Seems the less others kill them deer the more I can get is what a lot of this sounds like here, first you need to find a adult to get out of that Lazyboy and then he needs to find a kid to take hunting and that seems to be a challenge nowadays to just get started. LOL

Helping an older hunter who needs it to get a few more hunts in in the time he has left sounds like a great idea.

I have to agree that youth hunts seem like a good idea, but wonder if we are trying to start youth out where they should be ending up. Let me ask you, where do you start kids out fishing? Fly fishing for steel head, how about muskie. No way you would say. Pan fish or something easier with a good chance of success. In Ohio we have special seasons for waterfowl, deer and turkey. Face it these are rather specialized types of hunts, with a higher degree of difficulty, are more involved, with a lower success rate. I think the appeal of these hunts are more in the mind of the parents than the kids. Question. What did you start out hunting or trapping, for that matter. For me it was squirrels rabbit and an occasional pheasant. Trapping it was muskrats, and I still love to trap rats. We seem to be in a rush to get our kids into the types of hunting we eventually evolved into over time. A few years ago, I talked with a young teen at a youth deer hunt at a local refuge. He said he got a nice 11 point at another hunt the year before and wouldn't shoot anything smaller that. I thought to myself, you are probably going to be disappointed at the end of the day. I also see that these special hunts don't attract brand new youth. In almost every case the dad was into hunting and their kids were going to be exposed to hunting, special hunts or not. Did I take my son to special hunts? Yes I did and we had a good time. Does he hunt today? No and I am fine with that

I’m good with the youth hunts...I don’t bowhunt like I use to, but even when I was hunting hard with a bow the youth hunts never bothered me...

I don't even deer hunt anymore but I help every youth hunter that's interested in hunting! Supply them with gun clothes and property!11/3/18 im guiding in a wounded warriors hunt! I get more excited seeing youth and less fortunate tag a nice deer than my self any day! ive guided at our state spring handi cap turkey hunt for 15 years!And I will say ive never got that excited killing a turkey as I do when they
tag a big boss gobbler! this years hunt!

I love it! I could care less what other hunters think about youth hunts, I'm not in the woods trying to please others. It's about the kids that day, we have the whole season to be in the woods. If a hunter gets upset that a youth took his deer that he's been feeding all off season so be it.

Those of you promoting small game hunting for kids, I think that is great too. Squirrel hunt is the best trainer I know to let a kid learn how to sit still. Kinda like green eared sunfish learning to fish. Lots of action and opportunity to learn the basics.

I suspect those folks whining about youth deer season never watched a kid or grandkid shoot their first deer. Its as good as being a kid again.

shouldn't be long the leaves will be gone here. I love squirrel gravy

Seeing each of my sons get their first deer are moments I'll never forget. But sitting with them by my side on beautiful fall days are some of my best memories.

That's how our youth hunt started in KY. It was my first year hunting and my dad had to tell me I couldn't shoot the buck that was 15 yards from us. It was only a small 8 pointer but it looked like the Hanson buck to me at the time. Thankfully they changed the season to allow bucks the next year.

Yep, That's how it is here. Long story and I won't tell it here but IMO that's the stupidest rule ever for that reason.

So what you are saying is the youth couldn't participate during the special blackpowder season?

Youth need to be in the woods and is our future, to see them excited is what makes it awesome. As for antler hunting. To each their own. My son, his buddy and myself have been out one time so far and all three of us harvested a doe. I will probably harvest a couple more. Frankly, I could shoot a doe or small buck very easily. I'm after the challenge of a cagey old boy and nobody should put their beliefs on hunting to me.

Agree 100%

I think you need to open up the youth hunt to first time adults hunters as well. Let's recruit some folks that haven't done it, have more disposable income / time and are more likely to keep doing it. Then we can help them recruit their kids too after they have the support in place.

Personally, I think small game hunting is the way to increase recruitment. If that is your goal? Sounds like these Youth Hunts are "one and done" hunts. That was hunting little Johnny, see you same place and time next year. Don't lose your interest! You could squirrel hunt every day for months. Harvest squirrels every day. Maybe shoot a pheasant, grouse, or rabbit, too. See all kind of big bucks while you are squirrel hunting to drool about. No pressure and lots of fun. I'm probably wrong though.

You are not wrong, dirt. I think you are spot on when it comes to hunter recruitment.

I like the early youth season because of the warmer weather. Cold weather can discourage some kids, particularly in the northern states. But, once they get the fever, the weather won't matter.

One season, 8 days, shoot anything you want, cull the herd, get it over with so that trappers can have the woods back. Shooting deer isn't about sports, it's about meat, so get 'er done quick and efficient without wasting too much money.

I'm all about more opportunity for the trapper, and I fill that freezer quick and go back to trapping, and cant wait for the orange army to vacate the woods.

Not picking on ya, but I wonder how many of you that feel this way have kids of your own?

No kids here, just nephews and nieces, and they are all libs too.

R&R should begin with giving more kids licenses. Set a number and let them get after it. Issue a bunch of extra tags, your harvest average will fall into place.

More likely to keep them if they have certain success early. Work them to death and play them out is like ruining a good dog.