Today we find that fewer and fewer children are involved in the hunting process. Many people, only 1 generation ago had ready access to land, as they had close relatives who still farmed and welcomed them to their places to hunt. What will the next several generations be doing regarding the care and maintenance of our wildlife treasures? Will they care? Will they even know or understand the enjoyment and thrill of hunting? Not just the harvesting part, but the whole outdoor experience? Who is going to teach them? How are they going to learn patience, respect, resourcefulness and a sense of sharing with those less fortunate?
The main objective that you, as an adult should have is to allow your children to experience the pleasant aspects of hunting. Don’t push them, or force them to do something that they are not enjoying. Taking them on a 4 hour forced march in bad weather is surely not going to be a good experience for them. Take them to a target range for an hour or let them try shooting trap once every 2 weeks. This is a great way to introduce children to the gun and to hitting moving targets, while at the same time teaching them about gun handling and safety.
Fathers and grandfathers used to take their children out to hunt with them in order to teach them how, where and when to hunt. The care and preparation of the kill in the field, dressing, skinning and butchering were all part of the teaching/learning process. These experiences taught future generations the skills needed to provide food for their families. They also taught many other lessons, those of patience, respect, resourcefulness and a sense of sharing with others who perhaps did not have good luck in their pursuit of needed food.
We need to start at home, introducing our young people to the safe practice of gun handling, shooting and the ethical requirements needed to have a successful hunt or to have success in life.
Teaching young children, say age 7 or 8, about gun safety can begin with the purchase of a BB gun. Set up a safe target shooting range in the basement of your home. This can be easily done and can provide the basis for hours of fun and practice in becoming a safe and proficient shooter. Taking kids out to the field when they are small for a short hunt, only an hour or two will help in getting them interested in the sport of hunting and the outdoors. Let them take their BB gun and plink at safe paper targets or cans put on a log against a backstop.
Mother Nature is a great teacher and getting kids outside to learn and play is good for their brains and their bodies.
