Took my 3 year old out unting today.

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

Today I took my son out on a Squirrel hunt. It lasted about 20 minutes on some familly property in Ohio. Shot one with my grandpa's 22 and it droped off of the tree a few seconds later. Papa never got to meet my son God needed him to soon for that so it was nice to use his gun and go hunting with my son. When my grandfater was alive there was discussion between my father and his two brothers about who would get the gun when he passed on. Really it was more of an argument my Papa ended it quickly by saying Mike (my father) is the oldest he gets it when I die. It then because a joke of when my dad could get the gun. It was terible the day he actually did.

Because I am the oldest I will get it some day. God I dread that day but my son is the oldest of my kids so some days it will be his as well. Kinda fiting to take it hunting with him. I think when he is older he can kill his first Squirrel with it. God willing maybe my dad will be with us on that hunt.

[bigmike]

Can't wait to do this with my twins . They are 1years old. I day dream of taking them out in the woods like my dad did with me.:chillin:

[lookin for the gills]

I stillgot 3 months till the little man arrives and i am already nervous for that day. I say nervous cause I cant wait to stand with my son over his first animal.

[PITBULL]

Thats great that you took him out to hunt with you.
nothing wrong with starting them young.

[SPH]

I have a 5yr old boy and this year he has really started to take an interest in hunting and it has been fun. He likes to go out and target shoot with me and we get the BB gun and shoot cans and he has a ball. He is great to have out small game hunting but he sat in the deer blind once this year and he is not ready for the still hunting yet. When we drop the deer off at the processors his eyes light up when he sees all of the bucks, you would think he was in a candy store. I have never had more fun hunting than I have with my boy this year. This was a good post and hope everyone with children can get them involved with hunting in one aspect or another.

[circle-m-hunter]

I have a two year old boy, and am sort of nervous about starting him too young. He looks at my Buckmasters mags and loves them, but I really think he doesn't quite understand the whole killing thing yet. I took a doe with my bow and arrow this season and didn't let him see it for fear he would freak out at seeing it and would loose interest. Just don't want to ruin things for the future. Maybe he'll be ready next year. Guess I'll just take it slow. Can't wait though until he is ready to start getting out in the woods and learning the ways of the wild. Have to get him potty trained first.:lol:

[bullcan]

Took my 3 year old duck hunting yesterday, first time duck hunting with him, although I did take him out squirrell hunting a couple times this year. Hunt lasted about 3 hours and I did drop a drake mallard. He was excited when I did that. He did pretty good, he got cold though so we left. Great time hunting with him, glad i brought him along.

[brdhntr]

I have a two year old boy, and am sort of nervous about starting him too young. He looks at my Buckmasters mags and loves them, but I really think he doesn't quite understand the whole killing thing yet. I took a doe with my bow and arrow this season and didn't let him see it for fear he would freak out at seeing it and would loose interest. Just don't want to ruin things for the future. Maybe he'll be ready next year. Guess I'll just take it slow. Can't wait though until he is ready to start getting out in the woods and learning the ways of the wild. Have to get him potty trained first.:lol:

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I started taking my stepson at 2. Never had a problem. Simply answer any questions truthfully, and let him know that it is natures way that some animals die so others can live.

My 17 month old has been on 2 bird hunts this year. Both times in the backpack, although he insisted on getting out of it Sunday to play in the snow.

[timbergsp]

I have a two year old boy, and am sort of nervous about starting him too young. He looks at my Buckmasters mags and loves them, but I really think he doesn't quite understand the whole killing thing yet. I took a doe with my bow and arrow this season and didn't let him see it for fear he would freak out at seeing it and would loose interest. Just don't want to ruin things for the future. Maybe he'll be ready next year. Guess I'll just take it slow. Can't wait though until he is ready to start getting out in the woods and learning the ways of the wild. Have to get him potty trained first.:lol:

I agree I was kinda nervous about starting our 3 year old to young but I got him toy gun for his birthday and he runs around shooting the mounts I have on the wall and instead of barny tapes he watchs buckmaster and pheasant hunting tapes over and over he looks at all my Mags from michigan out doors to the different bird dog books

I think next year I will take him out Rabbit hunting its easy just wait for a snow and pull him in the sled


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/Timbergsp/jaydon.jpg

[stick bow]

I took my kids Ice fishing once, my boy was 3 and my daughter was 6. We were walking to find a spot and ran across an open perch hole, my daughter put the toe of her boot in the hole to touch the water, my boy (monkey see monkey do) stuck his whole little leg through the hole. :lol: We were on the Ice about 4 minutes. :lol: Back home we went to change our boots, socks and leggings, we were fishing within an hour. He is 12 now and has not done that since, he's smart that way, takes after his dad. :SHOCKED: THATS MY BOY!

[Kodiak Hunter]

Good post.

I've got a 2 year old son, who has been out fly-fishing with me (him in the pack) for salmon a few times now.

Once we get back to Michigan I'll take him out small game hunting, as well as deer and bear (if I'm so lucky...). He'll almost be 3 then, which I think will be a good time to start teaching and showing.

[estack]

brandon ismy cousin-in-law and i live on the family property that we took his son mikey hunting on it was a very fun hunt. i missed the squirrel that he shot and im glad i did. it was cool he got to shoot his first animal with that gun when his son was on the hunt. when we were in the u.p. a little while back we took his son on a quick after noon duck hunt. we didnt get anything but the canoe ride was fun and he liked us setting the deeks

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

circle-m-hunter, I wouldnt worry about leting him see the deer. I felt the same way with my son last year when he was two but he did see it ontop of my car. It didnt bother him at all. As others have said tell them the truth. If they ask why you shot it. Tell them. If they ask why you cut it up tell them to make steaks out of to eat. The truth dosnt hurt its natural.

I took my son out this year to see my buck I shot and take some pictures. He watched me gut the deer and found it interesting. He also "thinks" he was helping drag it out. here is a picture.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3040/5040deer_one-med.jpg
Sun was in our eyes.
:)

Here is a picture of our duck hunt in the UP.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/541/5040mike1-med.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/541/5040mike2-med.jpg

Now as far as understanding death. He has no idea. He asked me when he is alowed to touch my guns. I told him when he understands the permanence of death. ;) I think that was over his head. But its a good rule.


I think we do a disservice to our children to shield them from the realities of where food comes from. If they are raised thinking beef comes from a supermarket then they just have to get through that later to realize death sustains other life.

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/5040turkey4.jpg

Mikey with my first turkey.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/532/5040carp2-med.jpg

With a carp I got with the bow. Wife loved that one.

[timbergsp]

Good put Bow Hunter Brandon U got jaydon a toy gun I make him clean it every day and told him he cant point it at people the other nite he was watching the Jungle Book he likes to shoot the big mean tigers he let me shoot one amd I pointed at the TV to early and was pointing it right at a guy on there and he grabed the gun barrel and said '' Daddy Dont point at people, DUH " I just smiled

After the M-S pheasant outing I was cleaning my gun and he tryed to trade his for mine I just told him he was not old enough yet he did not understand but he knew at the same time


Scott

[explodingvarmints]

you are all veeeeeeeerrrrrry lucky people. i hope i can do the same thing someday