First hunt for son and me

[AZoutdoorsman]

Remember your first hunt that your dad took you too? Help me make a good impression with my son so that he and I will hunt together for the years to come. This is my first hunt for whitetail. I just wanted to get recommendations on where to scout in unit 34a (hunt on 11/11 - 11/20). I read that Box Canyon and Sawmill Canyon is a good start.

 

He is eager to help glass for whitetails. He is practicing on his pellet gun and getting ready for next year's hunt if all goes well this year. I am looking forward to buying him a center rifle for Christmas. Any suggestions on a rifle and caliber for deer? He is 9 years old, 4 1/2 ft and 95 pounds.

 

 

Thanks in advance!

[firstcoueswas80]

look at at 270 or 243.

[DEERSLAM]

AZoutdoorsman,

 

It is awesome to get your son outdoors with you. I cherish the time spent afield with my 10 year old son

 

My first suggestion is to make sure your son is as comfortable as possible, ie. proper clothing, something to sit on while glassing, good, proper fitting boots, etc.

 

Second, make sure to make it FUN! Don't take it to serious. Let him fool around in the dirt and just be a kid

 

As for caliber of a first rifle, the .243 is a great choice. For my son I'm looking at the 7mm-08. I've heard very good things about this cal. Most importantly, make sure the rifle fits him properly.

 

Have a great time, I know you will

[BASS]

You might want to take one of your old rifles, and buy a new (sythetic) stock for it, and then make it fit him for the time being. I know I only used my youth 12ga for one year. I always like the "hot seats" that were popular back in the early 90's when I went out with my dad, and I also lost a small pair of binos (and a slingshot the next year) somewhere up on the rim. He seems old enough to put him to work glassing for you too.

 

 

 

BTW good job on getting a new hunter started.

[muledeerarea33?]

my first deer rifle was a savage 270 first hunt with the ole man (so I am told) was when I was four. after my dad killed his deer he was trying to teach me how to field dress it and I guess I was more interested in watching the snowflakes fall on my tounge than learning the finer points. but thats all different now

[AZoutdoorsman]

Thanks everyone for your inputs!

 

I just went to Wally World and got him some cameo clothes and gloves. Got to go to Sportsmen to pickup binoculars, boots and misc. things, Wally World is out of stock on every thing but clothes. Yes DEERSLAM, I will keep this as fun as I can for him, bagging the deer will be a bonus.

 

I don't have any old hunting rifle to give him but I was thinking the "Manage Recoil" Ammo open up allot of possibilities of bigger caliber than .243. I was also tossing up the idea of a 7mm-08 youth model Seven.

 

I was at Wally World and talked to a nice gentleman that is hunting a week before me. He told me that Gardner Canyon is the best spot to hunt. I am going to take my son and let him practice scouting this Sunday. I will post a report on his findings.

 

Thanks Guys!

[azdave]

This looks like a good thread for a first post-- congrats on getting him out there young. I agree with the post above saying to let him be a kid and not to be totally serious--they just don't have the attention span at that age. But at the same time don't let him disturb other peoples hunt. I saw this first hand last year as a guy stomped through the oaks with 3 youngsters in tow, 2 of them were picking up large branches and turning them into little branches on every rock they passed, the 3rd. one was literally dragging the guys rifle (Ruger 77, wood stock) behind him by the sling--totally unsafe and unbelievable--I watched and listened to it for about 20 minutes before I went down the hill and met up with them and talked to the guy about it.

Anyways, last I hunted 34A, Box Canyon/ Melendrez Pass/ Kentucky Camp areas were VERY crowded. I had much better luck north of the Salero area, east of Alto---takes a while longer to reach, but less pressure.

The 243 sounds like the perfect choice for him next year, my wife loves her Ruger stainless, shoots it very well because of the mild recoil.

good luck

[triton]

I have been hunting the area north of the Solero and East of Alto the last 5 years and the last 2 years were crowded there. Last year I glassed 50 different hunters from one vantage point on opening day. I had 3 different groups of hunters walk to within 30 yards of me glassing (2 groups never saw me). You might want to try the area north of the greaterville road east of the Santa Rita ranch, or the East side of the Santa Rita Mountains. I know it is hard to get away from all the people when there are 950 permits, but alot of areas that were good to hunt are now getting pressured. I think I'm going to hike deep into some areas in the north end of the unit this year. It really sucks when the hunters seen to deer seen ratio gets to be 10/1. But that was the October hunt, never hunted it in the November hunt???

[coueshunter]

Like Deerslam said, get him a butt pad and get a cheap tripod so he can use his bino's rested on something stable. A coues hunt is great for kids because you and him will both really enjoy glassing and you dont have to walk all day long. I know of some mistakes I made with my son Travis, I took him into to rough of country and we stayed out too long, so really try and balance your desire to kill something with his short attention span. You and your son will really enjoy the shopping and planning before the hunt and if you have comfortable/warm clothes and a butt pad, he will really get the thrill of the hunt without being bored to death.......Glass your hiny off as long and maybe he will be the one to spot your deer for you.........hope all goes great for you two..............Allen.........

[.270]

my first deer rifle was an old .30/30. still have it. and i hated it when i was a kid because it bucked like a government mule. i traded for a mohawk .243 when my oldest boy started hunting. cut the stock off to fit him and he shot it until he grew into a man's gun, a .270. the only real rifle made. all three of my boys started out with the same rifle. now that they outgrew it, i found an uncut stock for it and now use it myself. great little horseback rifle. i was 7 the first time i saw him shoot a buck. shot a coues buck with his bow and later killed a bobcat with the same arrow. while he still had the dead buck on his shoulders. i started going with my ol' man seriously when i was about 8. went with him a lot before that, but when i was about 8 i'd go for all day and pack the water and food. you can't start em too young. all my boys have been hunting small game since they could shoot and fishing since they could hold a pole. bought a little singleshot .410 and chipmunk .22 when my oldest son was old enough and all 3 used them until they outgrew em. a .243 is about perfect for a kid to start with. hot enough for any deer and you can get one light enough and short enough that a kid can use it and the recoil is quite mild. also, ammo is real cheap and readily available. you really can't go wrong, as long as you go. Lark.

[azdave]

I have been hunting the area north of the Solero and East of Alto the last 5 years and the last 2 years were crowded there.  Last year I glassed 50 different hunters from one vantage point on opening day.  I had 3 different groups of hunters walk to within 30 yards of me glassing (2 groups never saw me).  You might want to try the area north of the greaterville road east of the Santa Rita ranch, or the East side of the Santa Rita Mountains.  I know it is hard to get away from all the people when there are 950 permits, but alot of areas that were good to hunt are now getting pressured.  I think I'm going to hike deep into some areas in the north end of the unit this year.  It really sucks when the hunters seen to deer seen ratio gets to be 10/1.  But that was the October hunt, never hunted it in the November hunt???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The info I gave above is obviously dated about 34A (should have said that)--I quit the area because of crowds about 6 seasons ago. But I will definately say that the Greaterville area(which I consider the same area as Box Canyon/Melendrez pass/Kentucky Camp) and north WAS overrun---and we ended up in the Salero/Alto area which was much less pressure, but still to much for me. Obviously that area is overrun now too. The last time hunting there a bunch of target shooters were up in Gunsight Pass area blasting away at rocks on a hillside--no idea a deer hunt was even going on until I informed them--thats when we packed up and headed for Salero area.

Remember, that typically the easiest access and closest to a town is going to have the most pressure.

my 2 cents