Attracting Youth.

[shoreman]

What, in your humble yet important opinion, is a good way to attract youth to waterfowl hunting?

Ours is a digital age, with children found usually glued to Gameboys and computers instead of being outdoors. I'm blessed in that my youngest is hooked on hunting, with waterfowl hunting his favorite (yeah, boy! :D ) He doesn't complain about the cold too much and loves to get out in the boat and watch the birds fly and toll in. I've found that if you include them in all aspects of the hunt, IE; getting the gear ready, the decoys set and picking them back up, as well as knowing when to leave before they are miserable from the elements and long for home and mom's hot food, they really enoy themselves.

Remember, you may be there to shoot, but they're there to learn! Make it enjoyable, and you'll have inducted a new hunter into our ranks and made a hunting partner for life!

http://www.intercom.net/~shoreman/showoff.jpg

[Dan Jackson]

I've found the best way to get youth into hunting is through turkey hunting. Plenty of action, they always know there are turkeys around, at least when they are gobbling and the weather is usually pleasant.

From there, if they have interest I'll introduce the other types of hunting to them.

[Shadow]

I was lucky as a child. My dad, grandad, uncle and cousins all hunted. We had a camp on a lake as kid growing up (actually until I was in college), and I pretty much had free range down there with my pellet rifle and to fish. I remember being to small to wade to the blind when the lake was down, so my dad put me on his shoulders and carried me, my gun, and his gun through the muck. We always had long sits, and I would get bored. I think short hunts are much better for youths. Our duck blind was nicknamed the TITANIC, so it was a pretty comfortable hunt. There was a shooting room, a bed room, and a small bathroom in the blind, not to mention you parked the boat in it. I found her about 5 years ago while fishing my old haunts. She was sunk in a slough about 5 miles from where she used to float. Just the very end of the blind was sticking out of the water. It brough back a lot of memories. Anyway, back to the subject...

I think duck hunting is great for young people to cut their teeth on. You can talk, and move around a bit when the birds aren't over head. having to be motionless and quiet like in deer hunting is tough for a youngster. I think it is important for adults to remember, the little guys loose body heat faster since they are smaller. Their clothes are usually not as good as some of the high tech stuff we wear, and their attention spans are shorter. It is all about having fun. When they are not having fun, it is time for a change of pace. I grew up in a semi digital age, and there is nothing like being out away from it all. Our camp out on the lake, and our deer camp in Mississippi did not, do not, and will not have telephones!

[shoreman]

That's an interesting choice, Dan.

I started mine with squirrels. After teaching him how to behave and listen to instructions, I quickly switched to duck and goose hunting with my son.

It does help that we're active with the Boy Scouts. I think it's important to teach them about nature and the natural world and how it works, not only the hunting aspect. They pick-up trash, install nestboxes and earn merit badges at the local refuges banding birds and planting trees.

Whatever works, right? smile.gif

[shoreman]

Alan, you're a very lucky man indeed.

I was born and raised in the city (New York) and wasn't able to start hunting until I was in my 20s. It's been a wonderful trip, I can tell you!

[ChesterGolf]

My oldest son is six and if I had my way he would have been in the blind with me this year but I have this overlord called a wife that thought he was too young. I can take him next year and intend to. I won't take him on a deer hunt yet as it doesn't have as much action and I don't want him to get bored. Small game and ducks will be on the agenda and I can't wait. Oh yeah... he can't either.

[willettm]

Another chance to talk about my boy!! :D I've found you don't have to attract kids to hunting, it comes natural, especially if it is what you love. If you find they are not attracted you should offer and encourage opportunities to experience hunting to have enough experience to make their own decision but not prod or nag a kid into it, let them be individuals. I am blessed with a boy that would rather be in the woods or on the water than to eat or play computer games.
His first duck hunt (not shooting but in the blind with us) was when he was five, cold snowy and wet. It was his first experience with my friend Barry an experienced waterfowl guide who swore he had to be a midget adult because he didn't complain, was brighter and was better company than most adults. He also was a great hand at keeping silouettes standing, helping the farmer we were hunting on throw hay off the wagon to his cattle, hearing geese in the distance and packing gear to and from the blind. I can remember his exclaimation running back to the blind from setting up a deke "Geese Boys!!!!" to which a couple of my buddies replied, "I think that's beagles" just moments before they exclaimed "Damn, them are geese boys, get down!!" Guess you had to be there, I'm glad I was!! ;)