This is a hot topic for some so figured to get a healthy debate going.
I have let my kids take advantage of the early youth deer season with few people in the woods for a couple of years now. The time with the kids in the stand without the swarms of other so called hunters that show up during regular season is full of joy and learning for my family. I would like to hear what others think.

I think your right. I'm all for it

its a great opportunity for kids to learn without all the pressure that gets applied during normal season! [pro] [ con] is trigger happy dads that shoot big bucks and make kids tag them! Boy oh boy that's teaching your kid ethics! Thankfully theres been a lot of tickets wrote these past few years here for just that reason.

A con would be that people have to wear orange in the woods during the youth hunt, when in fact many people don't know there's a youth hunt going on.

A pro would be the warm weather.

Tony, I can see how the poachers could take advantage of the early season. IMO that same person would break the game laws regardless. I hope that the wardens can get hold of those folks and hopefully curb little John's picking up of a pour parents ways.

I take youth hunters every year. I think it is a great way to teach hunting ethics without all the other hunters in the field. I have not heard of any problems in my area with trigger happy dads shooting their kids deer for them. Slobs will be slobs given the opportunity. The rest of us should take advantage of the opportunity to take a young person hunting and show them the proper way to do things and respect the animals they are hunting.
This is a photo from last Thursday morning. One shot kill at 120 yards with a 22-250. It was the forth (and smallest) buck I put her on that morning. The others did not offer an ethical shot and she passed on them.

Im for it. I can't understand being against getting our youth out in the woods. I can't think of a outdoor sport that doesn't need a youth injection. Lord knows trapping does.

Amen to your post,100% for the youth hunt.Here's the buck Kam shot last night 4.5 year old,field dressed 222lbs and measured out at 128".The smile says everything.....

The future is always in the kids when it comes to consumptive use of wildlife resources. There could be a rub in some sectors with letting kids kill bucks instead of antlerless. Different states: different circumstances probably but we need to get and keep kids interested in consumptive use of renewable wildlife resources.

When they first started our youth hunt in Oklahoma it was doe only. Can you image sitting in a stand with a young hunter who has never killed a deer and having to watch a buck walk by only to tell them that we are saving the bucks for the black powder season that opens next weekend. Thankfully that rule was changed.

I think youth hunts are great. I started all my boys at the age of 8 on whitetail does. After 4 years of does I let them shoot a cull buck, after that game on. If a 180 comes in let him have it. We have big deer and I always worried about them not appreciating a great deer and a great hunt, so I made the rules as I went.

To me the one aspect of youth hunts that here in WI has not worked as some may have hoped is that the number of youth that participate from non hunting families is minimal and a small percentage of all youth involved. If we are hoping to maintain hunter numbers or increase we need better ways to reach those youth. One aspect that I would like to see is what is the retention of youth that participate in youth hunts? How many purchase licenses say for 1, 3, 5 or more years after participation.

We need to find ways to reach the growing part of our society that is growing away from hunting and outdoor activities,not just providing more opportunities for those who would be hunting with their hunting families any way.
One of the advantages of teaching younger youth about trapping is that traps are set and you harvest what you catch. There is not nearly the emphasis on size, sex etc. etc. that there is in some of the other sporting activities.

Bryce

I agree. I think it's a little humorous when someone whines about kids being able to shoot bucks during a youth hunt; as though the only people who should be able to shoot bucks are guys like them "who have paid their dues". The implication is that women and children aren't worthy to shoot bucks.

Youth hunts should not be a debate point any more than if teenagers in sports should be playing against college age adults. What I would like to suggest is the education of the youth instead to stop the "big doe" hunting which is what I see posted here at times too. In genetics, shooting big does in hunting season deprives the next season of better fawns. Older does produce more fawns, larger yearlings and in time larger antlered bucks.
For all of us, we should be teaching and commending our children that bigger is not better. If a large antlered buck is not available, the harvesting of small antlered deer to remove inferior bucks from the gene pool is beneficial, as much as harvesting a yearling doe is much better than shooting doe which will improve the herd.
I would like to see our youth praised for not the bigger is better, but for the husbandry of our herds.

