Preferred Hunting Style

[turkeyfeather]

Ok everyone here's the deal. My 10 yr. old is in his second deer season and so far we haven't got a shot at anything. My son is not fond of sitting and waiting. As a bow hunter obviously my preferred method is just that. So my question is for those of you have taken kids hunting what seems to be the best option for a kid to see deer. Thanks for your help.

[PolarBear]

Glassing and somme slow still hunting.  Even then it might be kinda boring for a kid.

[Kowsrule30]

Better off sitting still....  Get a ground blind... Or better yet have him help you make one out of branches and brush....

[bobcat]

Ground blind and let the kid play a video game or something to keep him from getting bored.

[novice870]

Ground blind and let the kid play a video game or something to keep him from getting bored.

This is what I have done the past two years with my boys (8/10). I bring plenty of snacks and plenty of stuff to do. I use a primos ground blind and it is a must have...it protects them from the elements (I even bring a sleeping bag for when its cold), they can move around and even talk quietly, and I think it controls scent better too. They are good for several hours in there. My own rule though for hunting with my boys though, is they get to call the hunt...when it stops being fun or they are ready to go, I bag it. The older they get, the longer they last. We are up to 3-4 hours at a time now. Heading out today with them in fact!

Good luck and great job getting your kids out!

Blessings.

[bearpaw]

I will probably get blasted for this but here's what I would do with a kid that gets bored so that he has an interesting and fun experience. I would take him road hunting and do a few short hikes and glass over some areas in between the road hunting. Break up your hunting methods rather than sitting in a blind all day, hiking all day, driving, or glassing all day. Break it up and do a lot of different stuff, the attention span for hunting will likely be longer.

Keep the experience interesting so that he has a good time. If you hike him to death or make him sit bored for long periods the kid may hope he never has to go hunting again. Spend the extra dollars for small game, bear tag, and cougar tag, they are cheap add-ons for kids, hopefully he gets to shoot at something, a grouse, rabbit, coyote, bear, cougar, bobcat, or even a deer.

Just be sure if you see something along an old logging road that he is out of the vehicle and does not lean on the vehicle and is shooting safely, to be legal have him use shooting sticks for a rest instead of the vehicle. Go for some short hikes here and there, get out and glass some clearcuts or hike up to some vantage points that are easy to get to and glass for 15 to 30 minutes. Tell him what you know about trees, animals, birds and other stuff you see on the way. Halfway through the day ask him what he likes doing best and then do it, even if you don't think it will be successful.

Right now it is doe season for 4 days (Oct 18,19,20,21) for kids in the northeast units, that is a good bet. This morning I had a senior who got a doe in the first 15 minutes.

Good luck, I hope he has fun, whether he gets anything or not.

[brokenvet]

Your in prime hunting area.  Knock on doors and ask land owners if your son could hunt. 
You can also try the Colville area for the late season and use the blind.

[pianoman9701]

I like Bearpaw's approach - mix it up. Also, if you know a 10 year old girl who might like to hunt too,...

[boneaddict]

I will probably get blasted for this but here's what I would do with a kid that gets bored so that he has an interesting and fun experience. I would take him road hunting and do a few short hikes and glass over some areas in between the road hunting. Break up your hunting methods rather than sitting in a blind all day, hiking all day, driving, or glassing all day. Break it up and do a lot of different stuff, the attention span for hunting will likely be longer.

Brilliant plan if you ask me.   

[pianoman9701]

Bearpaw made me think of something else. If you can afford a guide for a one-day hunt, that would be cool, too.

[bobcat]

A ground blind worked for me and my 14 year old cousin last Saturday. We got in the blind at 4:30 PM and he was able to kill his first deer at 6:30.

I do agree with mixing up the methods though. But at prime time I think sitting still in some sort of blind is the best tactic for a young kid. I did take him on a pretty good him that morning, but that's about all it was- a hike.

[TommyH]

Good advice dale,  kids are hard to keep entertained for long periods of time. I took my son(he is 5) out last weekend and tried to mix it up for him, we drove some hiked some, carried him some. I walked past a elk shed and let him find it and he was the happiest kid on the planet!! "DAD LOOK WHAT I FOUND"!!!!!!!!!! He found the other side about a half mile up the hill and was thrilled again!!! As was i to see the happy smiles from him!!

[turkeyfeather]

Bearpaw-thanks for the advice that sounds like a perfect way to keep his interest going.  Bobcat-congrats to you and your cousin. 

[jayrod9528]

Wet side or dry side?

[Clancy]

prefer still hunting timber.

[turkeyfeather]

Dryside and beings I bow hunt I don't think I have mastered the art of still hunting cause the couple times we have tried it we have never seen anything. But I will try it again cause I really want my son to get his first deer. I was one proud papa when he got his first turkey this last spring.