Hunting with Little Ones - Help Needed

[yoda4x4]

Come this hunting season, my daughter will be about 5-1/2 yrs old and I'd like to try taking her in the woods during early bow (deer) season. Up until now, I have almost zero experience hunting from the ground. I find that I tend to get very antsy when I am on the ground due to my sight being limited; I'm way more relaxed up in a treestand. I'm thinking that a ground blind would be the way to go as it would allow my daughter to be comfortable and have some freedom to move around but I'd be more on edge as a result. The other choice would be a 2 person ladder stand that would make me more comfortable but probably less so for her.

 

Which way should I go? And if it's a ground blind, which one do you recommend? It'll be set and left so weight isn't much of a consideration.

 

David

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

 

[Stewey]

When my kids were younger I tried the double stand and was busted every time cause they can't sit still.  I finally put them in a blind with a game boy and the volume turned down, that kept them busy until something showed up 

[Rusty]

14 minutes ago, Stewey said:

When my kids were younger I tried the double stand and was busted every time cause they can't sit still.  I finally put them in a blind with a game boy and the volume turned down, that kept them busy until something showed up 

What he said.   

[Rusty]

Most importantly, remember that the time you are sharing together is much more important than taking game.    

[buckfever1974]

Have them come and help you build you own ground blind with as much cover as possible.  They will be more into it because they were involved and you will have something less detectable from the human eye and more acceptable by the deer.  Let me add that early on, keep the hunts short.  Try mid day and worry less about success and scaring game away early on and more about making sure they have a good time with you.  If they want to be with you, the hunting enjoyment will come around.

 

Pics need flipping.

Edited July 11, 2018 by Live to Hunt

[mattg1500]

My 2 sons are 6 and I got a big pop up blind that we all fit in and honestly after 2hrs they are ready to go lol. But for my situation the ground blind is the best way

[Rusty]

2 minutes ago, mattg1500 said:

 honestly after 2hrs they are ready to go lol. 

Keep the hunts short and fun.  

[Stewey]

After 2hrs I am ready to go. 

[mattg1500]

15 minutes ago, Rusty said:

Keep the hunts short and fun.  

I do. We bring snacks and hot chocolate then stop at the diner on our way home. Never killed when they were with me but we always have fun!

[Rusty]

29 minutes ago, mattg1500 said:

I do. We bring snacks and hot chocolate then stop at the diner on our way home. Never killed when they were with me but we always have fun!

Our daughter was sitting with me when she was 5 and a 6 pointer walked by.  I asked her what she wanted me to do and she looked at me like I had two heads and says "Shoot it, what else".   So I shot it.  

Edited July 11, 2018 by Rusty

[Swamprat]

Ameristep doghouse. Big enough for what you want. Not heavy. Not expensive   

I have 2 boys who hunt. Ground blind is the way to go. 

If you're gonna setup up a double ladder you have to wrap it with fabric (camo) because the deer will spot legs, hands, arm movement. Ask me how I know. Lol. 

Nick

[rgw]

Ground blind and when she is ready to go, go. Don't force it or she won't like it and stop going. Make a day of scouting and putting blind up. Make it fun

[Russ 11]

Ground blind as others have said .  As far as which one to get it all depends on how much you want to spend . Lots of options out there .  Enjoy your time with your daughter ! 

[mattg1500]

1 hour ago, Rusty said:

Our daughter was sitting with me when she was 5 and a 6 pointer walked by.  I asked her what she wanted me to do and she looked at me like I had two heads and says "Shoot it, what else".   So I shot it.  

When my boys saw a deer their first time out they YELLED DEER!

[mazzgolf]

Tip - if you take the young kids out (scouting, cam check, hunting, building blinds, whatever), make sure you spray them down good - keep the bugs away. The last thing you want is for them to come home and have a tick(s) on them - then they just freak out and never want to go in the woods ever again. Might be a girl thing; dunno if boys will react the same way. Ask me how *I* know!