A family hunting trip can be a great way to pass down the love of hunting to your kids. But for it to be successful, you need to be prepared. Here are a few tips you’ll need so hunting with your kids doesn’t turn into a stressful time.
Safety First
Above all, safety needs to be your number one priority when it comes to hunting with kids. Accidents happen, and those accidents become more likely when you hunt with someone inexperienced. Don’t assume your kid knows the ins and outs of hunting safety. Take the time to sit down and teach them what to know and expect before your hunting trip. Pack them hunter’s orange vests and hats for them. Bring a first aid kit with you, just in case. And last but not least, set an example for your kids by modeling safe hunting habits and behaviors.
Set Realistic Expectations
When you have been waiting for hunting season all year, it can be easy to set high expectations. But if you’re bringing your kids along to hunt with you this year, you’ll need to buffer those expectations, especially if they’re younger.
Young kids can only stay quiet for so long. They’ll get restless, want to explore, talk, and ask you questions. You’ll need to teach your kids how to behave on a hunt. But don’t expect them to be perfect the first time. If you go in with expectations set high for yourself, an adult, then the family hunt will likely turn out stressful and disappointing. Set expectations accordingly. This way, your kid will learn how to act but still have fun on the trip. The most important part is showing them how fun and exciting hunting can be so they want to continue doing this in the future.
Know when to slow down or take a break for their sake.
Know their Limit
One of the worst things to happen on your hunt is to be miles away from camp have your kid burst into tears from exhaustion. That will make for a rough trip. To avoid that, know their limits. If your kid isn’t used to big hikes, don’t expect them to hunt from dawn until dusk. Know when to slow down or take a break for their sake. On a guided hunt, we know the area and can help get those needed breaks in so you and your kids have a great time on your family hunt.
Use Every Opportunity
Hunting is a great experience for kids to have. Regardless of whether it was successful or not, it will be a learning experience every time. So, make sure to use every opportunity you have to teach them something.
Teach them about habitats and typical behavior of deer or elk. Teach them about important hunting skills like the importance of scent, walking quietly, and not getting lost. And about how success isn’t always in the killing, it’s in the experience. If they’re having a hard time with the notion of killing an animal, teach them about conservation and how hunting provides healthy meat for your family to eat. No matter what you teach them on your trip, they’ll be sure to remember it for their entire life.
We’d be happy to help you take a family hunting trip.
Soap Mesa Outfitters
Family hunting can be a lot of fun, as well as a lot of work. If you’d like to take some of that load off your shoulders, book a guided hunt with us. We take care of lodging and food so you can focus on coaching your kid and showing them how much fun hunting can be. At Soap Mesa Outfitters, we provide the best guided hunts in Western Colorado and we’ll be happy to show you what you’ve been missing.
