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Started By
Message
Brought my youngest son on his first hunt today
Posted on 12/26/24 at 6:40 pm
Posted on 12/26/24 at 6:40 pm
We lasted 10 minutes in the stand.
He was so excited to come with me.
I told him we had to be quiet, and I wondered if he would be.
As soon as we got to the camp he whispered everything he had to say, so I was pretty hopeful about the evening.
When we got in the stand there were dozens of ladybugs in there. Flying around and getting on his face and in his shirt. He wasn’t having it.
I’m pretty bummed about it. I tried to get him to stay calm but I couldn’t do anything.
He was so excited to come with me.
I told him we had to be quiet, and I wondered if he would be.
As soon as we got to the camp he whispered everything he had to say, so I was pretty hopeful about the evening.
When we got in the stand there were dozens of ladybugs in there. Flying around and getting on his face and in his shirt. He wasn’t having it.
I’m pretty bummed about it. I tried to get him to stay calm but I couldn’t do anything.
14
Posted on 12/26/24 at 6:47 pm to upgrade
How old is he?
Posted on 12/26/24 at 6:49 pm to MNCscripper
6
Posted on 12/26/24 at 6:53 pm to upgrade
Don’t be bummed and don’t quit. I’ve temperaraly given up on tree stands for now. I refuse to just hand him a tablet. My kid has decided we are dog men. We get up early and stop at the donut shop on the way to the camp. He plays in the mud and sand. Daddy gets to get out and be in the woods with his buddies. Win win
Posted on 12/26/24 at 6:55 pm to upgrade
I started taking my oldest when he was 2. He’s 4 now and we’ve gotten up to 45 min in blind. It’s all about the experience, at least that’s what I tell myself haha. I push him but when he’s ready to go, we go ride around on the 4wheeler. I think the most important thing right now is that he’s having a good time. I don’t want him to get burned out. Duck hunting is a lot more forgiving, I wish we had a good lease like I had as a kid
Posted on 12/26/24 at 7:03 pm to PetroAg
I live really close to the camp, so it’s not a hassle. He won’t want to go early right now, so no big deal. I can hunt the morning and come home for lunch and get him for the afternoon.
He showed all the signs that he was going to be quiet and patient.
Until those fricking ladybugs. Truthfully, I hate their guts too. We’ve had them crawl in gun barrels they get so bad.
I hope this doesn’t ruin him for it.
My oldest son is 12 and doesn’t want anything to do with hunting.
I still make him come with me now and then, but he doesn’t want to.
He showed all the signs that he was going to be quiet and patient.
Until those fricking ladybugs. Truthfully, I hate their guts too. We’ve had them crawl in gun barrels they get so bad.
I hope this doesn’t ruin him for it.
My oldest son is 12 and doesn’t want anything to do with hunting.
I still make him come with me now and then, but he doesn’t want to.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 7:04 pm to upgrade
I started both of mine when they were 5 y/o, have never brought a tablet to stand or blind. My oldest would play on my phone maybe 30min total of a sit when he was younger. Both of them are now locked in and paying attention or sleeping 100% of time. Zero electronics which I think is awesome. They are looking in binos or rangefinders the whole time.
My oldest (age 10) has his own blind bag now with his own binos, ear muffs, gloves, snacks, knife, beanie, etc
My word of advice is a lot of snacks!
My oldest (age 10) has his own blind bag now with his own binos, ear muffs, gloves, snacks, knife, beanie, etc
My word of advice is a lot of snacks!
Posted on 12/26/24 at 7:09 pm to upgrade
Give him time. It will be worth it.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 7:38 pm to upgrade
I put up a ground blind this year for the grandkids. I spread lots of corn and beans around so there is always activity. Also got one with a floor 
Posted on 12/26/24 at 7:41 pm to upgrade
I wouldn't be disappointed, but maybe reset expectations a bit. I have a 4 year old son and a 2 year old daughter. When my son was born I was dreaming about taking him hunting right away. I subscribed to hunting magazines and was setting aside hunting clothes for him to wear down the road. Reality set in pretty fast that I was dealing with a young child and not a kid of age to understand any of the dreams that I was having. I've taken him to a shooting house a handful of times to get him experience but the shooting house to him is still a playhouse. I haven't carried a gun with us yet when I've taken him hunting. When he gets a little older I plan to get a little more serious about it with him.
