Taking a Kid out for the first time

[Gilligan]

This Spring I will be taking a 15 year old kid on her first turkey hunt. This will be the first type of hunting that she has ever done. No one in her family hunts so this will really be her first exposure to the world of hunting. Just wondered if you guys had any tips or suggestions on how to make her first time out a wonderful experience. I've got a turkey blind that we'll set up in and I'm thinking about showing her how to use a box call or slate call so that she can help in the calling. I just don't want her to get bored or have a bad experience. If you've got any tips or suggestions please share them.

[RutNBuck]

my suggestion to you would be...you go alone first scout an area and when you locate an area that the turkeys are using.. then take her this way her first time out wont be a complete flop ...kids needed to be entertained or they lose interest quickly..teach her the importance of remaining still (or use a blind and it'll make her more comfy over a long period) and once she learns how things are supposed to be then on those boring hunts she'll enterain herself with thoughts and ideas that the next 10 minutes may be the best and most rewarding...i applaude you for taking the time to introduce hunting to the furture of our sport

[bstickin1]

I would teach her to use every kind of call I could if she wants to learn and let her do some of the calling, if she`s good enough maybe let her do all the calling, also I don`t know where you`re planning on having the blind but if you don`t hear gobblers close I would get out of the blind and go to them. You don`t want her sitting in a blind with nothing happening if a gobbler is close enough for her to hear but maybe not close enough to come in. She`s plenty old enough to sit still. My daughter killed her first gobbler when she was 10 without a blind. It was the third time we had worked birds that morning. She complained a little about all the walking, which really wasn`t that much to me but I guess it was to her, but she never said anything about being bored. Thanks for taking a youngin huntin!!!

[DHull]

I think just being out the in the woods or field is a great time, my 1st turkey hunt a few years ago it was pouring down and cold, the turkeys didnt goble much but i had a blast.

[dug1976]

My son killed his first turkey when he was 9. he's killed 3 in two years. Have them work with their gun, so they're not scared of it. I talked to him about what was going to happen. I took to a place that I knew he would see turkeys, if he killed one it was a bonus. Next use a blind. That way they can move, lie down, take a nap, and take snacks and drinks. Most importantly it's about the kids not you. Keep your ego out of it. If they want to go home, go. If you don't, they might not want to go next time.

[Lil Gsp]

Being a girl makes it even better:D Whether or not she does get one (which Im hoping she does) the experience will be so GREAT for her she wont be able to resist going again. I dont think there is anything else you can do, I would call for her and help her pick out a great one because you dont want to put a big burden on her for her first time. Other than that you're doing a great thing for her and hope both of yall have a good un!

[BIGDAWG]

I am also taking my 12 yr old step daughter out for the 1st time this year. She liked deer hunting and loves to shoot her 243. My question is what size shotgun will produce the killing power necessary and still not knock her for a loop. We are going to start out blind hunting and then go mobile if necessary.

[GSP]

A 20ga will work fine. Let her shoot at coke cans with light loaded rounds. Kids love "blowning" stuff up. When you know she can hit what she is shootin at, go turkey hunting. Drop a 2 3/4 or 3" mag 5 shot in, get a bird in 25-30 yards and let it rip! She'll never remember the recoil.

[MENIFEE BUCK]

my suggestion to you would be...you go alone first scout an area and when you locate an area that the turkeys are using.. then take her this way her first time out wont be a complete flop ...kids needed to be entertained or they lose interest quickly..teach her the importance of remaining still (or use a blind and it'll make her more comfy over a long period) and once she learns how things are supposed to be then on those boring hunts she'll enterain herself with thoughts and ideas that the next 10 minutes may be the best and most rewarding...i applaude you for taking the time to introduce hunting to the furture of our sport
I AGREE. ALSO TRY TAKING HER THE EVENING BEFORE THE HUNT AND ROOST SOME BIRDS. HEARING THEM FLY UP WILL EXCITE ANYONE.

[stevemeadows]

Preperation and having fun is the key to a good hunt on both your parts! Give her a couple low brass dove loads and let her practice at some targets to get the feel of the trigger and sights. On opening day she will never feel the impact of the gun but will always remember the impact you had on her life outdoors!! Congrats in advance

[BIGDAWG]

Thanks for the advice. I have been looking online and the Charles Daly youth pump 20 ga shotguns are right at $200. Anyone ever had one of these guns? Seems cheap enough but also want to make sure it is a quality gun.

[nontypical2002]

Just a quick reply on taking a kid hunting...I took my son hunting in Ky. last year...he was 7 yrs old at the time. We sat for almost 4 hrs. in the same spot with turkeys out in a field in front of us. We had a jake break and come to the decoys but I wanted my son to hold off on 1 of 5 longbeards strutting in the field. Finally 3 of the toms broke and came into our set up. My son had a bead on the middle tom and I was waiting on the shot....they all 3 were within 20 yds and they got spooky and turned around and left. I asked my son why he didn't shoot and he turned and looked at me and here that little band on his facemask that sits on or about your forehead had fallen down in his right eye and he couldn't shoot. I prasied him on not taking a "bad" shot. In hind sight I should of remembered who's hunt it was and let him take the jake....note...I had purchased him a youth model Remington 20 gauge. I cut about an 1" off the stock and he handled it well. We live in Ohio and he ended up getting a nice buck at 10 yds with my crossbow in November. Good Luck!!!!!

[Pollcat]

Most beginning hunters aren't about the kill, but more excited about the experience. With that being said, I would be more worried about them hearing and seeing some birds and learning what the sport is about. If they are moved by the experience they will want to go again and the kill will come soon enough. The most important thing in taking kids hunting is NEVER hunt them more than they want to be hunted! One thing we all need to keep in mind is that youth season doesn't end after the 2 days the state allows, it begins again on April 15. Good Luck.

[Butch]

My buddy took me about 3 years--last year I got a bird for the first time....I had only hunted for 2 years really...the other year I was just watching and learning.

I know some have suggested a 20 gauge....but if she/he can do it use the 12 gauge......s/he won't like you much for it but down the road they will.
My buddy had me use it and I sure thought it was going to kill me.....now that I've used it and own one myself I see it was better for me to get used to it that way than to do it slowly.

One more thing....if you miss one or don't get one just tell her....Well sorry we didn't get one but we sure had fun listing to them and we will try it again...it sure helps to keep ones hopes up and then when you get one....WOW oh WOW :D

Butch