Hunting With Kids

For many of us, hunting isn’t just about filling the freezer, it’s about tradition, connection, and passing on a way of life. When it comes to introducing your kids to hunting, the goal isn’t just teaching them how to pull a trigger. It’s about creating memories, sparking curiosity, and building a love for the outdoors that lasts a lifetime.

Here are a few impactful things to keep in mind when introducing kids to hunting:

1. Make It Fun

The first hunt doesn’t need to be a death hike or a first-light to last-light grind. For kids, fun comes first. Pack snacks, let them bring a friend, give them a pair of binos, or let them carry a call. Let them ask a million questions. Celebrate the little things; the tracks you find, the annoying squirrel can’t stop the chatter, or the sunrise that paints the sky colors they’ve never noticed before. When they’re laughing and engaged, you’re winning.

2. Set Proper Expectations (Especially for Yourself)

Your hunt will look different with kids. That’s the whole point. Don’t expect silence for hours on end, or the perfect stalk. Instead, expect to slow down. Expect more bathroom breaks and detours. Be mentally flexible. The deer might not show up, but your patience and attitude will set the tone. If your kid learns that hunting is about time together, not just punching a tag, you’ve succeeded.

3. Prioritize the Experience of the Outdoors

Harvesting an animal, big or small, is only one part of hunting. Kids remember games by the campfire, the first time they hear an elk bugle, and riding in the back of the truck looking for deer. Build traditions around those experiences; hot chocolate in the truck early in the morning, a family photo at the trailhead, or a spontaneous swim in the creek in the middle of a hot day. The harvests will come, but a love for the outdoors is what keeps them coming back.

Experience > Outcome

When you take kids hunting, you’re planting seeds. Seeds of stewardship, love, patience, gratitude, and respect for the outdoors and everything that it offers. Don’t waste your time worrying about creating the perfect hunt. Focus on creating moments. Years from now, your kids won’t just remember the deer you took, they’ll remember that you took them with you.