Whats more important?

[MnDeerStalker]

First off I am new here and newer to bow hunting, but I find it so relaxing just to be outdoors in the woods where it is quite and just being a part of nature. I am a father of three (twin girls that are 10 and a 3mo old boy). So here is my question whats more important to other bow hunters? I have been hunting off and on from the beginning of the opener and I wanted to share my time hunting with my family. I only have my girls every other weekend so this last weekend I had them and took them with me they go one at a time and we is in a ground blind. As I stated they are only 10 so there patients is not very developed yet 2-3 hours is all they can handle. now I know my chances of taking a deer are much less when they are with ( they move around and have a hard time staying quiet) but dos that make any difference? I want them to have the oppertunity to go with (if they want). When I grew up I never had the chance to go hunting and I am not sure where I get it from my parents are NOT the outdoors type so I am self taught and still learning as I go. I quess I was just wondering what other hunter think what is more important to you takeng a deer or taking your children with? Granted you might have that buck of a life time comming your way and your kid moves or something and poof gone but as for me I would trade any deer for the time with my kids in the blind!

BTW me and my 3mo are going out in the next week or so. That will be interesting but will be a memory I will never forget.

[HD]

You sound alot like me...But, younger.
I didn't have anyone to mentor or teach me the fine skills of the outdoors.
And as I get older, my kids are more important than anything else in my life. I take my kids out boating, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, trapping.....ect....the list goes on and on.
I don't push my kids into doing anything they don't want to, but help them in the experiences they want to enjoy.

My son, who is now ten, loves to hunt, fish and trap....sure, I've missed a few opertunities when I'm with him. But the memories outway the accual getting of game. Over the years, he has picked up on being quiet and don't drag his feet as much...so, he is learning.
He loves waterfowling and has shot his share of geese in his 10 years.
This year he plans to take his first deer during the early doe season, and I'll be in the stand right beside him to enjoy the moment....even if we don't get anything.

My oldest daughter, that is almost 18 now, loves to fish and hunt as well. When she was little, still in diapers, she was stuck to my leg like glue. I took her everywhere....and we still have a special bond that could never be replaced by any trophy deer! I helped her get her first trophy buck and her first turkey and those memories are very special to me.

My middle daughter is just the oposite, she does not hunt, and likes to fish a little. But she loves to 4 wheel and take pictures of wildlife. So, even she likes to get out with me and spend time in the field. I was there when she buried the wheeler right up to the seat....expensive but the laughs we had were worth it!

I have been managing our land just for the purpose of helping these kids enjoy there experiences.
Using QDM practices, and land management.

I have even branched out to taking other kids out, ones that are less fortunate to not be able to otherwise have the opertunity to spend time out in the woods, or water.

Yea...Yea...I'm long winded....I know, but take your kids out! Have fun with um!

Hunter

[Outdoors Junkie]

I think it is great you are sharing your time in the stand with your kids.  If they want to go with, bring them along.  It is not about the harvest.  It is about the time you can share together teaching and mentoring the younger generation.

You are doing the right thing!  Keep it up!   

[Don Stenseth]

Without a doubt, Take the kids. I did and do not regret it for a minute. As long as they enjoy it take them. However 3 months may be a bit young IMHO.

[Big E]

I don't have any kids of my own (that I know of  )but I do know that it is a great expierience for children to spend time with their Dad or relatives or even a family friend in the woods. I took my cousin out deer hunting when he was about 5. He sat on the ground underneath my tree stand which was only 7ft off the ground. We seen a lot of grouse and had squirrels within inches of him. He also alarmed me of a big buck running across a feild about a half mile away. I thought nothing get's by this kid I should take him out more often. Now he's 18 and starting his first year of college. He has killed a 198, 180 and a 178 class buck along with plenty of other big ones. But last year we sat in a stand together and he talked about that time he went hunting with me and recalled every detail of the hunt....including me farting loud off of the boards of my stand. (It happens every year. I find myself hillarious at those times)
 Anyway for a kid that has killed more and bigger bucks than I have and anyone I know and to still remember back 13yrs and to say that was one of the funnest times he had and has never forgot about it. That's when you know taking a kid out is WAY more important cuz they will never forget the little stuff like letting one rip off the wood stand in the quiet morning!

