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youth hunting

doublerack

doublerack

Active Member
I know many of you have kids that you take hunting. I don't have any kids yet, but I did take my 13 yeard old nephew through hunters safety this spring. He's walked with me while pheasant hunting and likes watching the dogs work, but he is really getting into whitetail hunting.
When considering the upcoming deer seasons, mainly youth season, I have given him the choice of using a shotgun or bow. He wants to use a bow and although I'm glad he has taken a liking to archery, I almost prefer he use a shotgun during youth season just to get the first deer under his belt.
What should I do? Looking for your advice and experiences.
 
I would leave the decision up to him. There is obviously something driving him to want to use archery equipment opposed to a firearm. Why fight it? You may run the risk of taking some of the wind out of his sails if you "force" him to gun hunt instead of what he really wants to do. Why can't he get his first deer under his belt with a bow? That is what I did, and my Dad never discouraged that... and from that moment on I have been eating, sleeping, and living bowhunting. I think it's wonderful that a young man shows such interest in such a great sport. Don't hinder it, promote and encourage it.
 
I would let him make the choice. You could tell him he might get a deer easier with a shotgun but if he got one with a bow it would be more rewarding. Good luck to you both.
 
How proficient is he with a bow?

If you have the time, he has the option to try both hunting methods.

You want to make his experience fun, if he gets frustrated with the bow hunting, grab the shotgun.

Great job getting a kid in the woods either way!
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He's a much better shot with a gun. He's not horrible with a bow, just not very steady. I'm more concerned that he will get more frusterated waiting for a good shot bow hunting. Also, the last thing I want him to do is start injuring a bunch of deer with marginal shots. I will leave the decision up to him.
(should I encourage him to shoot a doe first? then try for a buck during regular bow season?)
 
I think you need to honestly assess whether he's ready to hunt with a bow. "not horrible, just not very steady" makes it sound like he may not be ready. If he can't consistently hit a target at home he's probably not going to shoot better at a live deer. In that case maybe the shotgun would be a better option for this year or until he can show you he's practiced enough to be proficient with a bow.
 
Great job getting him out to hunt.
If HE wants to try both back him up with a Doe tag in the youth season that way if he smokes one early he can try the gun if he wants to. Good luck out there!
 
Sounds like another year of practice with a bow would do him good. He will be stonger next year and more prepared if he gets a kill with a gun. Keep that carrot in front of him. That season is perfect for the reach of a shotgun anyway.
 
What I meant by not very steady is that at 20-25yrds, he can hit the vitals 9 out of 10. 25-30 yrds 7 out of 10 and 30-35 yards 5 out of ten. If he misses, it's a gut shot or neck shot. Do they have antlerless tags for youth season?
 
If it were me, I would convince him to use a gun during youth season, then buy him a regular season bow tag. Then he can hunt both. If he is better with a gun, he would have less of a chance of wounding and not finding his first deer. Sometimes that can ruin a kid too, if they hit it, and think it is out there suffering, they may not want to try it again in fear of wounding another deer. A gun might be easier to break the ice. Either way it will be fun, bow wouldn't be bad either, but regardless of what he does, I would get him a regular season archery tag as well.
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I guess you CANNOT buy antlerless youth tags, The disabled hunter season can buy them during the same time frame as the youth season so I assumed you could also get them for youth. (Thats what I get for (ASS-U-MING) any way I like the other suggestions that have been made also. There are plenty of options,Good luck again.
Dan
 
For me, I started with a shotgun. A single shot 20 gauge shotgun. It taught me the use one shot, and plan it carefully, because you only have one shot to use. I liked it, and it worked for me....Good Luck with it though...
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[ QUOTE ]
How proficient is he with a bow?

If you have the time, he has the option to try both hunting methods.

You want to make his experience fun, if he gets frustrated with the bow hunting, grab the shotgun.

Great job getting a kid in the woods either way!
waytogo.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

My son shoots both bow and gun, but he is still not as good with a bow as I would like to see and being a teen...he's "into guns" right now.
He's the kind of kid who would be extremely upset (with himself) if he made a bad shot and lost a deer using a bow.
For now we just shoot our bows together in practice, but he prefers hunting with his 20 gauge.
 
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