Getting the kids involved in the hunting adventures!
“My old man and my pa introduced me to fishing and soon after I became addicted. To the point where I’m sure they were over the nagging to take me out. I am extremely grateful for these experiences and I don’t think my life would’ve taken me in the direction it has without them”.
@chrisburns.photography – Hunting & Lifestyle photographer, Avid hunter.
Over the years, we at Ridgeline have heard some incredible memories retold and they all have one thing in common, the time spent with family out in the wild has been invaluable and provided pivotal lessons for later in life.
Introducing your young ones to hunting and the outdoors can be daunting so we’ve pulled together a few tips and advice from Ridgeline friends.
So where to start?
Take it slow - Introduce them slowly, your young one might jump straight it and be begging for more, or they may be hesitant at first and need to ease into it. Let the kids chose their own comfort level and work alongside this.
Safety first – think about all the safety precautions you take for yourself, and double down. Check out our range of Blaze camo in the kids range to help keep them seen by you but not your prey.
Education - Teach them the whole process and the respect for the land and animal – try getting them involved with processing your game and helping you prep before you even take them out. Keep an eye out for local outdoor and hunting educational courses catered for children.
Rules - Know the rules and regulations around supervision and gun licenses before you think about letting them (or anyone) handle an empty gun.
Pick the right adventure – little legs get tired quickly, make sure wherever you’re going, the terrain is suitable and be prepared to take breaks often.
Get the right gear – you know how miserable it feels to be sitting in a field wet and cold, make sure the kids have all the right layers to keep them comfortable and happy.
Bring snacks – (but not ones that rustle in packets) a hangry youngster is one that probably wants to go home pretty sharpish. Keep them fed, (and quiet) with plenty of food and water.
We asked father of 4 Mike from @mikes_hunting_advetures how he approaches bringing the kids in on all the fun:
“Speaking from my experience I would say not to push your kids into hunting it could put them off, introduce them to it slowly, as a father I have slowly got my girls more and more involved. I started off by getting home with an animal and let my eldest be involved with harvesting them.
Get them out for nature walks at first! I’m lucky a lot of my hunts involve a 4wheeler and that makes it more fun for them, I’m definitely lucky my girls love the dogs too, so if the dogs are going, they want to go too!
Definitely Give them the option on whether or not they want to go if you want them to love it, make it about them as well! Another big one is food… kids can’t be noisy if they have food in their mouth! Haha I am very lucky that my eldest girls are super keen on anything outdoors!
Chris from @chrisburns.photography says:
“When I take my kids out I place great emphasis on teaching them in a way that brings enjoyment, teaches them important bush skills and also shows a deeper respect for the animal we are pursuing.
Looking back on it, I had no idea what I was doing in the early days. What I did know though, was that I loved being out there doing it and wanted to learn all I could!”
If you haven’t already made plans this easter, why not grab a backpack and get the kids out and about learning the lay of the land.
