son's first hunt

[donk]

My 12 year old has decided he wants to go deer hunting with me this year and he wants to do it like dad with a muzzle loader. Last year we bought him an older CVA 45 cal long rifle and he has gotten pretty good with it. I usually take the whole week off to do deer camp but this year I really can't do that. I'm starting a new buisness and I don't want to take my son out of school for the whole week. Our area of Nebraska has been trying to thin the deer herds out the last few years so they are offering a "Hunters Choice" tag. With this you can hunt Archery, Muzzle loader and High Power and you can tag 2 does. We are not head hunters, we just hunt for meat so I think this is what I will get for both of us. That way we can take our time and just hunt week ends from about the middle of November through December if we need to.

I'm a little nervous about taking a 12 year old hunting but he has taken Hunter's Safty and I guess he has to grow up sometime. :boohoo: I guess we will see how it goes.

 

[Bob J]

Long as he understands and practices gun safety,he should do fine. Some of my best memories are of hunting and fishing with my Dad and Grandad.Among these;

1st squirrel hunt, Thanksgiving day 1972. I was 7 and carried a .22 Stevens favorite. A fall afternoon in the woods on Cow Creek Ranch with Grandad.

1st dove hunt,1973. Carried a Belgian 28 ga.double barrel Dad gave me.

1st muzzleloader deer hunt. For my 13th Christmas Dad gave me a T.C.Hawken with pretty curl to the stock. Its a great shooter to this day. Remember seeing a big buck running off into the swamp holding his rack back the way big bucks do in the thick woods. Never had a clear shot so didn't take one.

Excuse me for digressing :redface:. By spending time afield with your son, you'll be creating wonderful memories you will both cherish for years. My hat's off to a father who(like my Dad and Grandad) gives his son one of life's most precious gifts, time. :hatsoff: eace:

 

[Joel Lehman]

My son shot his first deer when he was ten. He took the hunter safety class two years later when it was required in Texas.

Some of my best deer hunting memories are when he woke me up on several occassions to show me a nice buck to shoot. No wonder I'm such a successful hunter. Now when we hunt together he just lets the muzzle blast wake me up.

 

[sidelock]

My grandson is an expert marksman at 11 YO,although not taken a deer yet. He and I will be squirrel hunting next week,and he will do well. MAN----- what an oppertunity to teach what it's all about. LOVE IT..... :m2c:

 

[Catof9tails]

I'm sure your young man will do fine. Just teach him the skills of safety and the hunt. He will be hooked forever. Best wishes and good hunting.
Cat9

 

[Flint50]

You are a lucky man to have your son want to hunt with you, and muzzleloader hunt as well.
Todays kids dont seen very interested.
I am lucky as well, my son got his first deer at 15-and we go everytime we get drawn here in Colorado.
As stated-firearm saftey is # 1. With that in mind, go and make some memories, my friend.

 

[CrackStock]

If he wants to go, then it is time. Make the time and keep his interest as long as you can. Girls and computers will take hold and then...

Mine went with me often from 10 to 13. Anything from doves to hogs, but suddenly it all stopped. I am hoping that he will become interested again someday, but right now there is just no interest.

CS

 

[sidelock]

My son has been hunting from age 9 (20 ga ). just turned 40 and teaching HIS. Just grear isn't it? :thumbsup:

 

[KyFlintlock]

GO FOR IT!!! Just remember to make it fun if it is his first time out....

I'll have my boys out on Saturday as well, saw several deer on Saturday while bowhunting that might just get a free ride to the meat pole on Saturday.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I'm a little nervous about taking a 12 year old hunting but he has taken Hunter's Safety and I guess he has to grow up sometime. I guess we will see how it goes.

Go for it.

In two years he'll have other interests with friends at school.

In four years he will disagree with everything you say.

In six years he'll be away during the season.

In eight years he'll have too much going on in his own world.

 

[Tahquamenon]

He will be fine I'm sure. Cherish the time you spend together.

If you can, take your son and scout out a few good spots ahead of time to put the boy in. Where he will have the best opportunity to see something.

It took me until I was grown to finally figure out that my dad always put me in the best likely spot for a shot opportunity. First deer at 12 for me and afterward always went hunting up through high school and college.

Or if it's feasible, hunt a few times together from the same location that way you can coach him a bit.

Best wishes with your son's first deer season.

:thumbsup:

 

[Shooey]

My advice, make sure he has fun. If at the end of the day he says "Dad I had fun hunting" then he'll want to go again.

This means if he asks if he can go to the creek and explore, let him. Even if it reduces the chance of seeing a deer. Then get him back on the stand.

If he has fun, he'll want to do it again. Then gradually you can educate him on hunting. "You know son, we can go explore the creek, but if you want to see a deer we ought to sit tight..."

Ease him in to it. Good luck!!

-Shooey

 

[DannyB]

Alas, I was not blessed with a son. I have a great-nephew that I've already started an arsenal for. He's 4YO, and already owns more firearms than his dad. His mother, my neice, won't allow me to put anything in his hand other than a BB gun, which we shoot every chance we get.

I got a .410 H&R when I was 5YO, a Stevens .22 at 8, and a Model 94 Winchester when I was 12, and it's gone wild since then. At 13 I missed my first whitetail with a .58 Springfield that belonged to my Uncle Joe. That really started something!

My grandfather used to let me carry the .410 at 5, but he would keep the ammo in his pocket. He would give me one when we would find game. Mainly, he was teaching me safety. I plan on doing the same thing for my great-nephew.

 

[Randal Zartman]

donk, last year my youngest daughter passed on a nice doe at 30yds because they taught her in hunter safety that the best shot is standing still broad side. It was walking and she didn't shoot. 30 minutes later she was done hunting for the day. So we went in. I bought her a rifle this year so she doesn't have to share her older sister's rifle. We are looking forward to the early doe season for kids here in PA. So far they are giving up other fun things to go hunting with dad. We take along cushions for comfort, warm clothing, plenty of food and drinks. We hunt close to home or a friends so they can quit anytime during the day. Oh, and don't forget to take the game boy along. It keeps them occupied. Might even want to buy him his own hunting knife and present it to him after he gets his deer. I keep my girls knifes locked up in the gun cabinet when we aren't hunting. Good luck and enjoy. Let us know how he does. What is his name? Later
Zman