Fatherly Deer Hunting Advice (Update)

[lohaus]

Hello everyone.  I'm just looking for thoughts and opinions on bringing in your son to deer hunting.  My son turned 12 this summer and completed his hunter safety this past spring.  We went turkey hunting and he nailed his first tom, first hunt, first morning back to the car by 6:30 am.  Now, he has his own deer license.

Our rules state he has to be within visual and ear shot for hunting.  I've been bringing him along with me for quite a few years now for turkey and for deer hunting.  He has his own Mossy 20 ga.  Most of the guys I go with they will sit for maybe a day or two and start doing drives.  I'm planning on finding a spot with my son that we were together on a few years ago and watched deer come back as they got pushed from different woods.  I'm thinking we are going to bring a few chairs, set up the blind on a point of woods in a field, place the blaze orange top over it, and sit and wait.  Most definitely talk about where to shoot, where not to shoot, where do you think they will come from, range for shots, etc.

To be honest, I'm not one to say 'you go over here while I'll be over there' type of thing.  I'm thinking about leaving my shotgun at home or in the vehicle and make the experience all about him.  I'm sure he won't go every day so I'll get some of my own time in. . .I think.  I just want to be right there and not have 'buck fever' cloud his judgement.  I want to make sure he does things right, or as I percieve them as right.  Basically, this being his first deer gun hunt I want to school, educate him, and make sure it is a good experience with him.

This is also making me think about the type of people that I hunt with.  I've had maybe 75% of the guys being legit.  I was shocked on a trip out west when I watched a father and his 2 to 3 sons that are all 20's to 30 year olds stop on a country road.  I thought we were admiring a nice buck out in the field and just glassing them.  . . . Until I heard a shot and then more shots ring out from the Dad, the son in the truck, the other son jumping out leaning over a truck hood, on private land that we definitely did not have permission to hunt.  Then they drove the truck out there into the field and couldn't find the buck.  My buddy and I were in another vehicle wondeing what the heck was going on.

Anyway, I didn't want to be part of that.  I certainly don't want my son to be part of that.  Just getting my thoughts and expereinces out there and looking for other hunters thoughts and ideas on how you were brought in or how you brought your children in and what worked and what didn't.

(Update)

Well, my son and I hunted pretty hard for the 9 day gun season.  He had a few deer come in on opening morning.  He didn't take the shot.  When I asked why he told me that he could just see the tail flicker and would only be guessing where the body is in the brush.  We talked about next time holding the shotgun on an opening and waiting for them to walk into it.  A few days later, he takes a shot and misses.  I told him to find the tree with the opening and sure enough they walk into the opening.  Missed again.  It appeared both time were clear misses.  I made sure that we did our due diligence and looked for blood, reviewed the shot, went 3 or 4 guys wide and walked the brush and grass.  No dice!  The next few days we didn't see much for deer.  Last day he had basketball practice.  We went to my buddy's hookup on private property, set the blind up, and sat for the last 2 hours of the season.  13 deer in 2 hours including a very nice 8 to 10 point buck. . . on the other side of property fence line.  We whispered that the buck wasn't on the property we had permission to hunt.  After it walked off I explained that this is private property, this is a good spot, we have permission for the first time, and we don't want to mess this spot up for a buck on someone else's property.  We want to respect the landowner, the neighbors, and build a relationship.  I figured it was a wash but decided to sit until dark.  Sure enough, 7 does come walking into the bean field and my son eventually drops one in its spot.  My buddy dropped another one and we left with 2 deer in the last 10 minutes of legal time.  It was nice watching my son gut his first deer, drag out his first deer, and find my buddies deer in the grass when it was dark and we couldn't really find a good blood trail.  Overall, a very good season of some hard hunting, some excellent teaching lessons including brush shots, property lines, moving out of areas where others are set up pointing toward your direction, safety, respect.

[SinGin]

Sounds like you are on the right track. I started deer hunting when I was 10 and my father was right there beside me without a gun teaching me what was right and what was wrong. I have also been on a turkey hunt with a buddy and his 11 year old son. When the son missed his first turkey, the father threw such a fit that he actually threw the gun through the woods and left it there with me and his son in disbelief. That was a sad day. I promised I would never treat a new hunter like that, just sad, sad, sad.

[shark]

I have a 14 year old who been hunting with me for 3 years now, a couple things to consider, kids will get bored quicker, when he gets tired of sitting when nothing is moving we will ease through the wood slowly to another spot (my son killed his first deer that way).  Alot of the times I would have to point out the game to him, learning what to look for in the woods. I also let him pick where we will hunt sometimes, lets them feel a little in charge and help teach good areas to hunt. yes you don't do much hunting with a kid you watch and help them, but it's well worth it good luck, have fun, be safe.

[allaboutshooting]

It sounds like you're right on the money to me. It's really all about the enjoyment of being together in the deer woods. If he enjoys that, he'll want to go and you'll have a hunter for life.

Have a good time and enjoy being with your son.

Thanks,
Clark

[mossy835]

Your ideas sound good to me, that is how I learned many years ago.

[flintlock]

The fact that you are putting that much thought into it says it all!   I have buddies that make the most out of the HUNT and I have buddies that only care how big the trophy is.   With starting kids out, it is SO important to focus on the HUNT and take whatever comes along, and celebrate EVERY success.   

This thread brought back memories of some of my boys' early hunts, where I didn't take a gun, just the camera and am glad I did.

oldest first doe


Youngest and a buddy's son






Hats off to you guys and keep us posted on how the hunt goes.
Wess

[Woodsman4God]

Heck you have already got through the hardest part as far as I can see, you have already brought him out a number of times with you so he knows what to expect etc..... The only thing different is who will be holding the gun. Good Luck and Good Hunting.

[lohaus]

Thanks for the advice

[redarrow]

Good luck to you both. If I could make one suggestion it would be to always remenber that hunting is not a competition. Its between the hunter and himself only. You dont have to shoot the biggest or the best.