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10y/o son wants to hunt #6584107 12/13/16 01:31 AM
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My 10 year old son lives with his mother in Indiana. I get him in the summers and long holidays when school is out. He recently expressed a desire to take him hunting over this christmas break. I guess it's starting to rub off. Since it will be his first time, I want to make it a good experience, but I also don't want to make it miserable. We don't have land or a lease, so I usually just scout, spot and stalk through public land myself. But that's usually tough going. Of course I can't set any kind of trophy buck kind of expectations for him at this point. But I'm sure a squirrel or two to break him would work out maybe? I'm not sure if outfitters will have anything short notice and this late.

What advice do you guys have for a kid's first hunt that won't leave him totally disappointed? Or any recommendations for places where we can bring something home but not break daddy's bank? We're in NE texas (dallas).

Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584116 12/13/16 01:36 AM
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I personally would start small; sometimes a big animal like a deer can be a bit much.

Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584126 12/13/16 01:43 AM
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I think squirrel hunting would be great. You can pick up Type II permits and maps from TPWD. Unless you are willing to pay $$$ for a weekend cull hunt. If so check out outfitters and guides section and see what they are offering. My experience is that kids get bored pretty quick and unless he is going to see deer pretty quick then varmit hunting might be better because you guys can ease thru the woods and not be still waiting for deer to show up.

Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584307 12/13/16 03:06 AM
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I would check in outfitter section see if you could find him a doe hunt somewhere. Has he ever even shot a rifle?

Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584583 12/13/16 01:02 PM
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If your in northeast Texas I would focus on squirrel hunting and hogs. Some of the most fun hunting there is.

Check out the outfitter section. You can find cheap hog hunts. Go to your local feed stores and ask for landowners contacts for the squirrel hunting. You might be able to do a combo hog/squirrel hunt if you ask a outfitter to include it.

Good luck. up


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Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584594 12/13/16 01:08 PM
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Maybe purchase a doe hunt and have him come along with you, then next summer take him to he range so he can shoot on multiple occasions. Next deer season maybe he gets to shoot a doe.

Also, he likely has to purchase a non resident hunting licence, they aint cheap, especially to go squirrel hunting



Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584609 12/13/16 01:18 PM
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Youth Hunting License, Resident & Non-resident are $7.00.

I like the idea of the squirrel hunt, get a decent place and he should get in some shooting, also squirrel hunting is the best way to teach a young person woodsman skills!


In these times , 'I'll keep my God , my freedom , my gun and my money. Anyone that supports this insanity can keep "THE CHANGE".
Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584621 12/13/16 01:29 PM
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If you can find a place for a brief hunt and then do some plinking afterwards that might keep more entertained than just an empty hunt. Pick up one of those rotating targets, or just save up a few empty tin cans. Of course the shooting range is always an option, but he'll probably enjoy knocking cans off a tree stump more.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584696 12/13/16 02:23 PM
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Squirrel, rabbits and hogs, you can't go wrong with these. Suggest you you spend some quality time with him at a range or plinking cans/targets before you go for something bigger like deer. I don't know his personality but If he wounds a deer and can't find it you may get a negative effect from him as far as hunting.


Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6584713 12/13/16 02:30 PM
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I got my grandson's started by plinking (tin cans)lots of .22 ammo, then showed them pics of my hunts, they are hooked,


hold on Newt, we got a runaway
Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6585050 12/13/16 05:27 PM
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It is to late for this Christmases season probably, but get him in the Texas Youth Hunting Program. They have near 200 youth hunts all over the state. It is free to create an account for you and him. Then you apply for hunts you are interested in.

you may also want to call and ask Chris if they have a hunt they need some one to fill in on. I am a hunt master and this is a great program. He will have to have a Texas hunting liens out of state is still $8.00 for youth I believe, he will also have to have Hunter Ed to go on a hunt with them.


http://www.tyhp.org/youth-hunters/youth-hunt-schedule/


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Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: TxBuck] #6585086 12/13/16 05:49 PM
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He has a youth 20 ga that he's comfortable shooting as long as his shoulder can take it. He can also shoot my 300blk from the bench out to 50y decently. We shoot 22lr at the range all day till he tires out. hehehe. I'll try checking for doe outfitters, but varmints might keep his attention better than sitting in a stand, but he would love getting a hog for sure. Just need to find a decent place I guess.

