Brodie Swisher
Your child’s first deer hunt. It’s a day you’ve dreamed about long before they were ever born. Son, or daughter, it really didn’t matter. The wheels were already turning on when, where and how their first deer hunt would go down. It’s a big deal for any deer hunting dad, or mom. And regardless of the excitement your child may exhibit when the day finally arrives, you can bet it will be a mere fraction of the excitement you’ll have before, during and after their first hunt.
The big question is, will you and your child be prepared for the hunt? The question seems simple enough, but countless hunters fail to consider the monumental task of taking their child to the woods for their first deer hunt. This is not just another hunt. This is chapter 1 of a story full of memories that’ll last a lifetime.
It's been said, you get just one chance to make a first impression. And that is none truer than when hunting with your kids. That first hunt can make or break any desire to return to the woods ever again. Your child’s experience is largely dependent on the way you prepare, act, react, encourage and equip them for the moment. Don’t blow it here!
Let’s look at what you need to know about how to prepare for your child’s first deer hunt.
What’s the Best Age to Take a Kid Deer Hunting?
Like many other sports out there, kids are competing and excelling at a much younger age these days than what we saw several decades ago. So, is there a perfect age for kids to start hunting?
Should age restrictions be in place for when a child can start hunting? I personally don’t think so. Some states, particularly out west, don’t allow a child to hunt big game until they’re 11 or 12 years of age. That’s a lot of hunting a child is missing in those prior years.
Where legal, a parent’s discretion is often best when it comes to when your child should start hunting. Are they serious about it? Are they old enough to understand safety concepts? Can they handle the weight of a weapon and its recoil?
If the parent or guardian is doing more to make the shot happen (holding the gun, aiming, squeezing the trigger, etc.) than the child, they are probably too young. There was a time when 10–12-year-olds were the norm for first-time hunters. Today, that age is closer to 7-9 years of age. Bottom line, make sure they are old enough to make solid choices on safety, handle the impact of their weapon, and understand the severity of the life and death process of hunting wild game.
Hunter Education Certification
Fortunately, completion of a hunter safety course in your home state will be required for your child to hunt. This is a great time for them to learn many of the principles and virtues of the hunt mentioned above. It will teach them safety, proper gun handling, rules, regulations and even survival. Students are required to complete classroom hours, time on the range and pass a test to be officially certified.
This class may vary by state, but you’ll find this Hunter Education certification to be a standard process for any child seeking to hunt most anywhere in the country. In many cases, course certification is all that is required for a child to hunt, until they are old enough to start buying a state hunting license. The minimum age for Hunter Education certification is typically around 10 years of age.
Preparation for the Shot
Kids need plenty of time practicing for potential shot opportunities. Far too many parents hand their child a gun and tell them, “Aim for the shoulder!” Be sure to take the time to watch videos with your child, or flip through magazines, and let them pinpoint the exact point of aim for a variety of shot angles and scenarios. Explain the difference in broadside and quartering shots and how the aiming point differs between the two. This is a fun and easy way to make sure they understand exactly where to aim when the opportunity arises.
Time on the range will ensure your child knows the ins and outs of a rifle with a scope. A young person’s inability to find their target in the crosshairs is magnified greatly when the adrenaline is raging through their body. This just might be the single greatest deal breaker for a kid on their first hunt. Make sure they know how to maneuver around the scope to maximize visibility and find their target quick and easy.
Best Deer Hunting Gear for Kids
Shooting Tripod – Having a solid rest for a new shooter can be one of the best tools for success, particularly for kids. There was a time when we relied on a forked limb cut from the woods, or maybe propping up on a rail around the treestand. However, these days the shooting stick options have evolved into some impressive options that give kids a rock solid and steady base while helping minimize recoil as well. Great options include the BOG Death Grip and Primos Trigger Stick
Hearing Protection – We don’t think much about protecting our ears until it’s too late. Teach your child the importance of quality hearing protection when they are practicing with their gun, as well as when they are taking the shot on the hunt. This is particularly important when hunting from an enclosed ground blind or shooting house, where noise from the shot is amplified and will leave your ears ringing for days, and irreparable damage done on your child’s ears. Consider protection options from Walkers Game Ear and Tetra Hearing.
Clothes – Years ago, hunting apparel for youth hunters was pretty much nonexistent. Kids went to the woods wearing oversized hand-me-downs from their parents. The clothing was not built for kids, much less comfort and warmth. These days, the apparel options for young hunters has come a long way. You’ll find a wide range of options for young hunters that fit right, wear comfortably, and keep them dry and warm in the harshest of elements. Check out the shop at Mossyoak.com to outfit your young hunter for deer season, as well as the quality apparel options from Chene Gear, Drake/Non-Typical, and Scentlok.
Ground Blind – The portable ground blind may not necessarily have been made for children, but it might as well have been. It’s the perfect tool for concealing kids and all the excessive movement and noise that will undoubtedly take place when spending a few hours with them in the whitetail woods. Check out better portable ground blinds from Primos Double Bull, Ameristep, Muddy Outdoors and Rhino.
Buddy Stands – Treestands are another tool that have evolved over the years and now include some great options designed specifically for hunting with your child. These buddy (2-man) stands have ample room for you and your young sidekick to comfortably sit in an elevated position to maximize visibility. These stands make for a safe and easy climb for the new hunter. You’ll find great options from Muddy Outdoors, Millenium, and Summit.
Safety Harness and Lifeline – No child should ever be allowed to climb into a treestand without wearing a safety harness and using a Lifeline. There’s no room for excuses or errors here. These tools are cheap insurance, allowing you to hunt with confidence that your child can safely ascend and descend the tree with complete fall protection from start to finish.
Remember, the safety harness alone can’t help you. It must be securely anchored to protect from a fall. Keep in mind, most accidents happen when climbing in or out of the stand. That’s why the Lifeline system is so important. It allows you and your child to be safely connected from the first step off the ground. The crew at Hunter Safety System offers some great harness options in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo for both youth and adults.
Great Guns for Young Hunters – What’s the best gun for young hunters? That’s the million dollar question among deer camps everywhere. And while hunters may never agree on the single best deer gun for kids, we can at least narrow them down to a handful of favorites found in the deer woods each season. Many years ago, the 30-30 lever action rifle was the standard among youth hunters across the country. Today, the .243 may have taken its place as the most popular youth deer gun. The 7mm-08 is another great option, along with the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Final Thoughts
Don’t take the task lightly. Prepare now to make sure your child is ready to make the most of the deer season ahead with the tools, planning and preparation mentioned above. Remember, it’s their time. Keep it fun! Do what must be done to ensure they want to return to the woods every chance they get.
Passing on the hunting heritage to a child is easily one of the greatest investments you can make this season. It won’t come easy. It’ll take all the patience you can possibly muster. But the rewards and sweet memories will last a lifetime. They will forever be your most cherished days afield.