I 100% support the youth hunts here in Wisconsin,that being said I think that most of the kids would end up hunting anyway because they come from hunting families. I think the biggest issue is finding a way to get the 20 somethings involved a lot of them have disposable income and in my opinion are a group we should be trying to recruit.

around here we need to kill "big does". its the only way to control the population.

Youth hunts are ridiculous.

I agree, youth hunts are ridiculous. There aren't enough participants to warrant setting aside a time slot that deprives anyone else in the field of the privilege of not having to wear orange that day.

In my state, season ought to be reduced to a week or less, and shoot anything.

The very idea of "horn" hunting, is unethical in itself, as that animal isn't the best eating of all specimens, as a rule.

I say, get that orange army in and out of the woods, that is, harvest the meat quickly, and free up the place for trapping.

Thanks for posting this Andrew.

How about we just give participation trophy's to all the youth that has parents who suck?

The idea that we teach them it's a "sport" and it's all about the "big rack" bothers me. That's not why my Grandad shot deer. Not that it's sporting.

Harvest is key.

antler hunting causes every consumptive user of wildlife untold headaches. starting with failure to control deer populations and ending with paying to hunt antlers.

the modern emphasis on antler hunting fuels animal rights campaigns and will eventually make the united states look like England so far as animal welfare laws are concerned.

we should be encouraging young people to hunt fish and trap. not locking up vast tracts of land through leasing or telling kids that animals with big antlers are special and animals with small antlers are "inferior".

antler hunting makes us all look like fools whether we participate or not.

I used to teach hunter ed and we’d always have one ahead of youth hunt weekend. I’d ask the kids how many of them were going on the youth hunt and lots would raise their hands. I said that was great, this was their season. I then said “ Now don’t let dad or uncle do the shooting” and they’d look at their dad and boy, some of the dads had the weirdest look on their face. I’d tell them if an adult pulls the trigger that was poaching. I know for a fact that “ some” drag four year olds out here just so they can hunt an extra couple of days for “ their” buck. That being said, the youth seasons are great for what they are intended for if the adult that takes them is an adult. I often wondered how many kids sat in the blind with excitement and the rifle and right when the deer appeared the gun was taken from them. What a way to kill their spirit.

Well put Danny !

Spot on. Our youth season was yesterday. I bowhunted about 8 hours yesterday and heard a total of 4 shots. Every year I offer my land to coworkers and their children for youth season. It seems like our early youth season is cursed with bad weather, rain, wind, etc

For the DNR it's just all about license sales and the money.


Too much attention to the "hunt" marginalizes trapping interests.

I'm all for getting kids in the woods and getting them interested in the outdoors. But as stated earlier most kids that hunt youth weekend will also be hunting the regular season. It doesn't do much to recruit young hunters from non hunting families and at least in my area is the number 2 weekend next to opening weekend of deer gun season for big bucks to be killed and this picture pretty much sums up why.

We are dumbing down hunting in an effort to get nonhunters to become hunters.
Antler worship, tv hunters sitting in box blinds killing "trophies" from protected herds, crossbows in archery seasons, special seasons for youth, we seem set on taking the chalenge out of hunting.

We have many kids who have only experienced the outdoors by spending time sitting in a blind playing on their cell phone waiting for a living target to walk into a foodplot. They never actually get into the fields and forest.
If we want to grow life-long hunters we need to spend time getting kids to love all things having to do with the outdoors.

Once when I was in my late teens, I had a covering of soft melting snow to deal with, and you could walk silently. I got the bright idea to follow a deer track up wind, up a swale valley between ridges, and shot that deer 3/4s of a mile from my car. Dad was proud, and only said "now that's hunting". Out in the forest, no fields, no blinds, just stalking a track slow like.

Dump them deers to the bottom of the sea, nothing but trouble.

Kytrap, that's golden and should be part of the curriculum followed by, LE "might" not know but you and Dad will know.

I'd have liked to see the Dads climbing under their chairs lol.


