Tips and Tricks for Taking Young Hunters: Making Memories That Last a Lifetime

As a hunter, there isn't a better feeling in the world than watching your child have success in the woods. There is something magical about witnessing a moment they will never forget. Their successes are some of the greatest accomplishments I have achieved as a hunter.

I've been extremely blessed to share my love of the outdoors with my children. From a young age, they have been excited about the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. I started taking my kids with me when they first showed signs of interest, and it spread like wildfire.

Hunting has always been a passion of mine as well. I can remember carrying a BB gun while walking for pheasants with my family, or sitting by a pond helping retrieve doves for my dad. I may have had some influence on their love of the sport—all they have ever seen is Dad hunting and fishing. Since they could walk, I've always tried to involve them and make it exciting.

When is a Child Old Enough to Hunt?

I started by teaching them about guns and crossbows—how they work and how to handle them safely. I also let them get as much target practice as they wanted.

People often ask how you know when your child is old enough to take their first animal. For me, it was simple: Once they knew how to safely use a gun or crossbow, the next step was becoming proficient and showing me they were accurate enough to make a humane shot. This is not only for their sake but out of respect for the animals as well.

Once they checked all the boxes, understood what it means to take the life of an animal, and recognized why hunters do what we do, it was game on.

Here are some of the most effective tips I've learned for mentoring young hunters.

Essential Tips for Mentoring Young Hunters

Make It Fun

The holy grail above everything else is making the experience fun. Yes, we all want to harvest an animal, but that isn't the number one objective. The goal is spending time with the people you love, making memories that last a lifetime, and hopefully sparking an interest that will carry this tradition on for generations to come.

Be silly. Let them have fun. Joke around. Try not to make it too serious. This has helped my kids more than anything. When we go hunting, we have fun.

With that being said, it's also important to teach them why you do the things you do—why you set up in a certain location, how to effectively use the wind, and why not every hunt is successful. They need to understand that too. It makes the hard work and dedication pay off even more when they finally harvest their first animal.

You're not just teaching them how to harvest an animal. You're teaching life lessons: hard work, persistence, attention to detail, self-confidence, patience, and much more.

Use the Right Equipment

The second tip is to use the right equipment and make things as easy as possible for them.

A digital scope like the ZULUS HD V2 can be a huge help. These scopes assist with proper alignment, allowing kids to simply place the reticle on the target and pull the trigger, reducing issues caused by improper shooting form. They also record the shot, which can be fun for the child to watch afterward and helpful for reviewing what happened. To make things even better, use a tripod whenever possible to provide a steadier shooting platform.

Prioritize Comfort and Mindset

Beyond gear, comfort is just as important. Make your setups easy to access as well. For example, a six-year-old may not enjoy walking three-quarters of a mile to reach a hunting spot. Make the experience as comfortable as possible: have access to a heater when it's cold, provide comfortable seating, and bring snacks.

If your child has to sit on the ground for five hours and their toes are freezing, they probably won't be excited about going again. We have to remember that experienced hunters will put up with a lot of discomfort in hopes of getting a shot at a trophy animal. Kids aren't there yet.

With that in mind: let your child harvest what they want. Since kids aren't driven by the same trophy mindset as seasoned hunters, they don't care if it's a 200-inch buck or a 90-inch buck. Let them decide. If they want to hold out and chase a bigger animal, that's up to them.

I tell my kids, "I'll take you hunting as many times as you want this year. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."

Unforgettable Hunting Experiences with My Kids

I've said it before: my greatest accomplishments in the outdoors have been watching my children succeed. I can remember every one of those moments like it was yesterday. From watching Ty shoot his first turkey at the age of five, to Colt taking his first doe with a crossbow at five, to my daughter harvesting her first deer and turkey during her first hunting season.

There have been so many special moments that it's hard to choose just a few.

Ty’s First Bow-Kill Buck (Age 11)

One that stands out was watching Ty put in the hard work and practice before successfully harvesting his first buck with a compound bow at age eleven.

I remember it clearly.

We hunted for about a week straight without any luck. Somehow, I talked him into going one more time. I told him, "Today's the day—I can feel it." I think I said that every hunt, but you've got to stay optimistic.

We got into the blind early before daylight. It was cold, and I had brought the heater, but hadn't turned it on yet. As the sun started to rise, I heard a loud noise. I looked over and saw Ty lying on the floor. He had fallen asleep in his chair and rolled right out of it. We laughed so hard that I was certain we wouldn't see a thing.

