Trophy Hunting

[mc68]

Hey all, I have put a ton of thought into this and would like to get some feedback from others on this subject. At what age, or at what point in a youth's hunting career should we as parents and mentors allow kids to start " trophy hunting"? The reason I ask is because I have kids at hunting age, and I have found myself wrestling with the thought of letting them shoot the first legal animal they have an opportunity at. After alot of reflection and digging into old photos I have come to the conclusion that, for me, I think it should be for the adventure of the hunt and not at all about the size of the animal during the first 5+ years of their hunting career. I remember my first deer was a Forky coues buck, and he may as well have been a World Record. The funny thing is, I can't remember the first " good" buck I shot...All of that being said, I wonder if I am in the Minority here, or if I should push them to challenge themselves to only shoot larger animals? Please give your thought and understand this is not at all a challenge to anyone else's choices. Thanks.

[bonecollector]

IMO I think they should shoot what ever animal they want, its their tag.

[Pine Donkey]

When kids start hunting they have an interest in hunting, but they have not yet developed a passion to hunt. The embers of interest need to be stoked into the flames of passion. I do not believe this is done by passing legal bucks in hopes of a trophy. Coues live in some pretty severe country. Dragging a kid all over that terrain and convincing them success is only found on the far end of a tape measure will only lead to discouragement. Let them roll the first buck THEY choose, then celebrate it like no other! This is the approach I took and it worked out pretty well. Good luck and post some pics with your kids behind their kill.

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

I say discuss it with them and lay out the different mindsets of people who hunt and then let them decide.

On a similar note what about hunting at all??? My kids are not really into it and I am not sure I will be doing much more hunting with them, I am conflicted here because we have such a good time and they do enjoy it but they don't participate until hunt day, they don't discuss it with me they don't look to see when to put in, etc etc.

When I was a kid I used to clean the boat organize the tackle and poles, get bait while shopping with mom, and be up before dad making coffee just for a half day on the water and I was 9 yrs old.

[naturegirl]

I think it's up to the kid. Most kids are thrilled with shooting a spike, but there could be youngins who prefer something bigger or older. I think it should be progressive in my opinion. Start them off small, but naturally they should start wanting something older as time goes on. I think if my child got a spike one year, then how about a forky the next hunt. I think it would be my way of presenting a new challenge/goal and then it should progress from there naturally.

 

I know for a fact I would not start them off on big trophy deer unless it happened to walk across our path.

[creed_az_88]

Having the opportunity to take multiple kids hunting the last three years from ages10-13, I say let them decide. Ive been fortunate enough to be part of 12 bucks being shot out of 15 hunts. Before every hunt I would ask the kid, what are you wanting to shoot on this hunt? Most of them said anything. A lot of them said anything but a spike. On every single occasion, the first buck we laid eyes on, including spikes, every single kid opened their eyes wide and said ill take him. I say let them shoot anything that they want to shoot. They will know when they're ready to hold out for a big one. As long as they're eyes light up and sparkle when they get to see that particular deer, then they are still loving the hunt for what it is worth. And that's the experience of a shooting a Buck, not trophy hunting. And every one of the kids that I take out are not cheated into believing that shooting at a buck at 700 yards is OK just because the gun is capable and they are capable. They know that they owe it to the deer to get as close to it as possible and still make it a hunt, and not just a long distance shooting drill. That last statement is off topic, sorry for that. good luck to you and your kids. Enjoy it while it lasts because they won't be kids for long!

[elkaholic]

I always made my sons hunt separate from mine - I just tagged along - he was in charge of where when and how we hunted - I did offer some suggestions but left most stuff up to him. he wanted to sleep in ;late we slept in. it was HIS hunt. He actually passed on a few spikes - his choice and didn't fill the tag . lesson learned !this was his first hunt for deer

 

second hunt -He drew an elk tag - he was set-up ready to shoot -- we had just watched a nice bull - out of range go up a draw and over the hill - a spike stepped out 50 yrds below us - I pointed out the spike and said theres a bull if you want to shoot a spike - BOOOM didn't even finish talkin- elk down.

 

Have fun - enjoy the hunt - do not make them shoot - just to fill the tag!

[IA Born]

After alot of reflection and digging into old photos I have come to the conclusion that, for me, I think it should be for the adventure of the hunt and not at all about the size of the animal during the first 5+ years of their hunting career.