We beat this to death (deer management) on the old Pa forums when Alt took charge. Not pretty.

horse is nice for hauling a dead deer a long ways. don't use your sisters horse if draping a gutted deer over it and leading the horse and balancing the deer. young girls get upset when they see dried blood on their horse. expect you to wash it.

two guys can carry one several miles if you cut it in half. after gutting you can cut the backbone with a pocket knife if you cut between the vertebrae. cut careful and the backstrap is fine. just have 4 instead of two. boning out and putting the meat in a plastic trash bag in a back pack works good. I think its lots easier to keep the meat clean though if you can leave the hide on and each guy carry a half.

a man that wont let his kid take the shot isn't going to let his kid take the shot in the regular seasons either. so why not let people who will do things right have their youth season? the people who will let the kid take the shot are in the majority. shouldn't punish them because a handful are boneheads

I am 100% in favor of youth hunts, if parents are slobs it does not change my opinion of the purpose. My own grandson would not be a hunter if he had started out in the cold of a November deer season, the milder weather is a lot more conducive to letting them enjoy it.

We need more youth hunting opportunities, just not on Sunday, and not around "my" deer lol.

I’ve asked several kids over the years that checked in deer about the hunt. What caliber they got it with or other little things about the hunt. Many of them look nervously at their dad and he starts answering for them. You can tell in about ten seconds if the youth took the deer or not. I have taken five different kids that got their first deer. Saw some misses too but they were proud of what they were able to do and don’t constantly have to go around fibbing for dad. One other thing, I think myself it’s far better to start them out squirrel hunting than to jump straight to deer or turkey. If you really want to get kids interested in hunting small game is where we used to start. Not looking for monster deer.

You do know those youth licenses run from a $1 for 10-12 year old and 6 dollars for 13-17 year old of which a dollar goes to the vendor. DNR is making huge money.......

yep,dad gets to shoot another buck for a buck.

Totally agree with Danny, we all don't have the money to lease or hunt where big bucks thrive. When the emphasis is on big bucks the whole population suffers if it's not done right.

In my case with my son, he did all the scouting and hung his own stand and chose his own weapon. Spine shot a 6 point at 6 yards with his bow, while I was in the tree right next to his without a weapon. One of the proudest moments of my life. Priceless!
Most "Mentors" don't do that. Should be at least suggested or even requiered so they learn how to read sign and learn the animals. Here the youth can use any weapon that fits them. In other words they can't use a 3" mag 12 gauge slug gun like "dad" does.
Its a tech world now, much different than when I was young, If a 2 day youth hunt gets kids in the woods and peaks a small perecentage of them to stay off the cell phone then I'm all for it. The smile on their face is pricless.
The socalled "Mentors" that kill the deer for the youth should loose the outdoors privileges for life!

I grew up hunting with my dad from the time I was old enough to legally hunt. The finest days we spent together over many decades.
I really enjoyed the excitement that dad was also nearby hunting and listened intently for that "first shot".

Maybe those days are long gone. Not sure, but the fact that I did or did not get a deer or pheasant are not the memories I cherish (heck I can't recall who shot what) but I sure was glad dad and I hunted together!

All hunting with family and youth is good but I hope dads and uncles and papas are also hunting with the youth together. Bonds for a lifetime!

I don't know how things are done in PA but I'd say that's rare around here during the youth season.

All positives. We need all the recruitment tolls we can get.
I'm also a fan of doe youth hunts such as in WV where we can convince kids its ok to shoot does.

If you have to have a "special" season, I'd rather see folks be able to take out an old hunter that would not be able to go on his own anymore or handle a deer if they got one. Same deal with a handicapped person.
Sorry folks, I do not see a reason to entitle children.

Zim

"Former Anchorage doctor sentenced to 51 years for child sex abuse, child pornography"

I remember when this guy used to bring children out here to mentor them. This is probably a con.

What he said !