The only thing my kid cares about on our hunts are snacks, a compass and some binoculars. My older relatives have helped me level set and shared much of the same advice as the OB has shared here. Do your best to introduce him to hunting without burning him out on it at an early age.
My son complained about how bad my buck smelled the other day and didn't want to be anywhere near it. My 2 year old daughter was as happy as she could be to grab an antler. Just got to take it in stride as you go.
The only thing my kid cares about on our hunts are snacks, a compass and some binoculars. My older relatives have helped me level set and shared much of the same advice as the OB has shared here. Do your best to introduce him to hunting without burning him out on it at an early age.
My son complained about how bad my buck smelled the other day and didn't want to be anywhere near it. My 2 year old daughter was as happy as she could be to grab an antler. Just got to take it in stride as you go.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 8:50 pm to upgrade
It's a rollercoaster, but enjoy it. I started taking mine when he was 3 or 4 and it was a challenge. Lots of snacks and entertainment. He killed his first last year at 9 (and a couple more does since), then killed his first buck this season at 10. It goes fast...
Posted on 12/26/24 at 9:02 pm to speckledawg
If a 6 year old is scared of a lady bug then he clearly hasn’t been out much. Get that boy out of the city/neighborhoods.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 9:40 pm to upgrade
Good for you for taking him. Get some pruning sheers and build ground blinds with your boy. Just like building a fort.
Posted on 12/26/24 at 10:58 pm to upgrade
Try something cooler for kids like duck hunting
I understand though, I’m terrified of my son not loving it the way I do. I didn’t grow up deer hunting, but I just love being in the woods now. I don’t know how much I would have loved sitting still at 6 with bugs flying all over me.
I understand though, I’m terrified of my son not loving it the way I do. I didn’t grow up deer hunting, but I just love being in the woods now. I don’t know how much I would have loved sitting still at 6 with bugs flying all over me.
This post was edited on 12/26/24 at 11:01 pm
Posted on 12/27/24 at 6:30 am to upgrade
I had a daughter. I started taking her fishing when she was 2. Spent a lot of time outdoors. Made games out of identifying bugs and critters. Made sure she knew the good ones and the bad ones. Especially snakes.
She caught her first fish when she was two. She got so excited. A lot of firsts.
Memories. They sure grow up fast.
She caught her first fish when she was two. She got so excited. A lot of firsts.
Memories. They sure grow up fast.
Posted on 12/27/24 at 10:06 am to upgrade
quote:
My oldest son is 12 and doesn’t want anything to do with hunting.
I still make him come with me now and then, but he doesn’t want to.
Have patience. When my oldest was 12 he was kind of 50/50 on hunting. He just turned 15 and he is all in on hunting.
People mentioned earlier about not using electronic in the stand. I will disagree with that. I found that you bring anything that keeps a kid entertained on the stand. Books, tablets, food, etc. Make the stand a fun place to be. Also, start them out on a stand you know you will see deer. An afternoon hunt on a food plot is probably the best. They don't have to get up too early and you can make it a short hunt.
Posted on 12/27/24 at 10:15 am to Theduckhunter
I have a 15 year old daughter and 8 year old son. Both love fishing, hunting, crabbing, and the outdoors. When it comes to hunting I leave it up to them. My lease is close to the house and can make quick hunts and I have property in Delacroix. They choose duck hunting over deer hunting most of the time. They can move in the blind, we can cook a little breakfast, shoot the pellet gun at an old decoy and move around and not be so quiet.
Posted on 12/27/24 at 10:24 am to upgrade
Those bugs aren’t lady bugs. They’re Asian lady beetle or something like that and they’re horrible. I hate them.
As others have said, be patient. If you have access to dove or duck hunting take them. Much better as they don’t have to be still or quiet and a lot more action.
As others have said, be patient. If you have access to dove or duck hunting take them. Much better as they don’t have to be still or quiet and a lot more action.
Posted on 12/27/24 at 2:18 pm to upgrade
This is what I did with mine. Find a spot unlikely to mess up a decent hunting area, take him out there around noon. Find a couple trees close together and y'all build a fort ground blind. Then sit there for a little while. It's about him having fun with the adventure of it all not hunting just yet.
Posted on 12/27/24 at 2:45 pm to upgrade
Not uncommon, the main thing is you tried......keep at it, he will come around!
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