Youth Hunts – A Few Essentials for Big Game Beginners
If you’re a seasoned hunter, chances are you started out young. You most likely accompanied your mother, father, grandmother or grandfather on hunting trips and they taught you the ropes. Perhaps you started later in life and had to teach yourself, but now you have kids of your own and want to bring them into the fold. For some, it can be an enjoyable family tradition passed from one generation to the next.
Whitney’s husband and niece out in the duck blind.
A youth hunt is a valuable experience for young girls and boys because it gives them a degree of life experience they will never get in front of a TV. It teaches them the value of hard work and the accomplishments that can come when you put your effort and focus into something. It gets a child into the great outdoors and teaches them the value of life, nature and ecology, whilst also providing indelible bonding time too.
Let’s assume you’ve already completed the necessary requirements prior to the hunt. It’s important to keep up with your local rules for youth hunts because they all vary with age, area and season. You’ve taken the hunter’s education classes and acquired the certificate (check here for your state’s Hunter Education requirements), obtained the hunting license, and completed firearm safety. Now let’s go over some of the essentials needed when you are in the field.
You – You have to be an effective teacher and mentor given that the way you guide and train is the most critical element of any hunt. If you don’t teach your apprentice correctly, they have a good chance of not taking home their game, as well as an even greater possibility of them losing all respect and desire for the sport itself. Ultimately, how you teach a child determines whether they have a successful, fun and safe time.
Safety Gear – Some states require the use of orange safety vests and caps, and others strongly recommend it. As adults, when we’re out on the hunt alone, we may think wearing an orange vest isn’t necessary. But for the sake of the kids, let’s put them in orange safety vests, or some variation of orange safety gear. Furthermore, don’t forget protective ear and eyewear. Let’s ensure our children go home safe at the end of the day.
Compass and Maps – Teach your young trainee how to read a compass and map. These days, you and your youth probably have a smartphone loaded with maps and GPS, which are very useful. But what happens if the battery dies or you lose service? It’s always good to know how to read a map and use a compass in the wild. Have them pay attention to their surroundings and use landmarks and the sun as signs.
Cover – Hunting blinds are great for instructing because they allow you and your child to move around much more and use hand movements. Let’s face it, your kids might get fidgety, and blinds allow the opportunity to teach them how to limit movement (they may not always employ a blind in the future), and also to control the volume of their voice. Just because the game can’t see you, it doesn’t mean they can’t hear you.
Signs – How to read and recognize signs is probably one of the most crucial aspects of the hunt. Teaching Junior how to identify the game ensures a successful and ethical hunt; we can’t have them out there blasting away at anything that moves. It is important that they are aware of the difference between white-tail deer and mule deer, and the difference between a doe, fawn, or young bucks whose antlers have dropped. Identifying tracks can be even more difficult. Teach them the difference between deer and elk hoof prints, and yes, even droppings.
Shooting – You may have already taken them to the range and taught them firearm safety and how to properly shoot, but how are they going to shoot when they see their first deer? It can be a very exciting (and overwhelming) moment when they have that first chance to take a shot. Help them to remain calm, take a breath, and steady their shot.
Above all, be patient. Remember, you’re making memories. Teaching a youngster to hunt builds a bond that can last a lifetime. Every time your child goes hunting, they will think of the first time you taught them. With any luck, they may even carry on the family tradition.
If you are looking for hunting stands or hunting blinds, Redneck Blinds can with whatever you require. We supply premium deer blinds, camouflage gear, and other hunting products that are designed with both sturdiness and practicality in mind. For more details, please visit us online at Redneck Blinds today.
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