Introducing Children to Hunting
- Allison O'Nan
- Jul 22, 2014
- 2 min read
'Nothing makes me happier than to hear my two year old son, River, say “Mama, I want to hunt with you.” Or my nine year old daughter, Brooklyn, ask to go sit with me and watch as I hunt. The fact that my children show interest, and are eager to learn is gratifying to both my husband and myself. I dream of the day that both of my children harvest their first deer, or taking their picture with their first turkey. I often question, how young is too young?
As I scroll through my Facebook news feed I see such small children posing with their trophy deer. Some with once in a lifetime deer. I think to myself, how could this child have a full grasp of what it is that they are doing at such a young age? Even, how will that child feel when they aren’t successful at harvesting a deer of that size in the future?
In my opinion, it takes years of preparation to physically, mentally, and emotionally obtain the level of maturity necessary to harvest an animal. I want my children to understand that we hunt for food, and we don’t just kill for the sheer joy. I want them to have respect for the animal as it is God’s creature, and have the skill to make ethical shots. I also want it to be their decision to engage in the sport, and not just to satisfy my husband and myself.
Every time I kill an animal I feel a multitude of emotions that comes all at once; sadness, respect, joy, gratefulness, and admiration. I hope for my children to feel all of these things when they hunt.
I think it’s wonderful to start teaching children at a young age, and target practicing with a suitable gun or bow in a controlled environment. As each child matures at different rates, the “perfect” age can vary. However, at nine years old I don’t feel that my own daughter is ready to hunt for herself.
To conclude, I hope that more parents will take these thoughts in consideration and apply them to their own family hunts.
Introducing children to hunting is a topic that stirs a variety of emotions and opinions. While some argue that it can be a valuable way to teach kids about nature, responsibility, and self-sufficiency, others raise concerns about safety and ethics. It's crucial for parents and guardians to carefully consider when and how they introduce hunting to their children. Safety must always come first, with a strong focus on firearm education and responsible hunting practices. Ideally, children should start with activities like hiking, camping, and learning about wildlife before participating in actual hunting. Organizations like All4KidsOnline, which specialize in children's products, can play a role in ensuring that young hunters have access to safe and appropriate gear, like camo clothing and…