Does size matter?

jeremydhinds · May 26, 2008

Happy Memorial Day to all. I have a ten year old son who is very into hunting with me. I just want to get your feelings on a kids first deer. Should I make him harvest a fork-horn or three point before he sets his sites on a 4-point? My gut feeling is that he needs to start with a young deer and work his way up. But I also feel that the hunting experience in itself is what should keep his interest in hunting not the size of deer he harvests. any opinions?

BOHNTR · May 26, 2008

It's up to the young hunter, IMO. I let my son arrow whatever made him happy. I didn't try and bestow any type of mature deer only restrictions on him........especially when he was just starting out. I imagine he'll go through the different stages as many of us have gone through over time.

BOHNTR )))---------->

nmelktrout · May 26, 2008

I'd let him shoot whatever he gets a good clean shot at. I grew up in the school that you hunt to harvest and when you have an opportunity on a legal animal you take it. Sure there are plenty of people who won't shoot anything unless it is a trophy but I couldn't be happier and more proud of the first young buck and bull that I took as a kid. And besides, I think I am much more appreciative of the mature animals that I do harvest having grown up working hard to get those first couple of younger critters. I guess I see more appreciation for the hunt and harvest from guys who have started working hard for any legal bull or buck than I do some of the people go out on their first hunt and whack a monster. Not always, but generally. I guess I'd say go into the field to harvest the first legal animal you see and harvest it regardless of whether it is an old monster buck or a little guy. At least you are going out with the intent to teach your son to hunt and not just to trophy hunt. I think that is the best thing my father did for me and is what I hope to do when I have children.
-Cody

Roy · May 26, 2008

I agree totally. Take the first one he has the chance to, it it is big - it is big. If it is a nice fat doe - he will be just as happy.

UTROY
Proverbs 21:19 (why I hunt!)

sageadvice · May 26, 2008

LAST EDITED ON May-26-08 AT 06:00PM (MST)[p]Roy, i don't believe that you can know that the boy will be happy with a doe. His friends at school may have fathers who believe differently, it's debateable, and the experience of being heckled by those that don't believe in the practice, may put him off the sport. We debate the practice in these pages, i wouldn't expect a 10-12 yr old to have to do so.

My thoughts are to let him shoot the first forkie or better that gives him a good shot, if, that is what he wants. You, as father sound as if there is the opportunity of a bigger buck. If he has already going with you for a long time, he may have his sights set on a deer, "like what my dad gets". In any event, your sons first deer should be all about safety and all about him.

My first deer was taken while Dad stood behind me many years ago. I'll never forget how proud of me he was at the time. Dad has passed on now, but i'll take those wonderful memories with me to my grave.

mtmuley · May 26, 2008

sage, I think the values and lessons I have taught my children will allow them to be proud even if a doe is their first animal. I will definitely be proud, headgear or not. Skills come first. Strong kids don't get caught up in the heckling-teasing thing. I still kill skinheads. mtmuley

gb22 · May 26, 2008

I think he shoots the first one he really WANTS to shoot (and can get). Talk to him about all the theories before hand, but let him do as he wants at the time.

The story of my daughter's first hunt got two pages in Eastman's. In large part, because she flubbed up the stalks on 2 point and on a 3 point before we found the big one.

She is proud of it (and we kid her husband about the pictures and antlers) but I really don't think she was a lot more proud than was a younger brother with a 2 point that he got......he was on the other side of the canyon from me and "did it by myself".

If they think they had fun, they probably did.

carbonnation · May 26, 2008

+1 gb22
Talk to him before you go. Make sure he understands that you support whatever he decides to do.

Personally, the more deer and elk I take, the steadier I am under the pressure of the shot. If we don't let our kids shoot until the buck of a lifetime is standing in front of them, then chances are they are going to miss or even worse, wound that buck. Practice makes perfect and no amount of target shooting can replace the real thing.

Support your local Dentist...Rinse with Mountain Dew every night before bed.

G-Hought3 · May 29, 2008

Two years ago I shot my first buck. Now my family are all trophy hunters so thats the reason I held out for nothing less than a 25" 4x4.By the end of the hunt I had my 27" buck and it felt a lot better to shoot one that I thought was big enough. And to know that I didnt drop my goal and shoot a littler buck. Talk with him on how big of a buck he wants and then have him wait to find that caliber of a deer.

