As I’m scrolling through Facebook this morning, I see a lot of kids “5-7 years old” with there first deer. Well that great and I’m glad the kids want to hunt and kill a deer that bad at a young age. But what was learned out of the hunt? If I’m in a blind with my 5 year old and we kill a deer over a corn pile at 10 yards with a cross bow, did we hunt it and kill it or did we just pull a trigger? Does parents not teach there kids how to small game hunt anymore? Learn about squirrels and rabbits then work your way into deer hunting? When I was a kid “early 90s” we didn’t have many doe days in Cleburne county, like 2 or 3 after Christmas Day I think. Hell we didn’t have a lot of deer at all really. But I learned the woods and gun saftey while squirrel and rabbit hunting. Daddy would let me carry my shotgun unloaded constantly preaching saftey to me, until we seen a squirrel the he would hand me a shell. To each his own I guess, I just can’t help but wander if we’re raising trigger pullers now instead of actually outdoorsman and hunters. But I also think that’s why we so many dogs get called into bad shots, and why a lot of grown men only know how to hunt shooting houses. They was never taught how to shoot, where to aim, wait on a good shot etc. How many grown men you know now that don’t know what oak trees are? Or know what a natural funnel is, draws, pinch points, ridges and so many other terms to go into deer hunting. A man should do what’s best for him and his family whatever that may be, I just think for the most part, a kid should learn about the woods, how they work, why they work, and earn a respect for them. Just morning thought while I drink my cup of Brandon. 😁😁

5-7 always seemed to young to me for a kid to be shooting a deer (but that is me). My kid carried his BB gun to the woods for the fist few years that he went with.

On the other hand, as least they are taking the kids into the woods.

Very true. Got a buddy who only puts his sons in shooting houses to hunt out of. He’s afraid to let them sit in ladder stands and won’t let them in a climber. Mines been using a summit for three years now and he’d rather be in it or ladder on trails funnels or acorns then on a plot now. He’s finally seeing the big picture at 14.

That’s exactly what’s being raised now and it’s that instant gratification syndrome and proud daddy moment just for little Johnny or Suzy sitting in the lap just to pull the trigger and say they killed the deer. Everything my kids killed they did it all and started with small game.

Yep and it fits right in with travel ball…

Kids these days….get to ride the bus (or mommy’s soccer wagon) to school without ever having to experience the barefoot trek uphill both ways in the snow.

I'm with you be cam

Things are so much more advanced now than they were when I was a kid it has no choice but to be easier.I remember hunting for weeks as a kid without seeing a deer now I get upset if I go and don’t see one. In my early twenties when you wanted to find pinch points or oaks on public land it required boots on the ground now you can find those things from your phone and never leave your living room.

That is true sure enough. And don’t get me wrong I’m not knocking anyone way of hunting per say. I mean if it’s legal go for it. I know a lot of grown men that don’t know much about the woods just because they never got taught. I was pretty lucky to have a good dad and other mentors that has taught me about the woods, plus I still learn new things every time I go into the woods.

Squirrel dog, and single shot .22s here to start. My oldest is 12, youngest is 9 and they will tear the door off the truck to go let the dogs tree. We are waiting for the leaves to come off and will start going a couple times a week.

I don't think this is the truth. There is no way that little boy that was always asleep in the truck is 14...

Jeremy

I'm in my 50's. Growing up during the 70-80's. I played sports in school but organized travel teams wasn't something going on where I lived. We didn't have cell phones, computers were not common in homes and television was limited to the few main channels. Spending time outdoors was where kids played. I grew up in the country. As a kid I had a BB gun and pellet gun I could use. As I got a little older I could take the .22 or shotgun with my friends and hunt squirrels and rabbits. We could drive down roads and just stop and ask to hunt and most folks would say yes. Also seemed much safer to do that than now. More freaks/dangerous folks around now or maybe we were just naive.

I think today a lot of folks only have access to a few spots to hunt, or it's public land and they don't let their kids roam around for fear of others or accidental shooting etc. I haven't had to go ask permission to hunt from strangers in years but I now own land and I would only let folks I know well enter my property. Liability issues are much more common now and you have to worry someone would get hurt and sue you.

Kids are so busy with school, school sports, after school sport teams, travel teams, and bombarded constantly with technology. Life seems to move at a much faster pace, kids are exposed to drugs, sex etc at a much earlier age than I was, so they are growing up faster.

At this faster pace with more limitations to access for hunting, I think the time to wander the woods and scout, set up stands, sit for hours on multiple dates is just something many kids either can't or won't do. But maybe being exposed in a "setup" way will make a memory and when they are older, they may understand that there is another, more involved, time consuming option that takes skills that they can pursue as an adult.

At least they’re not on video games or being lazy. This discussion usually comes up every year whether it’s on here or social media. I personally don’t have any business judging the way another man raises his child due to me having no clue what circumstances they’re going through. I got enough responsibility of my own to raise mine.

I disagree. I’ve had mine with me in the woods since he was 2. He could barely walk and he was following me around like a puppy falling down and getting hung up in everything. We have watch 100s of hours of hunting shows and YouTube videos and I point out things done right / wrong. When the Hunter is abt to shoot he puts his finger on the iPad and points where to aim. He’s been shooting a gun since he was 2. He is light years ahead of most kids knowledge bc it’s what he’s heard and seen since he was old enough to comprehend information. And I think there’s something very important that happens when a kid kills a animal. That’s a lot to process at a young age. We as parents then get to explain why we do this and the importance of it. For me to watch my son tell one of MY friends that we are all eating a deer or turkey he killed brings up an emotion that’s unexplainable. A punishment for him is not going with me to our properties to check cameras and do work on them. To each his own in how they raise their children.

How fun would baseball be if you didn’t get to hit the ball until they’re 7. Teach them to throw and catch only. No hitting. Boy I bet that’d be fun.

He still sleeps in the truck all the time he’s just taller now. Lol

I’m going to throw this out there and it may not be the case for some BUT every friend I have that has taken their 4,5,7,8
Year old takes a tablet or a phone. I’ve seen em in pictures. They’ll talk about it.. I’m glad they are in the outdoors but I wouldn’t use that as a pacifier while they are there. Hope a lot doesn’t donit

I think it is great to get them in the woods early and shooting when they are safely able to do so. My son killed his first buck at 7 years old and became a legend at his school. The key is that he has since developed though the phases of a hunter faster than I did with the help of the guys I hunt with. He also helps with the work when he is home from school. Since he is a big, strong kid the guys love having him around for work time. He loves to hunt and the outdoors. I'm thankful that I got lucky and somehow taught him the right way to do it.
Now it is time to patiently await grandchildren then the real fun begins.

I grew up hunting long days with very few deer killed and it was cold and miserable a lot of mornings. No, it ain’t got to be hard to be fun. They can make it harder later as they mature.

Kids don’t know how to be bored or alone with their thoughts. The first part of deer and turkey season is rough but we work through it. Mine takes toys and prefers ground blinds bc he can dig