Introducing youngsters (or adults) to hunting takes special patience and accommodations to build a love of the outdoors and appreciation of our cherished traditions. Take things step-by-step and you will bond a hunting partner for life—and, make sure those cherished bows or firearms get passed down to the next generation.

Tip 1: Hunt Before You Hunt.
Children enjoy doing things with their parents so involve them in as many ways as possible in the preseason. Let them help putting up a tree stand or work in a food plot. Scouting for small and large game is a puzzle they will love to solve, even if it’s just identifying acorns, rubs, or scrapes.

Tip 2:
Teach Them About Nature.
The sound of a pileated woodpecker’s alarm cry always sparks excitement because it often signals deer on the move. It was one of the earliest birds I learned to recognize because my grandfather talked about eating them during the Great Depression. Teach newcomers to identify birds, squirrels, and other critters, and the sounds they make. They’ll think it’s funny that fox squirrels like to sleep in, and only the greys move at first light.

Tip 3:
Simulate Practice.
Most kids love video games and many of today’s offerings are very realistic. Practice with Nerf, BB, or pellet guns so you can observe that they safely handle a firearm and become proficient. Play with them and talk about important things like shot placement, stopping animals with an “urp,” and careful aiming practices like, “Aim small, miss small.”

Tip 4:
Get a Video Cell Camera.
Two of my three grandsons have “their” tree stands with cameras posted nearby. I shared the email address of the camera and frequently get texts about a bear or bobcat caught on camera. This keeps them in the hunt every day of the year. Often, the first thing they do each day is check their camera. Watching wildlife is always very motivating and engaging. Check local rules, since some states have restrictive regulations on the use of motion-activated cameras for hunting.

Tip 5:
Make Hunting Fun.
Getting up at 4:00 a.m. and sitting in the cold for hours with nothing to eat or drink is no fun for youngsters, so don’t do it. Analyze your success. How many deer or turkeys have you killed at the crack of dawn? Probably not as many as you think. If your goal is to develop a hunting buddy for life, make it fun. Use a pop-up blind for warmth and movement. Bring plenty of snacks and hot chocolate. Bundle up and let them take a nap if they like. Hunting like Jeremiah Johnson is an image many hunters cherish, but it’s not fun for kids. At the end of the hunt, you want to hear, “That was cool, when can we do it again?”

Tip 6:
The Hunt is the Trophy
Forget antler size or trophy status. A doe or spike buck is the way most hunters begin, and young or old can be justifiably proud of that success. Being able to obtain a food source from the wild is a monumental achievement that only a minority of Americans achieve. Deer and turkey are locally sourced, free roaming, contain no artificial additives, are low in fat and cholesterol, and high in protein. If you harvested that deer or turkey with a family firearm, so much the better. You have built a relationship that will last for generations and whether you punch a tag or eat tag soup, the family tradition is bonded, strengthened, and on a path to continue.

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