Ground Blinds and Kids

[JC HUNTER]

So my 5 year old son will be coming with me to Ohio this year and he really wants to go hunting. I have a couple of questions that hopefully you guys can answer and give me some good advice. I set up a ground blind back in August so he could hunt with me, but I've never hunted out of a ground blind before. For those of you that do hunt out of blinds, are there things that you do now that you wished you did when you 1st started hunting out of blind? Any tricks or tips would greatly be appreciated. My 2nd question is for those that hunt with small kids. What do you guys do to keep your kids entertained while in the blind? I have taken my son hunting quite a bit here in Utah, but we do a lot more hiking and he doesn't have to sit in one spot for very long.

 

[Bigslam51]

Blinds need to be brushed in very well for deer.

 

[rsmith]

Invest in some good chairs. If there is one thing I would do over it’s to buy some comfortable chairs I can shoot out of. Second thing is make sure it is brushed in very well. Third thing is to make sure you keep all unnecessary windows closed to help make it as dark as possible in the blind. As for keeping them busy in the blind bring a deck of cards, some snacks packed in slider plastic bags, and a tablet or iPad but if there is some wildlife in front of them whether it be a squirrel, a bird, or something else, try and get him to watch it and just enjoy nature.

 

[Quantum673]

Invest in some good chairs. If there is one thing I would do over it’s to buy some comfortable chairs I can shoot out of. Second thing is make sure it is brushed in very well. Third thing is to make sure you keep all unnecessary windows closed to help make it as dark as possible in the blind. As for keeping them busy in the blind bring a deck of cards, some snacks packed in slider plastic bags, and a tablet or iPad but if there is some wildlife in front of them whether it be a squirrel, a bird, or something else, try and get him to watch it and just enjoy nature.

My thoughts exactly. Good Chairs, Snacks, game or something. Also if they get bored and antsy call it a hunt and do something else. Don't want them to get burned out before they ever get started. Spend the time in the blind with him not just on hunting. It will be time well spent.
Take a buddy heater if it's going to be chilly.

 

[MK111]

Good luck keeping their attention. Keep him up late the night before so he'll sleep a lot during the hunting day, have heat, snacks. Then duck tape if all else fails. Then remind him what ever we do hunting is a secret and don't tell mom. That way he'll want to go again.

 

[giles]

rsmith is on it, MK111 is not. That’s raising a liar and sleeping all day sounds like more fun for Dad and selfish.

Only thing I would add to rsmith’s list is a coloring book and sleeping bag if it’s chilly. Sleeping bag helps muffle all the noise kids make and keeps them warm.

If the boy wants to go for a walk, walk. That’s my way of thinking. The hunt is what you make it and the memories made will be had forever, so make them enjoyable for the both of you.

 

[Jackalope]

rsmith is on it, MK111 is not. That’s raising a liar and sleeping all day sounds like more fun for Dad and selfish.

Only thing I would add to rsmith’s list is a coloring book and sleeping bag if it’s chilly. Sleeping bag helps muffle all the noise kids make and keeps them warm.

If the boy wants to go for a walk, walk. That’s my way of thinking. The hunt is what you make it and the memories made will be had forever, so make them enjoyable for the both of you.

Uh. I think he was just joking around a little there bud.

 

[xbowguy]

I put a small skid covered with plywood in the blind to get Braydon high enough to shoot out of it.

I also balanced the crossbow and mounted it on a camera tripod so the youngster did not have to sit and hold it all the time.

 

[bigten05]

if you set it up in august deer should be plenty use to it by now, my 5 year old goes with me alot and it varies how she acts in the blind. get ready for loud whispering and lots of laughter. a talblet or coloring books is a good way to go, and some snacks. but keep the hunts short and dont force them to sit longer then they can stand, my daughter gets restless about 2 hours or so in.

 

[NWOHhunter]

Good chairs, blanket for laying down or covering up....ipad with it muted!! Water and a snack.....I do that for my girl, she honestly doesn't care much for the ipad, she usually is setting up looking. She was 8 and 9 though, All of that kept her quiet though and didn't have to leave the blind early.

 

[bowhunter1023]

I killed a deer with an 18 month old in the blind, and my wife killed her biggest deer to date 8.5 months pregnant last year when it was 10 degrees out and our 4 year old was passed out in the sleeping bag between us. rotflmao So I highly recommend this type of hunting!

