Teaching Our Kids the Basics of Hunting and Deer Behavior
Recently, we’ve been making a lot of excursions into the woods and meadows behind my mother-in-law’s house out on the farm. The farm is made up of twenty-eight acres and there is a wide variety of habitat between it and the surrounding property. The farm itself is made up of mature pines from an abandoned Christmas tree farm, meadows, softwood stands, apple trees, and a wet weather creek. The property on either side is planted in soybeans while the back turns into thick bush.
I’ve been taking this opportunity to teach the kids about deer, as my wife mentioned in her From the Wife entry a while back. While not the greatest amount of land, there is plenty for the deer, and with the diverse range of habitat mentioned above, it’s an excellent spot to teach them about deer, their behavior, and how it relates to hunting for them.
It’s amazing the number of little things that form the basics of hunting. Many of them are things we tend not to think of when talking about teaching hunting, because they have become so second nature to us. I’ve already covered quite a few things, and I have made them into a list. I’m using it to know what I’ve done and a place to add other things I think of so I can teach them those as well.
Some of the things that appear on it:
• Basics of tracking
• Determining sex of deer by their tracks and spore
• How recently the deer were present by age of spore
• Travel routes and corridors
• Bedding habits and areas
• Food and feeding habits
• Staging areas
This is by no means complete, and there are many more things that can be added to it to teach them as well. I am awful impressed though at what they have retained and are able to do on their own now. Even our five year old is able to spot deer droppings on his own now as we walk through the woods. Watching what all three of them are able to do now makes me swell up with pride, and it makes me feel good that I am able to pass along these skills to them.
hunting, hunting sense, deer behavior, deer habitat, teaching, kids, education, from the wife, basics of hunting
August 13th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Loved the post,I’am so delighted for what you are teachig the children.
Isn’t it the most awesome feeling,watching them learn? Eager to know more.See the look on their faces,tell them,that makes me happy.
Another reason,to be so proud of my son, great job!
August 13th, 2007 at 11:47 am
good post, they do pay attention and learn because of the wonder of the unknown
August 13th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Great idea! More parents ought to teach their children hunting basics. They will grow up with at healthy respect for nature!
October 12th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Just a quick note: Though I grew up in a hunting state (Pennsylvania) no one ever took the time to teach me any of the things you mention. I left home, graduated from college, and joined the military, still ignorant of the very basics (e.g. sighting a rifle, shot placement, etc.) but wanting very much to get out there and hunt. The problem? I was intimidated by trying to teach myself. Well, this year I finally decided to make it happen for myself. I will go out tomorrow for the first time and I very nervous regarding what might happen when…fill in the blank. I wish more adults were open minded enough to teach what they know to other adults; it seems to make people uncomfortable. Others are guarded regarding what they know, as though they are protecting national secrets. C’mon, it’s a sport, not something to be kept to yourself. I know some would respond by saying I just need to find someone who will take me out, but again, it’s not that easy.