Yesterday on the youth hunt I decided to not use a blind for the kid i took. I have known him and his family for years now and have taken his 3 older brothers over the years and got them a bird as well. Generally in the past I have taken them and sat in a blind on a particular set up I like and it was worked out great. The reason I first started taking them was their father had asked me to kinda mentor them and show them the ropes on how to turkey hunt and to teach them the way it should be done. Most of the hunts i took them on i went the easy route and looking back on that I am kicking myself for doing so. I just didnt trust they would be mature enough to really sit still and listen in all honesty. Well yesterday morning i decided to hell with it, if i am taking the kid hunting then we are going to hunt the way I hunt success or no success he was going to see what turkey hunting was all about. Why would i take them and show him a way to hunt when i personally dont hunt that way, how was that helping the kid learn.
I told him when we got out of the truck we were fixing to really hunt some turkeys and hope he had some comfy boots on! we got to a listening spot and sure enough had them fire off but they were a good bit away from where i was hoping they were and across a slough, so I told even to keep up and lets get on it! Torn MCL and all we moved with great quickness and took the long way around to try and get where I knew they would move to. We go set up and the first thing he asked was "are you gonna but some decoys out" hahah. I said buddy with the right set up you dont need none so pay attention! got set up to where if a tom showed himself he would be in range without question.
Had to talk to him about always sitting in a position that you can shoot from cause you never know, how to move with a purpose and how to look with you eyes and not you head. How to choose where to sit and why and how to call and when to call at a group of henned up toms. After an hour and a half it paid off!
the point of my story he was so freaking happy about the bird but he was as proud of himself for the way we went about it and how sitting though the pain of you but going numb and your arms hurting from holding the gun. He felt like he really hunted that bird and was just glowing telling his dad how much he had learned during the whole thing. he talked more about that then actually shooting the thing which was cool.
bottom line is teach kids to HUNT and how to HUNT rather then sometimes taking the easy way out or not trusting they can do it. in the long run they learn about the sport so much more and the "man" inside them gets more confidence and grows each time. teach them that hard work and patience are not only the keys to turkey hunting but to life and that you will not be successful all the time, heck you will fail most of the time. Learn from mistakes and dont be afraid to ask questions for things you dont know.
the kill was great but man I was more proud of the kid for taking it all in and following my instructions then simply pulling the trigger which in reality is the easiest part. there is a time and a place for bilnd hunting but you have to let them fail sometimes for the greater good.
I told him when we got out of the truck we were fixing to really hunt some turkeys and hope he had some comfy boots on! we got to a listening spot and sure enough had them fire off but they were a good bit away from where i was hoping they were and across a slough, so I told even to keep up and lets get on it! Torn MCL and all we moved with great quickness and took the long way around to try and get where I knew they would move to. We go set up and the first thing he asked was "are you gonna but some decoys out" hahah. I said buddy with the right set up you dont need none so pay attention! got set up to where if a tom showed himself he would be in range without question.
Had to talk to him about always sitting in a position that you can shoot from cause you never know, how to move with a purpose and how to look with you eyes and not you head. How to choose where to sit and why and how to call and when to call at a group of henned up toms. After an hour and a half it paid off!
the point of my story he was so freaking happy about the bird but he was as proud of himself for the way we went about it and how sitting though the pain of you but going numb and your arms hurting from holding the gun. He felt like he really hunted that bird and was just glowing telling his dad how much he had learned during the whole thing. he talked more about that then actually shooting the thing which was cool.
bottom line is teach kids to HUNT and how to HUNT rather then sometimes taking the easy way out or not trusting they can do it. in the long run they learn about the sport so much more and the "man" inside them gets more confidence and grows each time. teach them that hard work and patience are not only the keys to turkey hunting but to life and that you will not be successful all the time, heck you will fail most of the time. Learn from mistakes and dont be afraid to ask questions for things you dont know.
the kill was great but man I was more proud of the kid for taking it all in and following my instructions then simply pulling the trigger which in reality is the easiest part. there is a time and a place for bilnd hunting but you have to let them fail sometimes for the greater good.