I think its a good thing.
We teach Hunter Ed classes and the more
youth you can get interested the better
we're going to be. If we don't do something
to get kids outside doing hunting or trapping,
Its going to die. Trapping around here is about
a thing of the past. All kids want to do is be on a puter
or phone. Just my $.02 worth


Donnie

I have really enjoyed the youth seasons with my kids, and a few other peoples kids. The youngest is now 14 and only has a couple of years left to hunt the youth hunt, I guess I'll have to find somebody else's kids to hunt with. I have never put restrictions on any child as to what he can shoot, other than that it be a legal animal, and an ethical shot. I've never been much of a horn hunter myself, if big antlers had been my goal I would have quit deer hunting a long time ago. The people out hunting with there 4 and 5 year olds always frustrates me, but if they claim there kid can shoot well enough to hunt at five years old who am I to question them. Mine didn't participate in the youth hunt till they were at least nine, and the youngest had to wait an extra year. He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and I couldn't, with a good conscience take him knowing it would result in a long hard tracking job, or an unrecovered deer. That was a rough conversation to have with a nine year old with his hopes up but he has a better appreciation for the responsibility of pulling the trigger only when he can make a good shot. I am in complete support of the youth season even though it does have some drawbacks with unethical or unresponsable parents, but those people are going to do what they do anyway.

In arkansas youth hunt is free no license required and they can shoot anything they want. I'm agree youth season is a good thing. Gives em a better chance to get that first deer and have that once in a lifetime experience and fealing that they will always be looking for and want to experience again season after season counting the days down till next season.to me that right there is what makes a life time hunter.if there were no youth season here people would still take kids hunting but when a big 4 point walks out and the young un is so excited and then u haveto tell them that they can't shoot it because leagally his horns ain't big enough.now that's not good

If you have the deer go for it here it's a way to reduce the population and give the kids a chance to go on a deer hunt just for them.

What I don't like about the early season is the deer are not bulked up for winter so the flanks are thin, but now they moved the archery season up to Sept 1st so no clue how that became a good idea~

I just read through and there seems to be 3 cons
1- Dads are shooting the deer
2- I may have to wear my orange a few more days
3- let the disabled hunt

I am from KS so things may be different, but I shall reply to all
1- I didn't, and those that poach are already poachers. How many deer get shot from a vehicle with the wrong equipment during the other seasons? How many kids get to hunt this season that wouldn't because Dad isn't going to have a squirmy noisy kid in the stand to ruin his regular hunt?
2- I spend most of my time on private land and shouldn't have to worry about this anyway, but do as the above poachers are always around. Walmart and other places sell orange stocking caps and jackets fairly cheap at end of season every year, get one and put it on.
3- In KS our disabled persons are allowed to hunt at the same time as the youth. It seems to be a great time to get the folks like young kids that cant hunt by themselves and folks that cant get around as well as others, in the woods with less traffic. Is it unfair to those healthy folks or people old enough to hunt by themselves? Maybe, but a few of those people wouldn't ever hunt if they had to deal with the rat race that comes with the orange army. With the folks trying to get rid of hunting, trapping, and other out of doors activities, we should encourage folks to do these things all we can and build the numbers of outdoors men and women.

Other than that I will have to agree to disagree as trappers are some of the most hard headed folks I know.

The more opportunities to eliminate woods rats the better, I say.

Is it reaaaaaly about the kids?

Examples from here. Our winter subsistence moose hunt was pushed back to Dec 15 from Nov 1 because adults were trophy hunting big bulls when they were easy to find and kill.( most big bulls antlers drop by Dec 15) The youth hunt they set up; you guessed it; Nov 15 to Dec whatever. I guess it is ok to target big bulls during this time period as long as you bring a youth.

For years resident trophy sheep nuts have been trying to get a jump on non-resident hunters by having a resident only early season. They never could get it. Now they just created a youth hunt for sheep during the time slot that the residents were crying for over a decade. Grab a youth (17 year old) and now a resident gets what they been rejecting.

All pros, no con's, if you wish to perpetuate the traditions of hunting and trapping, the more kids get out the more likely our heritages will prosper and continue !