After we settled down, the woods started waking up. It was November and the rut was in full swing, so anything could happen. A small doe suddenly came running past us. I told him to get ready. We had already ranged our trails, so he knew exactly which pin to use.

Then we saw antlers moving through the brush. Then another set. Then another. Three young bucks were hot on the doe's trail.

The first one came right by us. I told him we could wait for a bigger buck if he wanted, but by the time I looked over, he was already at full draw. I told him to take his time. The buck turned broadside.

"Let him have it."

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The arrow hit dead center—maybe a little higher than he wanted—but as we watched the buck disappear into the woods, I knew he had accomplished his goal. At the beginning of the year, he told me it was going to be a bow-kill buck or nothing. After countless evenings of practice, he finally had his moment.

We waited a while, made some phone calls, and invited friends to help track and celebrate with us. After about 100 yards of tracking, his buck expired in the middle of a creek. The relief and excitement on his face were unforgettable.

I'll never forget sitting there in silence beside that buck, his bow lying next to him, both of us simply soaking in the moment. That, right there, is one of the best feelings a father can have—watching his child accomplish a goal they set for themselves.

At eleven years old, I'd say that's a pretty amazing accomplishment.

Colt’s First Whitetail (Age 5)

Another memory that stands out is Colt's first whitetail deer. He was just a little guy, but he was eager to go. He had watched his older brother hunt with Dad and couldn't wait for his turn. Ty tagged along with us that day, and I thought it would be special to have both boys together in the blind.

It didn't take long before deer started moving down the creek toward us. Once a doe stepped into range and turned broadside, I gave him the green light: "Smoke her."

The rest was history. He made a perfect shot, and she went down about 80 yards away. I didn't tell him she had fallen because I wanted him to experience tracking. We followed the blood trail to the tree line, and all I remember hearing was a high-pitched scream: "I GOT HER, BABY!"

He was so excited. At five years old, he harvested his first deer, and his passion for hunting has only grown stronger every year since.

My Daughter’s Big Buck & The ZULUS HD V2 (Age 7)

My youngest daughter is no stranger to hunting either. She has been tagging along with me since she could walk and watched both of her brothers hunt with Dad. I was anxiously waiting for the day she said she wanted to practice and hunt for herself. Being my little princess, I'd be lying if I said Dad wasn't a little more nervous and excited for her.

I didn't want to push her into something she didn't want to do. Thankfully, I didn't have to. She jumped in headfirst and wanted to go so badly that I couldn't say no. Luckily for me, she was a natural.

At five years old, she harvested her first doe with a crossbow. The next year, she harvested a buck with a rifle and two more does with her crossbow. There was no question—she was all in.

It was time to take things to the next level. She watched her brothers harvest nice bucks and told me she wanted to wait for a big one. I told her the same thing I told the boys: "You can harvest whatever you want, and I'll take you hunting as many times as it takes."

When season arrived, I had a really nice buck showing up on camera and felt like I had him figured out. We waited for the right wind and slipped into a homemade ground blind I had built. She had been practicing with her crossbow and a new ZULUS V2 digital scope and had become deadly accurate. I knew if that buck made a mistake and came within range, he was in trouble. She had gone five-for-five over the previous two years, with no deer traveling farther than 100 yards.

We got set up before evening, and deer started appearing. A smaller buck stood in front of us for probably thirty minutes. I asked if she wanted to shoot him.

"Nope. I want the big one."

Not two minutes later, I saw that smaller buck staring toward the direction I expected the big deer to come from. I knew he was coming. I told her to get ready.

The buck stepped out at 30 yards. She ranged him with the push of a button on the ZULUS, got her holdover, and waited. He turned broadside.

"Smoke him."

She wasted no time. I watched that lighted nock disappear right behind the shoulder and instantly knew that old buck was done. Even though I knew he wouldn't go far, I made her wait and go through the whole process—finding blood and tracking him.

When we finally walked up on that deer, she realized just how big he was. Her eyes lit up. It was truly a moment frozen in time and one I'll never forget.

It's Never About the Kill

Just like every deer we harvest, we called our friends and family, and everyone gathered around to celebrate the experience. No matter how big or small the trophy is, they're all trophies in my eyes. I'm truly blessed with great friends and family who share a love for the outdoors.

It's never about the kill. It's about the hunt and the memories made.