i would appreciate any advice. we have a ground blind?
Don't take them if they don't want to go. Don't expect anything but a good time with the kids, chances are they can't be still or quite enough to sit in a shooting blind for very long. Kinda like taking them to church, they have to learn how to act. If you expect too much at first both you and your kids will be stressed and disappointed. A dove hunt is a forgiving event for kids and if they are intrested they will begin to learn some skills that could transfer to a deer blind. I have some great memories from the days when our son was beginning to go to the woods with me. His 1st dove was shot off a limb in sycamore tree. He couldn't hit the birds flying at 6 or 7 years old, but he was a successful hunter after that dove lit in the tree because he was being still. When he was 9 he killed his 1st deer. Sitting in a perfect ladder stand against an ol' live oak where several trails intersected a small clearing, he shot a 4 point. I couldn't have expected that success at age 5 but he was intrested and I learned some patience. Gun saftey is a never ending issue, it began with an unloaded BB gun in the corner that was not to be handled without permission. Laws have changed over the years that would probably make me a criminal as far as raising children but safe gun handling was taught and is still stressed in our home. Already have the priviledge of dealing with 2 grandsons that are 5 & 6. Saftey, ear protection and patience are a few tips that will go a long way teaching a 5 year old to enjoy the woods. Treefarmer
Thanks,took him yesterday for his first blind bowhunt. He did great we even had a doe and a yearling come up to us in range but they were on the same side I was on and I couldn't get a shot off. he did great! Even though every little sound he made I thought was going to scare the deer away.
I 2nd what treefarmer says. I took my 5 yr old last year and expected way too much of him. In the end "I" was the one who acted like an a$$.
I've been bringing all my boys since they were in diapers. Understand only when I'm dog hunting with that though. At age 5 I started dragging them with me a bit more. My one son who is 8 now is gonna be a hard core hunter like me,I've taken him on several hunts sitting in ladder stands and ground blinds,I can hardly leave home without him. Bow season is tough but possible. They gotta love it and have fun,and sitting in a swamp getting ate up by bugs aint fun.Just make sure they have fun and you have lots of belly washers and snacky treats in the cooler.My kids love roasting hot dogs and marshmallows on the fire,and get up at 5:00 and ride on the dog box till dark. They sleep good at night.lol
