Hunting with Kids: Tips & Tricks
Heidi Esau
Here in southern Manitoba, spring turkey hunting season is nearly upon us. This is super exciting for any avid hunter, but what if you and your spouse both hunt, and have kids?? Do you play rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to go out and who stays home with the kids, or do you attempt to take the little ones with you? You weigh the pros and cons and decide to take the kiddos along, but how do you make it a good experience for everyone? It would be all too easy to get mad at the kids for being too loud, for the kids to hate every minute and whine, or even worse, for one of them to get hurt. I do think this gets easier once kids reach a certain age, say 10, but that is not the stage we are in as a family right now. So, here are a few tips for you when taking the 10 and under crowd along on your hunting adventure:
1. Keep you expectations in check. Yes, I know, you would like to do an all day sit after a 10 mile hike into the bush, but that's just not realistic for those little legs. Plan a hunt close to home that is easy to get to. Keep in mind that the attention span of kids is generally not that long, so you can't expect them to sit quietly all day. Plan for a part-day excursion, not an all day affair.
2. Talk to your kids before you go out about firearm or bow safety. It is never too early to teach kids about the safe handling of our weapons. Make sure they have a good understanding of what your weapon is capable of, and how we do not joke about that.
3. Dress the kids in layers, and be certain they will be warm enough. The only thing worse than freezing in the bush, is a freezing whiney kid in the bush. If you've hunted any amount of time, you know how misserable it can be if you are cold or wet. The temperature can also vary so much throughout the day that layers enable you to keep the kids at a comfortable temperature, whatever season you are hunting in. If it is a cold time of the year, you might consider bringing some hand warmers, hot chocolate, or sitting in a heated blind if that is an option for you.
4. Speaking of blinds, when you are going out with kids, make sure you are going to be in a safe space. Ground blinds or enclosed box blinds are good options. You don't want your 5 year old climbing the sketchy tree stand operations that I know we've all experienced! Enclosed blinds block some of the wind, muffle some of the noise, and hide some of the added movement that will be occurring with your little sidekick.
5. Snacks! This goes for almost anything with kids. When the kids start to loose patience, that's when you bust out the snacks and hunting becomes the best activity ever! I like to use washable zippered snack bags, as they are quiet and don't produce garbage that could inadvertently blow out of your pack and be left in the bush. Dried fruits and jerky are good options if your kids eat those. You know your kids; bring snacks that they will like, and don't forget a full water bottle! For myself, I would consider the crunch/noise factor as well as scent of any given snack, but for the kids I would be a little less picky, as it's more important that it's something they like.
6. Get them excited about it! Kids are so impressionable, and they will mirror what they see in you. If this is something they look forward to, chances are better that they will have a good time and as a result it can be the start of passing down the family hunting traditions to the next generation.
7. Think of a few easy games that can help keep kids occupied for a while. My kids like 'I Spy', and if you can get your kid to whisper, even better! Bonus points for any game that doesn't require you to pack more stuff in your bag.
8. Don't push it. There is a point where kids reach their limit and are done. Now, here again, you know your kids best, and some you can push more than others, but sometimes it's best to just pack it in and call it a day. My goal is for these early hunting experiences to be fun, so it is something the kids look forward to, not dread. Yes, that means not always sitting as long or maybe even where I want, but it's worth it.