Bowhunter3

gb2hunt · May 29, 2008

Let Him Shot The One He Wants.Tell Him To Let You Know Before He Shots.You Will Have A Blast Just Watching Him,Chances Are He Will Get Excited A Shot Just About Any Buck But You Never Now. It Great Sometimes Being A Guide,It Is Special With Your Son.Have Fun And Bring Spare Film Or Chip For Camera.Gordon RAM4G

slamdunk · May 29, 2008

Not sure on the point of "making him shoot a forkhorn for his first deer".

I'm sure if there were a 4 point and a 2 point standing there together, the 4x SHOULD be toast......teach him "management" at the same time if ya get the chance.

NMPaul · May 29, 2008

I have taken 4 kids/3 adults hunting for their first bucks. Not one of them said "I got to shoot a big one".

All of them just wanted a buck and all were very pleased with the bucks they shot. I bet your kid will feel the same way.

AZWALKER · May 29, 2008

LAST EDITED ON May-29-08 AT 08:44PM (MST)[p]It really depends on what values you want to teach your son. Do you want him to appriciate the hard work of locating and taking a big buck or do you want to start him with the equally valuble mindset of taking an animal for meat first and headgear second. There is absolutly nothing wrong with teaching him to hold out for a 4x or better and theres nothing wrong with starting him on a meat hunt. I think we all know that once the crosshairs settle, skinhead or big toad he'll be shaking like a leaf.... and thats what its allll about!

Now... all B.S. aside, I'd start him on a dink buck, no where to go but up from there!!!

Donnie

AWHOLELOTTABULL · May 29, 2008

I personally believe that it's important to teach conservation and trying to harvest the most mature buck you can. I teach this to my girls and I practice what I preach. With that said, I also believe it's important to "get your feet wet". I don't know too many people that have taken a big mature buck on their first hunt. If you live in Colorado or Wyoming it's probably easier to do that than if you live in Utah. If it were me and my daughter hunting for the first time I say shoot the little bugger. Then you know what it feels like to put the crosshairs on something when his grandpa steps out the next time.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

Boskee · May 29, 2008

There is no right or wrong answer to this one. How ever if you subscribe to the lets try to get a bigger one next year school then you might have a problem letting him start out big. I have also seen young folks lose interest in hunting because they shot a toad their first time out and didn't have anything to look forward too the next time out and the pressure from dad was to much to bear. Make sure it's their decision and not yours and you should be fine and tell them it doesn't have to be a toad to be a trophy. Some youngsters may even go a year or two before they actually are succesful by their own decision because in their mind they're not ready yet ot that deer may not be the right one. There's nothing wrong with being selective and it teaches them the value of conservation.

Slide · May 30, 2008

LAST EDITED ON May-30-08 AT 06:48AM (MST)[p]This is how I'm going to handle it this season with my son. I'm going to let him shoot the first legal deer we see, now if it's really small and he chooses to pass on it then that is a lesson learned for him. But as far as I'm concerned the first legal deer we see is his, if it's big great, if it's small great.

Slide

nmelktrout · May 30, 2008

Sounds good Slide. Hope your son give's 'em hell and look forward to a post after the hunt!

Slide · May 30, 2008

Thank you, the whole thing hinges on the Oregon Mentor program. If I don't draw a tag anywhere then I'm going to buy an over the counter deer tag for Or. Then my oldest boy can shoot the deer and I tag it.

Slide

nezzy · May 30, 2008

A few years back my stepson drew Idaho tag and I had spent a lot of time in that unit so I new the odds of getting a great buck were there. I had scouted a found a couple pigs. Everytime we got back from scouting he would want a report, and we would sit down and go over everything. He could not wait for opening day. Well opening day came and I knew that there was a mid 180's buck we had seen a couple of times, that I wanted him to shoot. I spotted the big buck in the canyon and we were making our plan of action, when a smaller buck my stepson spotted was waking up a small finger ridge. Before I knew it he had shot,and made a great shot at that. He had him self a great 4x4 about 22 inches wide and very tall. The bottom line it's not about you the father it's about your son and the experience of it all. Let him make his choice.It's been 7 yrs and were still talking of this hunt. This will be an experience neither of you will forget.

Best of luck