Youth Hunt Advice

[ratherhunt]

I want to take my 11 year daughter deer hunting for her first time this year. I bow hunt but she can not pull 40 lbs. yet , she is small but she is a good shot with her bow at 20 lbs. so anyway I bought her a youth rifle in 243 win. is there a area or GMU that would be good to try, I was told by another hunter with a young kid there are GMU's that she can even take a doe, I really want her hunt to be successful and get her hooked on hunting. I have 3 daughters and she is my youngest and my last hope of hunting with one of my daughters the other 2 have no interest at all in hunting or the outdoors at all, I don't know what I did wrong. My youngest daughter went turkey hunting with me this year and loved it , so at least there is hope. We did not get a turkey and she still cant wait till next year to go again, so I think even if she is not successful she will still enjoy hunting but I am going to really try hard to get her a deer. I am going to get the regs out this week end and see what I can find just thought I would ask for advice. I still have to find her a hunters education class also. Thank You

[winshooter88]

As far as hunts go just check for youth hunts in the game regs. As for a firearms safety class, it's probably to late to get into one this year. There is a possible alternative, you can apply for a one year waiver of the hunter ed classes. The youth has to be at least ten years old to qualify. Look under hunter education on the WDFW website for more information. If you get the waiver, be sure to go through all the safety rules with your daughter to make sure that no accidents happen.

Good Luck
Dave

[grizzlygibbs]

As far as I know all the youth doe hunts are by application only. I don't have aces to the regs right this second though. Also there is a new program where you can defer hunters Ed for one season since it's kinda getting down to the wire with school starting for her and all in the next couple weeks or so.  But I would still recommend the class now so the info is fresh and I would highly recommend you attend the class with her, I really liked attending the class with my bro in law 12 years after I took it and would like to get certified to teach one it inspired me!  Good luck hope you find the info.  

[andrew_12gauge]

I think almost all of the ne corner whitetail hunts are any deer for youth during the general season unless its changed in the last coupla years

[bobcat]

From the 2009 regulations:

Hunters 65 and Over, Disabled, or Youth Modern Firearm General Deer Seasons
Eastern
Washington
White-tailed Deer
Oct. 17-30 101-124 Any white-tailed deer
Oct. 17-25 127-142, 145, 154, Deer Area 1010, 172-178 White-tailed, 3 pt. min. or antlerless

[littlebuf]

653 is any buck, but its probably a little far from you. and its to late to find a hunters ed class. you may get lucky and find one but i doubt it

[ratherhunt]

Thanks for all the information, I filled out the hunting coarse waiver but I am stll going to try and get her in a hunting safty class there is one listed in Whatcom county. I took her out shooting her new rifle today I bought her a Rossi with 3 barrels 22, 20 Gauge and 243 Win. it seems like a nice little rifle. Going to get studing the GMU maps. Thanks again for all the help.

[grizzlygibbs]

Let us know how things turn out and take lots of pictures even if no success you won't regret it.  The best hunts I have had in my life did not produce an animal down.

[runningboard]

The best hunts I have had in my life did not produce an animal down.

have to agree with this statement, taking my kids out and have them ask me questions about things that because I have been hunting for 30+ years I seem to take for granted and made me look at how/why/etc and even rethink how/why I do what I do. seeing things through young eyes is a eye-opener for older folks sometimes. spending time with little people is the most fun I have in the woods.

[BigBuckFever]

If you are still looking for hunter ed, I am aware of one down in Monroe.  It is at Camp Pigott which is just North of there (see attached map and registration info).  It is Sept 5 & 6th.  Class runs from 8 to 5 both days.   Cost of the class is $17 each which includes lunch each day.  It is also available the first weekend of October.  It is the only one that I know of in the area right now. 

[wannahunt]

It won't help you for this year but next year you can put her in for some of the youth hunts. One that my kids have done good on is Palisades C. The odds of getting drawn are pretty good and you won't have to knock on to many farmers doors to get on some private property with lot's of does. Last year me and my daughter only had to hit one house to get access and then she got her first deer the first evening we hunted. good luck and don't give up on those other girls either. My youngest girl wasn't that interested til she was 15 and now she's the first one ready to go. Ya never know. good luck to you.

[nw_bowhunter]

RATHERHUNT- I was curious what you thought of the Rossi for quality, etc. I was thinking of buying one.

[h2ofowlr]

She will have to take an animal with a rifle as she won't meet the state requirements on minimum draw weight.  Good luck.  They sell the youth Rem. 700 in .243 that would fit her good.  I think they are $325 to $350 range or there have been some Rossi's for sale under classified.  YOu can pick one up in .243 for $150 or less.

[ratherhunt]

I got my daughter a hunter education defferal so she is a licensed hunter now, we went out looking for some grouse tonight after work as she wanted to use her new gun. We did not get into any grouse tonight but had a great time together and are planning on going out again tomorrow evening . I really don't care if I hunt at all this year I am having so much fun with her she is so intense and asks so many questions she thinks everything through. We are going to do the youth duck hunt together as she has been reading the regs planning our hunts together this is so cool. I am sure I will be on here asking advice for youth draw hunts next year, I think my third daughter is hooked on hunting at least I hope so. Thank you for all the advice. Larry

[grizzlygibbs]

Good to hear I'm glad it is all panning out for you.  Good luck to you and her.

[PA BEN]

I'm from Chewelah and started my daughters at 8 yrs old with a 234 also. The youth doe hunts are the only way to go. Stop and knock with your daughter to ask to hunt does. Most farmers would be more then happy to help. Theres a lot of State land and National forest land too. 7mm-08 youth is a good kids gun too. I decided to hunt over here West side this year and put my youngest daughter age 10, my wife and myself in for a doe partner draw in 603, will we got drawn. So start putting for youth and non-youth draws too.

[MagKarl]

Sweet pics PA BEN!  I have 3 girls and hope they choose to hunt like your kids do.  I can't wait till they are old enough to go.

[JBR]

The Rossi's are a great first gun for the kids.  Two of my 3 boys have them and have killed grouse, ducks, pheasants and quail with the 20 ga and love blinking with the .22 barrel.  The 12 yr old bought a scope for his .243 barrel and will be using it to go for his 2nd deer this season.  Great size, easy operation and cleaning and I like the single shot for teaching accuracy.  The boys do gripe out the single shot when a load of ducks jumps off a pond and they can only take one however. 

We hunt up NE, north of Kettle Falls, where they can take ANY whitetail deer.  Last year the 10 yr old took a doe and the 12 yr old took a 2-pt whitetail.  Lots of good whitetail hunting up there for the kids.  Good luck. 

PA BEN - nice pics!

[Eildydar]

Also there is hunter ed online which could be an option if you don't want to get the deferral