I am taking my son out for youth gun this weekend. Neither of us has gun hunted before. The property we will be on is wide open with trees around the outside and a ridge down the center. He will be in a tower in the center. Any tips to do our best to get him his first deer? Thanks in advance!
Youth Gun - Tips for First Timers?
- Thread starter djohn9713
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If he gets an opportunity, make sure he has a steady rest. Do everything you can to slow down his shot process. Make them breathe. Make them aim, before you give them the go ahead to flip the safety.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Brock said it all. Good luck to you both. I took both of my grandsons on their youth gun hunts and both shot 2 deer in 2 yrs. Great memories as they are 20&22 now.
If you have access to a muzzle loader I highly recommend using one for a first timer. Load 50-60 grain. Make for a great low recoil shot.
Lundy
Member
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Has your son practiced shooting?
What gun is he shooting?
What is his effective range?
You will never get a a first opportunity again, this is it. Make sure his first experience is a positive outcome. A positive outcome doesn't require killing a deer, it requires time spent in the outdoors together and you teaching him to hunt. You get to teach him that the hunting is not only about taking an animal, it is about respecting the animal you hunt. That means that you must do everything that can be done to ensure that if he pulls the trigger it is only when there is an extremely high probability of a clean kill. The discipline to pass on a questionable shot is as much of hunting as killing an animal and certainly a hunting skill that is in decline.
I would encourage you to determine his maximum effective range. Determine if his effective range is the same in the field as on the practice range, does the shooting box afford him the same solid mount as the range?. Sometimes the windows in the boxes are a little high for a youngster to properly mount the gun. Once his range is determined put out ribbons or surveyors flags around the box at that distance to ensure during the excitement of the moment a error in judgement is not made.
I hope your son and you have a successful hunt.
What gun is he shooting?
What is his effective range?
You will never get a a first opportunity again, this is it. Make sure his first experience is a positive outcome. A positive outcome doesn't require killing a deer, it requires time spent in the outdoors together and you teaching him to hunt. You get to teach him that the hunting is not only about taking an animal, it is about respecting the animal you hunt. That means that you must do everything that can be done to ensure that if he pulls the trigger it is only when there is an extremely high probability of a clean kill. The discipline to pass on a questionable shot is as much of hunting as killing an animal and certainly a hunting skill that is in decline.
I would encourage you to determine his maximum effective range. Determine if his effective range is the same in the field as on the practice range, does the shooting box afford him the same solid mount as the range?. Sometimes the windows in the boxes are a little high for a youngster to properly mount the gun. Once his range is determined put out ribbons or surveyors flags around the box at that distance to ensure during the excitement of the moment a error in judgement is not made.
I hope your son and you have a successful hunt.
Iowa_Buckeye
Smartest person here
As Brock said, slow down when it comes time to shoot.
And that includes dad!!! I learned that last year with my girls. They are just not as quick with the gun/scope, so remember that and don't to anything to rush them or cause them to loose their focus.
And that includes dad!!! I learned that last year with my girls. They are just not as quick with the gun/scope, so remember that and don't to anything to rush them or cause them to loose their focus.
Some excellent advice by Lundy and all! To add to Lundy's "positive outcome" statement: Kids need to be comfortable. Maybe not all, but in general if they get cold they are done. Saturday looks like 20mph winds and rain all day in my area. Seems to be covering much of the state. Keeping him dry and warm will be essential for a positive experience. I just conversed with my son a little bit ago. Close to 60 on Saturday but all rain and wind. Likelyhood of deer moving in heavy rains and 20mph winds are reduced in my opinion. We have a tree house I can keep him comfy in but if he isn't seeing anything he will get bored. I know my son. Told him Sunday looks really cold but after the rain moves out and the cold front hits the deer should be on their feet. His reply was "Well, we've hunted in real cold before. We can do that!" Excites the heck out of me because soccer has been a much higher priority than hunting the last year or so. I am pumped. I wish you and your son much success!
Excellent advice all. Lundy is spot on! Set the shots up for success. Passing on a questionable shot is still a success, remember that.
Not much to add other than just relax, have fun and take pictures.
Not much to add other than just relax, have fun and take pictures.
tpierce
Junior Member
Good luck to you and your son. I hope to soon be doing the same with my 4 grandsons. Let us know how it goes.
Don’t get caught up on the killing. Teaching a kid to let deer walk will stick with them for life.
Remember, the hunt is about the kid. When they are done, be done. They want to go for a walk, go for a walk. Teach them how to spot and stalk. That can be some real fun with a gun in your hand!
Snacks and drinks!
Lights...some kids get really freaked out about darkness and woods. Hell, my kids live in the woods and are still scared of it when it’s dark.
Make it fun! Enjoy it with them. And don’t forget to fart really loud!!! Who cares if you don’t see any deer or scare some off, just have fun. That’s what it’s really all about. That’s what I remember when I was just getting into it. 25 years later, my old man and I still have stories from my early years that still get told yearly. 90% of those stories don’t involve deer.
Remember, the hunt is about the kid. When they are done, be done. They want to go for a walk, go for a walk. Teach them how to spot and stalk. That can be some real fun with a gun in your hand!
Snacks and drinks!
Lights...some kids get really freaked out about darkness and woods. Hell, my kids live in the woods and are still scared of it when it’s dark.
Make it fun! Enjoy it with them. And don’t forget to fart really loud!!! Who cares if you don’t see any deer or scare some off, just have fun. That’s what it’s really all about. That’s what I remember when I was just getting into it. 25 years later, my old man and I still have stories from my early years that still get told yearly. 90% of those stories don’t involve deer.
Anyone taking a new kid out this year?! Bumping some solid tips.
I’d also be interested in reading the outcome of this hunt from the OP! @djohn9713
I’d also be interested in reading the outcome of this hunt from the OP! @djohn9713
Yep. Greyson's been in the woods plenty, so I bought him his apprentice license. Started to really teach him finer points of open sight shooting starting in spring. Lots of bb's at paper targets and pop cans. A couple weeks ago he started shooting the 22 Remington Targetmaster and his 410 Rossi. That little Rossi isnt then greatest thing for kids to shoot. Kicks like a mule. He's addicted to shooting now. Today he shot at his first squirrel and shot just over it. He had a blast. He loves to stalk, identify hickory trees, and then plop down and scan. After all that, we drove out and pulled a buddy stand that needed new bolts, paint, and a new seat. Finished that in the shade of my garage.
Main plan was to hunt from our ground blind, which I have a spot in mind. Now I need to think of a higher deer density spot i can hide that buddy stand in. Still need to pick up some camo netting for it to conceal movent. And I need to order him a safety vest/harness.
He's shot the xbow really good at Ten yards. Starting here on out, main objective is to get him shooting accurate out to twenty, then massage our setups so that is our max range. Below are his first two shots ever with the xbow. He was sitting in a chair using a shooting stick to help him. He was freaking pumped about shooting that. Drives me nuts wanting to shoot all the time
He's shot the xbow really good at Ten yards. Starting here on out, main objective is to get him shooting accurate out to twenty, then massage our setups so that is our max range. Below are his first two shots ever with the xbow. He was sitting in a chair using a shooting stick to help him. He was freaking pumped about shooting that. Drives me nuts wanting to shoot all the time
cspot
Member
Great stuff there. If using a ground blind you may want to get a Caldwell Fieldpod. Nice thing about them is they hold the crossbow or gun in a ready to shoot position. It offers a steadier shot for kids than any shooting stick that I have used.
Also I agree about the Rossi gun's. They kick like a mule.