Youth Hunt ideas

[treeclimber2852]

This year I will have my two boys hunting with me (12 & 14).  They are both pretty great shots out to about 250 yards.  I live on the west side and am just trying to get an idea of what hunts I should put them in for?  Neither of them have killed an elk or deer yet and I'd love to get them an opportunity this year.  I typically hunt archery, but the boys aren't there yet, so they'll be my pack mules early in the season. 

[huntnphool]

 Take them to Montana and get some doe tags, about as fun and guaranteed as you will find.

[LastLookTaxidermy]

If you want elk meat to fill the freezer I would suggest putting them in for the youth antlerless elk in gmu 658. Its a fairly new option. Tons of cows in there.

[wt]

Tag. I have a 10 year old in a similar boat. I got him out last year about three times just him, me and his rifle but no first deer for him. I was torn between preferring he get his deer his first year or having to persevere a while first. I think it was best he didn't get one yet, but this year we will hit it hard for elk and deer (modern) for him. I do archery elk myself.

[cld40]

i took the kids to montana last year for antlerless deer,,
great time for the kids, highly recommend this
saw lots of animals and harvested two deer as well
hoping to capitalize here in the home state this year
looking at different areas for everyone try to improve chances
maybe eastside for a  youth antlerless tag in 328 (any info appreciated)
hopefully they can draw a tag or two for the youth only hunts

[poopooheaddad]

I have not looked at the regs yet, so I do not know if they have changed, but there used to be some youth hunts in and near Spokane. I contacted the game department over there and they gave me some numbers of ranchers who like to help kids get there first. my son and I had a blast and he sure did impress the ranchers with his shooting.....hope this helps

[Elkterd]

I have been putting my daughter ( she is 14 ) since she was 10 for points and all the youth hunts. We have been very lucky on drawing second deer tags every year but one, she has drawn a cow elk tag, and her first kill at 10 was a 270 lb black bear. Put in for all the tags you can and stick with it, the kids will thrive. Good Luck!

[Joe Rothrock]

      Lots of good ideas on here. I like poopooheaddad's idea about the north east youth deer opportunity. Seniors, youth and disabled have 4 days they can take antlerless during general season without a permit. There's a mistake in the printed regs. It says Oct 15-28 but the online regs has the 4 day correction.
      Also, I'm not sure but I think Montana's non-resident youth antlerless over the counter tags cost about the same as our resident tags. Need to research that.