I agree with this ^. I know many youth hunter parents and the hunt is more for them then the child. I get a lot of pictures from the parents showing their child's kill. I am a strong believer in getting the young started but to have a special season I don't see it. The kids this year I have seen some of the trophy animals they got and this happens every year. I would dream of some of the once in a life time animals these kids are taking. I'm very happy for them but I can't see why one group has the advantage over the rest of the hunting population.

both my boys did it just like everyone else and i believe they are better hunters today cause they had to learn why,how and a bunch of stuff other than pulling the trigger.

only 2 deer from my property so far this year and both were by jr hunters that shoot bow better than me and their fathers.

There are enough deer in the world that I think its hilarious an adult worries about a kid killing one.

Antlers are good for flint knapping, make pretty knife handles, cool buttons, neat looking lamps for a fishing shack, can even be sold. Sometimes for a LOT of money to somebody not smart enough to know they are only good for stuff like: flint knapping, make pretty knife handles, cool buttons, neat looking lamps.

It wouldn't be the complicated seasons and regs shying youth away? Naw coulldn't be, only takes an adult 40 hrs and a paralegal to figure out MOST of them here.

Take a look at our bear season.
https://www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/Law/Pages/SeasonsandBagLimits.aspx
Does this need to be this complicated to manage some bears?

Exactly!
Some of my best memories are when I sat beside my dad hunting squirrel long before I could hunt myself. He taught me to sit still and be quite listening for rustling leaves and squirrels barking and cutting in the oaks and hickories. He'd shoot a couple and tell me to remember where the fell and let me go pick them up after he shot a couple.
Dad also took us fishing, mushroom hunting and just out into the woods for long walks.

I count myself and siblings very lucky to have had a dad like him and he was happy that I did the same things with my boys. I sure miss him and my mother.

I'm like most of the people on this site, live and breath the outdoors. I'll give my 2 cents without youth opportunities I doubt my kids would hunt and fish today. I put then in for youth tags here in Nevada, they have to draw just like adults but get an either sex tag and its good for all 3 seasons archery muzzleloader and anyweapon (rifle). That tag may or may not be for they same unit I drew. Those hunts where we drew the same unit were the best times we can remember, but I liked the times the kids were the stars the best. Gained points for everything they could but guess what happened they grew up and went to college and started their lives, no hunting because of out of state costs etc. Now as my kids are 25 and older I'm getting the dad can I tag along on your hunt, can I get a shotgun for a few ducks even. They remember those days and its not about killing anything its about showing youth what the sport/family is all about. Without a chance to experience hunting/fishing/trapping with me thru youth days/tags 4 less hunters. They will pass this on to their kids.
And personally ive never meet an old timer that wouldn't give up their time And or tag to a kid let alone thinking that they some how should be the ones to get an extra opportunity. If no kids are hunting whos going to take that old timer hunting or pack out his game.

Oklahoma youth weekend is going on now, I been trying to get my daughter to shoot a gun but she just want to shoot her bow. We watched two big buck walk by this morning that she could have killed with a rifle. Guess the neighbor will get them.

I have a daughter that rarely kills an animal. She will help butcher, load one in a pickup, cook and eat them. She doesn't like being the one to do the killing though. She can out shoot probably 80% of the people reading this. Drove my grandsons to check traps. Just doesn't want to shoot animals.

