Daughters first deer hunt

[Spinach]

It finally happened for me. My 13 year old daughter asked if she could hunt this year. She has never shown much interest in hunting and has actually told me in the past that she will not hunt.

All of a sudden last week she was excited and asked to go this year. I never really pushed the issue because i hoped that someday she would have a change of heart.

I told her that it was too late in the year to hunt, but that she could hunt alongside me and join in all of the camp activities to see what hunting is like, if she enjoys it as much as i think she will, we will get her into the next hunters safety classes and get her out shooting at the range and ready for next year.

I am really excited to be able to sit with her this season and teach her good hunting ethics though.

Does anyone here have any info on hunters safety classes in the metro area? I'm hoping i can get her in this winter or early spring.

[MnMoose]

Congrats Pat!!! It seems when the kids are born we die for the little guys so we can get them into the woods as a new huntin buddy..then the girls come and we can only pray for they're interest!! I am blessed my 8 year old daughter is countin the days years whatever it be till she can join me...In fact just this weekend she asked me and showed a great deal of interest in archery and bow hunting.  So not being a avid bow hunter I'm on the hunt for lots of resources. 
As far as Firearm Ed goes I brought my fiance to Metro gun club last year...I have to say very impressive!! Pete is the guy to get a hold of and he is phenom!!

[JohnWester]

for hunters safety classes, go to the DNR website... they are all over the place.
And as for her hunting, if she is sitting in the stand or blind next to you, she can still pull the trigger if you are comfortable that you think she knows what she is doing.  I let my 11 year old hunt with me, and I'll let him shoot a deer this year.  you just have to use your tag to tag it.

[Grute Man]

Hey congrats on the kiddo getting all excited about hunting.  I know the feeling.

For firearms safety, I would suggest sending her to MDHA's Forkhorn camp.  The kids spend a week at camp and have so much fun, they don't realize they're in a class.  There's two locations that even offer "girls only" weeks so the intimidation factor is gone.  That can be huge for a young girl.  My MDHA chapter sent 7 kids to Forkhorn camp last year and we'll do that or more again this year.  All we ask is that the family pay the $100 deposit and the kid send us a letter requesting the scholarship.  Then our chapter pays the rest.  We also like to get a letter back from the kids saying how much fun it was ...  So for $100 your kid can go to camp AND get their Fire Arms Safety cert.  I sent my oldest to all 3 Fork Horn camps and he loved it so much each time, he kept asking to go back to other camps.  Now this year I put my youngest through camp and they did a FANTASTIC job.  He was scared of shooting a shotgun before he went there and after a week there, he was ready to go shoot 100 rounds at sporting clays.  Cody was there with us and can testify how much fun he had. 

Good luck this weekend and let me know if you want more info on camp.

GRUTE 

[dakids]

Pat I remember reading something somewhere that there is a one year exemption for hunting deer.  I don't know how to get this or where to do it but you might want to try the dnr.

[JCAMERON]

It's called the hunter apprenticeship. I think it states that you can have a youngster (12+) hunting with you with out a license so long as they are in direct supervision of their guardian. Definitely check it out, could be a good thing.

[only$250]

It's awesome your daughter wants to go with you!  I had my daughter (now 15) go through Gun safety classes to be familiar enough with fire arms if they ever present themselves in an ackward area.  So I suggested she come out with me a time or two during the up coming deer season.  She carried her rifle the first year, didn't want to take the gun the second year and didn't want to go out last year. 

This year... she surprised the heck out of me a few weeks back that she wants to go again!!!  She's pushing to go out shooting and all geared up to go!  Great news!  I couldn't me happier about this!!!

Shooting suggestions...start out with a .22 and work your way towards the fire arm she'll finally use.  If only using the bow...crank it down as light as it'll go in case she nails her forearm or does something to goof up a shot!!!  The time together is just great! 

My goal for when she's with me...keeping her happy, bring the iPod, book or whatever...to the rifle stand...I'm 100% okay with any of that!  I've modified my rifle stand to help keep her warm, allowing a lot of things I wouldn't even think about to make this as enjoyable as possible for her. 

Good luck with this opportunity with your daughter!!!!!

[deadeye]

Pat,
See page 19 in the hunting regs.  Basically for $3.50 she can get a permit to hunt without the hunter safety certificate.  I believe she would have to still purchase the youth deer license for $13.00.
 

[JohnWester]

can't you just bring a kid with and let them shoot and you tag it with your tag?

that's what I am doing with my 11 year old.

[deadeye]

Yes you could but I'd still spring for the license.  Lets say they did shoot a nice one.  They couldn't tell anyone because it was an illegal kill.   

[Spinach]

Great info everyone, I will for sure get the youth license and the special permit for her, just in case she wants to take a shot.

[Grute Man]

Strike while the iron is hot!!! 

[mnsportsman49]

Yes you could but I'd still spring for the license.  Lets say they did shoot a nice one.  They couldn't tell anyone because it was an illegal kill.   

yes they have whats called a hunters apprentice validation lic only available once in the childs life but it makes all kills legal and you can also use it for anything like small game , deer , turkey , etc as long as you still purchace the other youth lic.
good luck  

[JohnWester]

Yes you could but I'd still spring for the license.  Lets say they did shoot a nice one.  They couldn't tell anyone because it was an illegal kill.   

see... what a b.s. state we live in that taking your kid hunting and letting him shoot prior to the age of 12 is illegal with out buying more special license this or permit that.

arrest me, I hope to post pictures next Monday.

[Ryan]

There is an article in the Star Tribune about this.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/34062114.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

[jkcmj]

It is to bad your not closer.  I live down in the SE part of the state and teach hunters safety.  I have many times done one all day class for  a single adult or kid for the classroom portion, finishing with the field portion at the end of the day.  If a kid gets the basics from an adult hunter in the family ahead of time, they can breeze right through.  The important one is that they show maturity in the field tests.  I have gotten my brothers wife to start hunting 2 years ago, Her twin sister and my cousing last year, and a few other adults or older kids that have shown interest, but never commited to sitting in on classes with a bunch of 12 year olds.   If your not used to it, it can be a very trying experience