Kids and turkey hunting

[Gravey]

I wasn't going to leave my son at home and miss out on quality time with him while he was younger to satisfy some deep rooted hatred of blinds. Your kids are only young for a while. Just like I didn't leave my son at home except on juvenile hunts because he cramped my run and gun style. He was/is always with me when he's not in school. We have made some memories in blinds he will cherish long after I'm dead and gone. But, if your hatred of blinds and dedication to being a purist is so strong that you are willing to forego quality time with your kids, have at it. I suspect you will regret it someday.

I agree. My son killed his first and only bird when he was 8 out of a blind. He will be 11 in two weeks. The evening before we went and roosted some birds but due to the lay of the land couldn't put a blind up then so I went back a few hours later when it was pitch black. We eased in the next morning and got sat up. Some hens flew down with the gobblers behind them and I was able to get the hens to come our way. Game was over quick. Most of the time now we're not in a blind but I don't walk near as much if he's with me either. Its got to be fun whether you kill one or not.

 

[BC]

Funny this thread has come up..... Last year I wanted to get a youth in the field on the youth hunt.... not only to get out a week earlier but to hopefully make a difference in a youths usual weekend. Things didn't work out with travel/weather/birds so I just sat at home....

My 8yo niece has expressed some desire to hunt... and a turkey is on her list.... along with a deer and squirrel.

So I have been keeping tabs on a flock where I have hunted in the past... marking every day when they were there and if it was morning or afternoon.... Hopefully they will be in the field feeding as usual when season gets here.

My plan is to take her, set up a pop-up, a couple of decoys, and see what happens.... I can't expect her to keep up with my usual tactics since there can be alot of ground to cover to find a willing bird.... She is spirited and restless at times.... so I am not expecting a statue while trying to fool a turkey.... but the blind should help with that....

Two things will happen.... 1) We will go and she kills her first turkey and we will have a memory to share for our lifetimes... 2) she will see that just because you prepare to hunt, go hunt, see/don't see something.... you may not always bring something dead home from a hunt... but you can enjoy being outdoors either way.

Whether a kill happens or not she will always remember when Uncle Grizz took her hunting. I will have my kids out next weekend in the Alabama youth hunt. We plan up a big outing with them every year. The only piece of advice I can give you is get that pop up blind up a little earlier so the birds can get used to it. They don't spook at it but are hesitant sometimes to get real close to it. At least that's the way they are in Bama most of the time. I always put mine up the first weekend after deer season goes out.


Good luck to your niece.... I hope she gets one.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

Whether a kill happens or not she will always remember when Uncle Grizz took her hunting. I will have my kids out next weekend in the Alabama youth hunt. We plan up a big outing with them every year. The only piece of advice I can give you is get that pop up blind up a little earlier so the birds can get used to it. They don't spook at it but are hesitant sometimes to get real close to it. At least that's the way they are in Bama most of the time. I always put mine up the first weekend after deer season goes out.


Good luck to your niece.... I hope she gets one.

Putting it up early isn't an option here..... it's public land... or I would. We'll see... she may have to wait another year to grow some... but I'm going to do what I can.

Good luck to you and your children on the youth hunt as well man.