I believe what kytrapper said earlier. Start them out hunting squirrel and rabbit and other small game that can offer them more shooting opportunities and more action than just sitting in a box being bored and playing on thier phone waiting on a deer that thier dad may or may not let them shoot, either because ''it's just a doe'' or not a ''big enough buck'' or its "too big of a buck for a kid" and dad takes the shot. In my opinion starting kids out hunting on deer turns more young hunters away from hunting than it recruits into hunting because it is cold and boring and disappointing. Where as small game hunting is far more hands on and offers them many more opportunities to actually get a shot at something and get to come home with something except "we saw 15 deer but none were big enough." Most people that I know that consider themselves "serious deer hunters" wouldn't hunt small game if you paid them much less eat it when they killed it. The only time they shoot squirrel or rabbits is when they "wanna see what a 300 win mag will do to one. They have no desire to hunt anything that doesn't have antlers and they teach thier kids the same way if thier kids even keep hunting. I have taken some young people on the trapline with me because they were interested in trapping and as you talk to them you learn that they have been "hunting with dad" for 3 or 4 years but the only thing they have killed is maybe 1 or 2 deer. Most of the time this conversation ends with us in the woods killing squirrels either by still hunting or over a dog. And to top it off you have to teach them how to aim and shoot a rifle with open sights because "dad never let's me shoot anything except a deer rifle with a scope!" One young man that went out with me and shot his first ever squirrel and his first rabbit on the same hunt went home so happy he couldn't sit still. His mother called me a few days later and thanked me for taking him and told me that he had not stopped talking about his squirrel and rabbit hunt since he got home and had called all of his grandparents to tell them about it and had been telling anyone else who would listen about it. She said "he has been hunting deer with his dad for 3 years now and has only killed one but it was a giant buck that we had mounted, but he never was as excited about it as he was that squirrel and rabbit!" That is the kind of excitement that we need out of New hunters in my opinion.

I feel the same as your daughter, Matt . It's been years since I've shot a deer with anything other than my bow.

You should use an atlatl, why you use a compound bow if you want to be primitive?

Don't stir up the bow nuts.

Not a fan of the "Youth Hunts" My father sacrificed a lot of his season for me to be able to hunt and give me a good chance of being successful, I did the same for my son. Nowadays everyone has to sacrifice because there are fathers that won't...

Guess i shouldn't, but he doesn't miss a chance to look down on crossbow hunters. Did it on the last two hunting posts he made, lol.
Everything is ok up to what he thinks is good to hunt with.

Ps, i don't use a compound so i can bust his nads!

I feel bad for her now she has been wanting to kill a deer with her bow. This morning after the two bucks came by a doe showed up at 17 yards and she took the shot, she was too excited and hit it in the throat. I been tracking it and it looks like I won't be recovering it. I thought I had gave it enough time with all the blood at the spot she shot it but ended up jumping her and she sure didn't look to bad hurt.

That's too bad Matt. Hope she doesn't lose interest in hunting because of it.
Why won't she use a rifle?

I let her shoot my 243 and she said it kicks to much. I dont think it's the kick I think it's that its loud and jumps some. She is 12 and I thought by now she would be fine with a rifle but guess we will give it a few more years. She said she is going to keep trying and will try to be calm and make better shots. She was so excited when she shot it it fell down and was flipping then ran and fell again, she gave me a hug and was crying and she said I am so proud that I shot one. Now she said she not so proud of her self I told her I was proud she sit there all morning and never complained and didn't give up when the big bucks didn't give her a shot. I told her that hunting isn't all ways about making a kill and that a lot of people dont get to experience a morning like we did

Try to keep her spirits up and reassure her it will be ok. Your right about the the kill isn't the main thing. She'll see that someday, but now she probably doesn't.

My daughter loved to go along squarrel hunting but had no interest in deer hunting. At that time, deer season was cold and we didn't have this youth season. I don't know if it would've made a difference, but i'll never know now.

I used the don't push, let her think it thru herself method.

hip, you should be proud of yourself for having such a huge inferiority complex;).

Isn't me who always complains about what others use. Mirror?

hip, We are dumbing down hunting to try to coax folks who lack the initiative to do something that may not come easy to them. I don't care how people hunt, but a sense of accomplishement is one of the things that will keep young hunters hunting later in life.

In PA we have longer seasons, bigger bag limits, easier ways to kill deer, more special weapon seasons and some still are crying for easier ways.....don't suppose you're one of the guys lobbying for baiting?

And the line you added to the end of my post you quoted is a flat out lie. Why did you add it to my post?

Not to be a Richard, but crossbows are archery tackle, so they should be legal during archery season.

He's trying to deny he said that now.

Many guys feel that way, Richard. Many others do not. Some states that allow them list an archery season AND a crossbow season. That way they can manage the seasons differently if the need arrises, PA did not because of pressure from the pro xbow croud-the same group that threw a fit when, at first, scopes were not going to be allowed for use.