[Grute Man]

Take the kids now.  If you wait till they're "old enough" to sit still...then it may be too late at that point.  They'll be texting boy friends...and have little if any time for Dad in his ground blind.  Get them excited now and let them know they're included.

I've got a long winded "plant the good seeds of life" speech but I'll spare your for now.  Just know that what you do now will pay off later in life.  Remember, we'll all be old one day and will need someone younger to help us.


PS - look at the picture of the week.  That fart blew a chance at me getting a beautiful buck one day and look at him now.  PROOF that its worth it.   

[cva54]

 I my self have 3 kids a bit older in order girl girl boy got right on the last try 20,16,15, take them every chance you get they grow up be for you know it and as for the deer when your youngest or all 3 (hope you got a good job for that 1) is on the other side of the swamp in there own stand doing ever thing you showed them growing up you wont beleave that  feeling  you can know you taught them right  and feel proud

[bowhunter73]

 I say Take them only a few times a year for now because like you say your chances of getting a deer are reduced with them out there. And you don’t want them to get burnt out on hunting and never getting anything.

 What I do is use my ground blind with my now 7 year old and I never take him to a hot spot. I don’t want to blow my chance at a good buck with him moving or talking. He does not know the difference; to him we are just hunting. And he’s like the rest of us he always knows we are going to get the big buck. Funny little guy. I don’t know where he gets it.

 Also I like them to see the deer I bring home. first becouse they wish they had gone that time so they are more likly to go with next time. second they need to learn that if you keep at it, it will pay off.

[MnArch]

WELCOME MnDeerStalker!.......You've found the right forum!!!
All good responses...don't know what to add except make sure you get enough "me" time in the woods too. Bowhunting is kind of a solitary thing- that's one of the great things about it. But for sure, giving the youngsters the opportunity to experience bowhunting and nature is a totally unselfish and neccessary joy with great rewards, including the perpetuation of our sport. GOOD JOB. 

Barry

[MnDeerStalker]

Thanks everyone for the positive replys They don't come with all the time so they don't get burn out and if they don't feel like going they just don't! Last time we were out together chloe and I were sitting in the blind and just before dark a doe came in 10 yards from us she was very excited but kept calm, so I drew back and aimed carefuly and relessed but wouldn't you know I nust ticked a limb and the arrow when just over her back a clean miss. I knew right away what had happened but I asked chloe anyway did I hit her she shrugged and said I'm not sure so we sat for just a few moments longer and got out to look for the arrow and any sign of blood even tho I knew I had missed we looked until dark never foung any blood or the arrow, but I wanted to teach her that if you don't know you do everything in your power to find out for sure if you missed or not. It got dark so we headed home and she told her sister the story and I said to hayley (the other sister) I am going to go sit in the morning until it gets light and then resume the search and asked if she would like to come help (knowing she would) so thats what we did still never finding the arrow or blood we decided that it was a clean miss.
In a way I am glad I missed for a few reasons...
1- got to teach them a lesson about searching for signs of a hit or miss.
2- also that everyone misses at some point and not to feel bad about it.
3- not giving up looking after 5-10 min of searching if you are not sure.

[dakids]

I think that you should take the kids hunting with you.  I prefered to start my kids out squirrel hunting.  A grey squirrel and 6 year old can only sit still so long.  Plus your chances of harvesting an animal goes way up with the squirrels.  Its kind of like taking a kid fishing for sunnies, as long as there is action they are having a great time.

[tazmn01]

I go by the old saying " If you take your kids hunting you wont have to hunt for your kids when they are older." That is provided you remember that the real thing is that they have FUN.