Last edited by Reds015; 12/13/16 05:53 PM.
Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6585209 12/13/16 07:23 PM
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I agree on the Texas Youth Hunting option, outstanding group and would make for a memorable weekend. Do know, most hunts require some proficiency shooting a 100yd target with a rifle. There are kids there from 6 & 7 to 17.

http://www.tyhp.org/

I've never been, but many folks on here recommend http://www.hunterscreekranchtx.com/ for a paid hog hunt.

Charlie

Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: CharlieCTx] #6585224 12/13/16 07:31 PM
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The kids must be 9- 17, Rifle proficiency is 3 out of 5 rounds in a 8" circle at 100 Yards. Shotgun must be patterned at 30 Yards, Archery requires 10 arrows in a 8" circle at 20 Yards. All of which are very obtainable with minimal Practice.


Thank You
Robert

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, right or wrong - is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.

Theodore Roosevelt
Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6585232 12/13/16 07:33 PM
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2cents make it a scout & hunt trip, with emphases
on time spent together & less on the hunting, & enjoy the nature of things... flag



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Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: Reds015] #6585238 12/13/16 07:36 PM
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I've been going through that with my oldest boy and it can be a challenge. My views are probably a little shaded by how my dad and grandfather approached it with me, with dad I was pretty much expected to take it as seriously as he did which was impossible given my attention span at the time so it got to the point where i would make almost any excuse not to go if I would be hunting with him, going with pawpaw was always an adventure as we moved around more (looking back I think it was more keeping me occupied than actual still hunting) and if I wanted to stop hunting to chase a lizard we chased lizards so I wanted to go with him every chance i had.

I've tried to keep it as fun and laid back as possible with my son, the goal when he goes isn't necessarily to kill something but more to expose him to the outdoors and teach him something. If we stand hunt it usually isn't for more than two hours at a time. He starts getting restless and we will get out and "still hunt". Make an effort to talk about what you see and why its that way, I've come to realize that with my son it isn't so much getting to shoot something (although that never hurts) as much as it is getting to see animals, even if its a squirrel or rabbit, the more animals he sees the more patience he seems to have, and getting to do "guy things" with dad. A pig hunt would be good, but I don't think you can ever go wrong with taking a boy squirrel or rabbit hunting and it may be a lot easier to gain access.

Re: 10y/o son wants to hunt [Re: kk66] #6585399 12/13/16 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted By: kk66
I've been going through that with my oldest boy and it can be a challenge. My views are probably a little shaded by how my dad and grandfather approached it with me, with dad I was pretty much expected to take it as seriously as he did which was impossible given my attention span at the time so it got to the point where i would make almost any excuse not to go if I would be hunting with him, going with pawpaw was always an adventure as we moved around more (looking back I think it was more keeping me occupied than actual still hunting) and if I wanted to stop hunting to chase a lizard we chased lizards so I wanted to go with him every chance i had.

I've tried to keep it as fun and laid back as possible with my son, the goal when he goes isn't necessarily to kill something but more to expose him to the outdoors and teach him something. If we stand hunt it usually isn't for more than two hours at a time. He starts getting restless and we will get out and "still hunt". Make an effort to talk about what you see and why its that way, I've come to realize that with my son it isn't so much getting to shoot something (although that never hurts) as much as it is getting to see animals, even if its a squirrel or rabbit, the more animals he sees the more patience he seems to have, and getting to do "guy things" with dad. A pig hunt would be good, but I don't think you can ever go wrong with taking a boy squirrel or rabbit hunting and it may be a lot easier to gain access.


Good post.

I have come to believe strongly that a desire to hunt is no different in humans, than it is in any other living thing. You can take a litter of puppies from a mother hound that hunts her butt off, and only a few of those puppies will ever have what it takes to hunt. You're wasting your time trying to get the ones who didn't get the gene, to want to hunt. But when you find those that do, all you need do is put them with other hounds that like to hunt and they will immediately begin learning from them. And many times, it's the genetics of the father's father, or mother's mother, that passes the desire to the individual.

Such was my case. My dad would just as well watch the grass grow as to hunt anything. But my grandfather loved it. It was when I met my wife and began spending time with her dad and uncles who loved to hunt, that my hunting activities and opportunities soared.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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