 

I think you are spot on right there and it doesn't even have to be 5+ years. They can choose that, in my opinion. Next year, I will be taking my daughter on her first hunt after she turns 10. I was supposed to take her to south Texas this Thanksgiving, but a family situation has come up and we won't be able to go. To that end, she and I have been having multiple conversations about harvesting her first deer and elk. At one point, I was trying to encourage her to try for the youth doe hunt on the Kaibab. She has been insisting on a buck tag for her first hunt in AZ. Ultimately, I'm going to let her make that choice, but I have made sure to instill in her that, at her young age, she should focus on the hunt and the experience and that whatever animal she chooses will be a trophy. This is actually a frequent conversation she and I have. I want her to focus on the hunt, itself, and not the size of the antlers when determining what a trophy is. I try real hard to lead by example. Sure I want that big set of antlers for the wall, but I also find my successes in the experience along the way, tag filled or not, and that a tag filled is still a trophy with the right mind-set. I make sure she understands that. We all know how difficult hunting can be in Arizona and if we, as parents/mentors, start teaching the youth to focus on antler size, we're going to lose a great deal of our next generation of hunters when they come home with empty tags. If the first buck or bull they see is huge, by all means, go for it. If the first legal buck they see is a spike or a small fork for their first ever big game harvest, go for it! Teach them success and that success is in the hunt, itself, not the size of antlers.

 

From your post, I think you are spot on and your kids will enjoy every minute of it!

[lionhunter]

Good question? I have three boys so I have wrestled with this very thing. I agree that it should be up to the kid, but let's face it their opinion is often a reflection of ours. My 13 year old gets caught up in the 100 inch or nothing conversations that some of my buddies have..... At any rate, we have always gone with get one under your belt first, and then leave it up to the kid. This last hunting season my son (13) started the hunt saying 100 inch or nothing... After missing a 110 plus on opening day he chose to shoot a 91 inch buck. At the end of the day he was pleased with his deer!! We were able to get my best friends son a 102 a couple of years ago 20 min into his first day ever coues hunting. Now he thinks it's easy..

Final comment.... Leave it up to the kid

[rclouse79]

My son is too young to think about this question yet. I am just hoping he is interested in going out at all. I like the suggestion of putting them in for a different hunt than yours. I did that with my neighbor who had never been deer hunting but wanted to go this year. When he couldn't take opening day off of work I was fine with it because it was his hunt. When he slipped on rocks and made I bunch of noise I was not annoyed because it was his hunt. When he wanted to call it a day with half an hour of light left it was fine because it was his hunt. When he decided to head home early after his third flat tire I was fine with it because it was his hunt. If you put your kid in for a different hunt and they are hard core and love it then you could put in for the same tag the next year.

[couesdeerhntr]

If you are taking your kid out for there first deer hunts and or fishing trips it needs to be all about fun if you want your kid to enjoy the outdoors. If u can go out and see deer and even get lucky enough to harvest a deer with your kid it will just ice the cake. I got a few spots where i know i will see lots pf deer and will give my daughter when she gets of age a goood opportunity at a deer dont care about size. And i want to make it as fun as possible so she enjoys it and wants to do it again. I am racking up a few fishing holes as well so when we go fishing we Are doing alot more catching than sitting and she wont get bored and want to do something else. So in my opinion it is not about the size just about family and fun. As they get older and more experienced then comes the trophy hunting if they chose to do so cuz we all know shooting a trophy deer takes some work

[gotcoues]

I really like Elkaholics response. I for one had/have issues with both of my sons wanting trophies. By the time they started hunting, there was already quite a few animals on the wall and there older sister had whacked a nice 4x muley on her first hunt so I think they put undo pressure on themselves. I wish we would have focused more on just having fun rather than let them worry about how big an animal was. I seem to remember a lot of comments like "is he big enough for the wall" after I would glass up a buck or group of bucks. My oldest son (16) really isn't even that interested in hunting anymore and I believe it has to do with too much work in the field and not enough results. He is more of a gamer and less of an athletic guy even though I try and try. My younger son has taken a small deer with a rifle and a bow and I believe he would like to start trophy hunting and maybe letting a buck walk if he is small on his next hunt. Whatever there choices may be, I'm going to make sure to concentrate on having fun and letting them decide how they want it to go.

[azslim]

taught Hunter Ed for 12+ years, started my own girls hunting when they were old enough, have helped many other youngsters learn how to hunt, just putting down something is a big deal for them, they can worry about big racks when they start hunting on their own

 

Gotta walk before you can run

[johnnie blaze]

From a kids standpoint, I believe I killed my first 100+ by 13. First few bucks were anything, or Atleast progression from spikes. Probably for the belief that I hadn't earned the right yet. Although, once that right was achieved, it seemed to be all about competition. Especially between siblings, not to mention the Ol man. Competition is healthy, but can also turn a kid off from hunting.