I happen to think one should have to draw the weapon in the presence of the game. If somebody feels dfferently-no problem, they have gotten their way. Have at it.

What Les said that Zim said!

When adults can't figure out what is fair, good, bad or ugly it is little wonder why we can't figure out how to engage youth in what we would like to see in meaningful lifetime hunting and or outdoor experience and lifestyle. There are more youth than we want to think about that spend a lot of time in the outdoors but don't hunt, trap etc. because they don't need to get into the politics and bashing of those that feel they have the right and only way to harvest our natural resources.

Bryce

Crossbows have been around a lot longer than compound bows.

Well Bryce, I think I found a good location today to teach the kiddies all about beaver trapping and they will never have to leave their comfort zone.

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.

I see no cons in youth hunts, watching kids harvest an animal is by far more enjoyable than harvesting yourself.

Just another participation trophy .

Since 2011 I have helped 4 different kids take their first deer Some of them where my family ,some where family of my hunting partner ,and some where neighbors .For those adults that shot a deer and make the kid tag it shame on them .As far as the special season ;I am not a big fan but times change .I grew up on a farm 50 years ago .I had many relatives that also farmed so access was a given as far as a place to hunt. Small game was the starting point them .Now a pheasant is less common than an 8 point buck . I certainly wish it could be like it was when I was a kid .But if we want to keep our hunting traditions alive we at least need to be able to accept change even if we do not agree with the results .Also for those that added the comments pertaining to those with health issues you are 100% right. I have been taking a friend that has some health issues with me to check traps for a few years now . We both have benefited from those morning ride alongs .My thought is we should look for ways to make the youth seasons work even if we are not in complete favor of them

I take youth hunters to our camp and work on gun safety for a month every weekend both days. Then we start with squirrel hunting and eating. The two boy's I am currently working with are brothers with no father in their life. I belive they learn more than just hunting from me. They are both family and we hunt hard all day from dark to dark we hike about six mile's every day still hunting. I always look forward to teaching youth about hunting. We have five youth at camp this year. We have them help at camp with firewood stacking cleaning up and getting ready for the season. In Vermont where we hunt deer don't come easy. We hunt non posted forested steep mountains. The black bears seem to be very plentiful as most hunters wont harvest them. the hunters are just starting to find out yes black bears are good eating and they have an effect on our deer herd. I will be looking for another youth hunter when done with the two I have know.

What do you mean? I said that for the first year in KY you could only shoot does during the youth hunt which made no sense. This was also at the same time that you were not allowed to shoot does for all but the last weekend of rifle season.

I have no problem with the youth hunt. Have taken all my kids on the hunt.
They had a great time. The also archery hunt and hunt the regular season.
Its a great opportunity for them to get out and get excited.
The people that don't like it think the kids are shooting their deer.

If you put a youth season as the first opener, my guess is they are getting the first crack at the deer. If this is important in order to get the biggest deer, then you are taking an opportunity from all the deer hunters that follow. Remember this isn't hunting, this is sport hunting. People like fair rules in their sports. Big deer nut parents would certainly want youth hunts that give them an advantage in their game.

Unless there is some reason youth cannot participate in other hunts, I see no compelling reason to give parents a special hunt.

agree

I agree too. The hunt is about the parents.

This.

I am pretty sure there is at least one person on this forum, that wants to provide to everybody here, the allusion that he's a great guy, because he helps all these kids.

Well I have a kid, he is 28 years old now. He had to wait til he was 12 to go deer hunting because there was not a youth season back then. We were in the woods together since he could walk upright and learn to be quiet. Squirrel hunting was his favorite and I openly violated the law by letting him take the .22 from me when we had one treed and let him head shoot it, I suppose he was 8 or so when that started. We discovered a lot of stuff together through those years and when he was of age I could trust him completely with marksmanship, safety and common sense. He still loves to hunt today and maybe those were the best days as he still loves to hunt squirrels more than anything. Maybe folks still spend that kind of time together, I sure hope so but handing an 8 year old kid a rifle for a day or two a year and hoping it will pay the same dividends, well maybe so.
I don't mind a youth season, I do question if Little Johnny really WANTS to go or if it falls along the same lines of dad was a great football player and now you are going to be one too.

