Boys first hunting trip

Sallaberry · Sep 21, 2022

So I’m planning on taking my 7 year old boy on his first hunting trip over the weekend. What did you do to make it special for your kid on the first go?

pounder · Sep 21, 2022

My daughter loved it from day one!!! As I just made sure I didn’t push to hard and or had them get bored from throwing rocks to having them help plan spots to go to..

My boy ate it up until 11 then it was all hockey, and more hockey, and now me and the daughter just uses his points lol. But they both love to shoot bows and guns and muzzles.
I always tried to make the hunt fun at all corners from meals to snacks.. their bino cases was snack holders lol.

BrowningRage · Sep 21, 2022

If its an area you've been to at any time... tell him the stories from your experience there. My kids love the stories; anything that starts with "when I was your age..." Seeing animals is great too, but hunting can be boring sometimes for kids. But stories from dad, that rarely gets old.

littlebighorn · Sep 21, 2022

Think like a 7 year old. Make sure he's warm enough. Involve him as much as he can. I had an old pair of binos that I let him play with. Ask him where he thinks you should go next, etc. As BR said, stories are awesome and teach him about sign.
I always played a game with my kids that the first person to see a deer gets $ 5 and I always waited for them to be the first.
Just make it fun and don't worry too much about being successful. But if you do see something, shoot it, regardless of how big. My boy loved being involved in tagging out. He also loved playing with left over deer hooves, making tracks in the back yard months after the season was over.
Good luck Sallaberry. Have a blast.

tailchasers · Sep 21, 2022

Keep it simple about him and the experience. Keep it lite and fun. If you kill something even better. Plenty of snack and his comfort is a priority. Enjoy you moment in time together.

Sallaberry · Sep 21, 2022

Ya this is my dads tag hope I can talk him into shooting something the buck in my profile pic is his we killed together in 08. The old man might just pull the trigger if my boy roots him on. Always keep him warm we do a lot of camping this is just his first hunting trip. Love the stories part. Lots of snacks and possibly a root beer in store.

Soj51hopeful · Sep 21, 2022

Lots of cookies and juice. Try not to get frustrated when he gets a little whiny or isn’t totally into it after 10 minutes. There’s a couple times I wish I could take back when one of my boys irritated me while hunting and I let it out.

Mooretitan · Sep 21, 2022

I always made sure that they had plenty of snacks and stayed warm and dry
Brought a BB gun a few times so they could learn gun safety

AZGuy · Sep 21, 2022

My dad used to go out of his way for me and my brothers. He let us pick our junk food and sodas, made sure we had input on dinners, asked us how we wanted to hunt, had binoculars for us and made sure we made it to town for a milkshake and burger somewhere before we got home. He would also shoot the first legal animal and there were always BB guns, slingshots and warm fires.

huntindad4 · Sep 21, 2022

Pretty well covered above. I didn't see let him take a BB gun, may have been mentioned, but I would add that I'm. Let him shoot at anything that's legal to shoot with it.

Lots of great suggestions above.

huntindad4 · Sep 21, 2022

Haha, welp, I guess BB gun got covered too.

Gollywomper · Sep 21, 2022

Make him feel like one of the guys as much as possible.

Cahunter805 · Sep 21, 2022

Definitely some snacks to keep him busy and the BB gun is a great idea.

heartshot · Sep 22, 2022

All great stuff above. When I was kid we rarely got pop at home but while hunting it was an open cooler. Unlimited pop was my favorite part at age 7.

No initiations and don't let him be the picked on new guy at the campfire where everybody jokingly pulls his chain.

Chesterwyo · Sep 24, 2022

Letting the kid drive while you pound busch lattes and toss the empties out the window should give him something he’ll remember forever. ???

DeerMadness · Sep 24, 2022

When I shot a nice buck a few years ago I stopped at a gas station to get a large fountain drink ( PepsI ) as my butt was dragging after dragging my buck out. A kid saw the blood on my hands and begged me to let him poke the Deer's tongue with my hunting knife. I thought that was pretty funny and got a laugh out of it. He sure was happy when I let him do it.
The only part I didn't like when I went on my first hunting trips with Dad was being cold as I didn't have good boots and coat and I was bored if we didn't see something. I enjoyed seeing the deer signs and candy bars and my Dad's stories.

BrowningRage · Sep 24, 2022

+2 on the BB gun as well... last year elk hunting, my 7 and 9 year old boys, as well as my 11 year old daughter hiked the same 2-3 miles I did each day, with great attitudes because they had their BB guns and I let them shoot AT any chipmunk or bird they saw...

1989Cohunter · Sep 24, 2022

Snacks, snacks and snacks. My boy loves to hike, I would stop and show him sign or anything interesting. It’s a big world to a seven year old so show him stuff you would check out. Honestly as long as they are hangin out with dad and learning.