I was so little when I first got into it, and to help me overcome my flinch (most all small kids will have one to start with), he would put either a empty hull in or a live unshot load into the gun and I never knew if the gun was going to go off when I pulled the trigger. That broke me real fast on the flinching part because you look pretty stupid jerking the gun and it just going click on an empty hull in the barrel.

Those were just different days though. Kids had to work on the farm and were just a lot more mature at a given age than most are today. My parents let me go fishing in a boat by myself on the lakes on our property by the time I was 6 years old. Mom just made me promise to wear my lifejacket the whole time I was on the water. I often think about that and laugh, because the state today would probably take a child out of the home for neglect if they knew any parent was letting a 6-year-old take a boat out on the water by themselves with no one else present.

We must've grew up similar.

Hell, people had full on families at 15/16 yrs old a while back. Now they 25 on their parents teet still


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[WV Flopper]

 If a child does not understand the concept of death they should not be pulling the trigger.

I do not care what the age is. If they do not understand death they should not be pulling the trigger.

This is the responsibility of the person taking them hunting or the parent, but it must be understood by the child.

[WV Flopper]

 When my child killed his first turkey he was upset. He was upset that his flock, his brothers and sisters would not see him again.

This is not a bad thing. They must understand this!

[ScottTaulbee]

Daughter's first squirrel, age 4 with a gas 28 gauge. My daughter on youth season last year, didn't see a gobbler but called up a hen and conversed with her for 10 or 15 minutes, also had a coyote at a few yards, and her during regular season with me last year, didn't get a turkey with her but she explored creeks, mountains, and found a huge rock she loved. My son last fall at 1 1/2 on a fall hunt with dad, we found a shed and saw a deer. My son this youth season, age 2, absolutely obsessed with turkeys and stands in our door way looking in the yard "shooting turkeys" with a toy gun and plays with the calls I've given him. On this hunt we had no gun but called up a gobbler and 3 hens with him in my lap. It ain't all about "hunting" per say. It's enjoying my favorite people, sharing what I love the most, and teaching lessons. And you can't put a age limit on that. I could care less if they kill anything. It's not about that.


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