Good chairs are priority numero uno. A buddy heater is next because it extends the season for the kids, and you won't be mad about having it on a chilly November morning either. Our Rural King had camo sleeping bags for $40 last year and I bought one, well worth the money for the wife and kids. Also, the old military surplus wool blankets are killer for cold weather. My daughter has movies on her iPad and headphones, so when she's ready to check out, that's what she does. Or we let her color if its warm. Snacks are a must and you better have a bathroom plan in mind.

Good luck out there. Nothing better than hunting with your kids!

 

[Big_Holla]

A lot of great advice above. Only thing I’d add is similar to Giles in that when they get bored to the point you start getting agitated it’s time to take a walk or call it a day if they want to. No matter the time. Plan on using spots where you can at least see deer but you may not want to use your prime rut stand sites thinking you won’t mess them up. Make it fun and take plenty of deep breaths.

 

[JC HUNTER]

Thanks for the replies. The blind was set up in August and brushed in pretty good so the deer are use to it. When I was there in August I put in a small food plot off the back of the house, maybe 30 yards into the woods. The blind is set up on this food plot. It should make it really easy to head back to the house without spooking any deer. The idea is I'll hunt with him for a couple of hours until he is done, I'll walk him back to the house and then head back down to my stand. I really liked the idea of the coloring books. I will throw an I pad in my pack, but I would prefer not to use it. He already spends way TOO much time watching T.V. and playing video games. The blanket/sleeping bag was also another good idea. I am worried about him staying warm enough, so that will help a lot.

 

[cspot]

Also don't be afraid to take them out after some other animals. Some other species is far more interesting for a kid than deer hunting. Small game is good, but so is predator hunting. Pretty exciting when something comes running in or even when you hear coyotes howling. Another nice thing is that sits are short as well too. I had my kids tagging along probably 2 or so.

 

[giles]

I killed a deer with an 18 month old in the blind, and my wife killed her biggest deer to date 8.5 months pregnant last year when it was 10 degrees out and our 4 year old was passed out in the sleeping bag between us. rotflmao So I highly recommend this type of hunting!

Good chairs are priority numero uno. A buddy heater is next because it extends the season for the kids, and you won't be mad about having it on a chilly November morning either. Our Rural King had camo sleeping bags for $40 last year and I bought one, well worth the money for the wife and kids. Also, the old military surplus wool blankets are killer for cold weather. My daughter has movies on her iPad and headphones, so when she's ready to check out, that's what she does. Or we let her color if its warm. Snacks are a must and you better have a bathroom plan in mind.

Good luck out there. Nothing better than hunting with your kids!

Bathroom plan, good call brother. I’ve been known to carry one of those Dora seats with a 5 gallon bucket.

 

["J"]

Also don't be afraid to take them out after some other animals. Some other species is far more interesting for a kid than deer hunting. Small game is good, but so is predator hunting. Pretty exciting when something comes running in or even when you hear coyotes howling. Another nice thing is that sits are short as well too. I had my kids tagging along probably 2 or so.

Get a beagle, and let them go thru the whole process of trading and hunting... They’ll be hooked for life lol...

 

[cspot]

Get a beagle, and let them go thru the whole process of trading and hunting... They’ll be hooked for life lol...

That is for sure. LOL Actually I used to take my kids across from the house with the beagles. It was an open pasture field with pockets of briars and brush. Really easy for them to walk and the rabbits were always going across the openings so they could see all the action.

 

["J"]

That is for sure. LOL Actually I used to take my kids across from the house with the beagles. It was an open pasture field with pockets of briars and brush. Really easy for them to walk and the rabbits were always going across the openings so they could see all the action.

For my money, rabbit hunting is the best way too start them off.... Lots of action and you keep them moving.... No boredom there lol....

 

[angelzd28]

For my money, rabbit hunting is the best way too start them off.... Lots of action and you keep them moving.... No boredom there lol....

That's how I started out! Loved it, we had a beagle named Flukey that me and my dad would run. Until recently rabbit hunting was 2nd behind Deer hunting for me. Now Turkey might take that mantle spot.......

 

[Isaacorps]

Bathroom plan, good call brother. I’ve been known to carry one of those Dora seats with a 5 gallon bucket.

For you or the kids? [emoji848]