Zim

Bingo !!

God forbid they cut their teeth on something . Father of three here . Youngest just turned 10 and he'll never participate in a youth hunt. He's gotta earn his place at the adult table.

Youth hunts are awesome. Upland birds is the best. Little to none competition for the walk-in hunting areas. Which is important in Kansas because 99% of the land is private and usually leased up for deer hunting. The kids shoot so much. It's a blast. They would get a few birds but never limited out. The selfishness of man can not be overestimated. The regular season opener the walk-in areas are lined with cars. Even if you get there early some bunch of dudes will jump right in and cut in front of a drive or drive towards you. They don't really care if your taking your kids hunting or safety for that matter. Maybe one or two errant men would make the risk acceptable, but it happens every time. Teaching moment for the kids, but every time?

I've had deer hunts with my kids during regular season where dudes in trucks will drive right through the property to jump deer. They know your there. Don't think they care about anything but themselves. It's gotten worse over the years.

There will be time enough for my sissy children to experience the realities of life. A couple of days a year hunting without worrying about a group of adults acting like idiots makes it fun for them and me.

I have to go now or I would expound further. One of my sissy children has an uncomfortable feeling and I need to get them to their safe place so they can express themselves without judgement or self-recrimination.

Yes, just because your child didn’t get one during the two day youth weekend doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love to go if they truly are interested in hunting, on opening weekend of regular season. I don’t see too many adults giving up their opener for the kids. As someone mentioned above, sitting there with your child when they are successful is just a small window in time where that is even possible and should be considered in life.

Ok. I'm back. Thankgoodness the kid only had to poop.

Deer hunting is a whole nother deal. Unless you wanna pay 3-5,000 to hunt a deer, you have to hunt walk-in. I explained what happens with that. Call the game warden you say. One for three counties I say.

I love my sissified kids but I'm not going to pay that. Darn it, I got to go again. I raised my voice without provocation and one of my pansy kids is crying.

Thanks Les
Dang.., you caught on. My illusion is busted

Oh well. The 4 youngsters that got there first bear this year and the 2 youngsters I took this past weekend and got thier first deer still think I'm an alright fella.

Now if YOU would stop trying to run everyone out of your county ...

The problem with some of these youth hunts is you set them up for failure. You are not teaching them the right things. Actually in many cases, reinforcing the wrong things.

Take the pheasant hunt. You would be better to hold the youth hunt on opening day. Instead of going to public, take them out on private. Show them how to get permission, show some appreciation for landowner, and maybe even schedule a work day with the landowner, etc. Right now, they go from absolutely no competition so a complete zoo and we wonder why they never stick around. We never taught them how to avoid the zoo outside of find a kid. LOL

They do the same thing here with turkey. Put the youth season on the front of the season. Complete mistake. It should be at the end of the season. Why? Well, if they learn to hunt the later seasons, nearly 100% of landowners will give them access in the last two weeks. You have eliminated the number one reason why folks give it up. Nearly no one will give them permission in the first half of the season. We have thousands of tags that go unsold for later seasons so they can shoot multiple birds. Accordingly, I am going to set up a learn to hunt turkey program on the last week of the season. Those hunters will have a way better chance of sticking around. Once they get to know the landowners and built a relationship, the landowner will give them access early in the season. IMO, we have to quit doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

People need to keep in mind..........It's just a dumb deer they are after, not your life savings.

Geesh, let the kids kill a couple.

Geez, I guess the 6+ years my boy hunted rabbits, squirrels, pheasants, coons,,, etc... didn't earn him the right to shoot a deer at the age of 11.

The adult table would be the regular season.

All right! I got kids. Kids grow up a little faster out here. My son was mentoring adults out here when he was 14. He was showing them a good time. I can't relate to some of the crap on here. Different world than the one I left.