Make Hunting and Fishing Fun For Your Kids By Building A Foundation

24 August 2007

Make Hunting and Fishing Fun For Your Kids By Building A Foundation

Posted by Darrell under: Rantings Of An Outdoorsman .

Early on, I learned how fun hunting and fishing can be. For me, it started with fishing. Fishing was fun. I’d could spend an entire day catching a stringer of bluegill and love every minute of it. Looking back, I realize that the excitement and suspense is what kept it fun. I never knew when there might be a big bass, a catfish, or a huge carp (kids aren’t picky) sinking that bobber. Every time a fish bit, I would feel a tingle of excitement. What would it be this time?

Hunting was a little different story. I knew what I was shooting before ever pulling the trigger. However, I never knew what might come in or when. Every time I heard a leaf crunch or a stick break I felt the same excitement and anticipation. Plus, I loved the challenge of trying to outsmart such brilliant creatures. It was great fun listening to all the teasing that went on at deer camp and listening to grizzled old men become giddy like school girls as they told about the monster buck they ‘almost got a shot at’.

I realize now that from an early age I had a foundation to build a love of fishing and hunting upon. I, even as a kid, loved the outdoors and simply being outside. Growing up, we didn’t have tons of toys. We made our own fun. We’d make up our own games, explore, and generally raise cane in whatever way we could find - all in the name of ‘fun’.

Today, my kids are surrounded by huge TV sets & video games galore. In addition to the xBox and Playstations (which I wouldn’t have been able to even comprehend as a kid), many kids are walking around with some type of game system in their pocket. Why would a kid want to go outside where it is hot and where there aren’t many marvels of modern technology?

My initial love of the outdoors was spawned by people. My dad would come home from work and play softball with us outside (almost every day in the summer). My parents would encourage us to play tag or hide and seek (outdoor activities). When my dad went fishing or hunting, he would take us with him. If the fish weren’t biting and it was hot, he’d be the first to jump in and take a swim.

My dad, my grandpa, and their friends taught me all about hunting, fishing, and safety. Yet, they kept it fun. It never felt like school. I realize that they made it fun for me by having fun themselves.

The lessons here are two-fold. First, encourage your kids to go outside. Don’t do this by saying “get off that couch and get your butt outside” but by encouraging specific fun activities. What kid can turn down a game of hide and seek? The ultimate encouragement, of course, is for you to go outside with them. Help them develop a love for the outdoors first.

Then, regardless of what you are doing with your children outside, always have fun yourself. If you are having fun, your children will be having fun too. If your children are able to develop a love for the outdoors, then a love for hunting and fishing will come naturally.

There are lots of ways to have fun outdoors!

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10 Comments so far...

Phillip Says:

24 August 2007 at 9:50 am.

I’ve found that, at least with most kids today, all you have to do is get them out there, away from the danged idiot box, and they’ll find a way to have fun. A little extra direction, and they can get hooked fast.

Still… I’m glad to see so many folks in the outdoors community recognizing that the kids really are our future. If they don’t get involved, this whole lifestyle is destined to become another piece of history and literature.

Arthur Says:

24 August 2007 at 10:46 am.

I love this article. So many truths in it. I hope that all kids at least have a chance to make a choice to be outdoors. Of course, by using the things that you described, they would have an excellent chance at just that.

I have to say I do love a little video gaming now and then, but for kids they definitely have to have a balance. I can honestly say though that my nephew would pick going bowhunting long before he would pick the Xbox.

Darrell Says:

24 August 2007 at 12:58 pm.

I agree that there is nothing wrong with a video game. In fact, just last week I had a blast shooting my bow at a giant video screen as electronic elk and deer walked across. It was kinda like a really sophisticated video game and was a lot of fun. However, we really need to get our kids outside and one of best ways to do it is to go out with them.

Moose Says:

24 August 2007 at 9:08 pm.

Getting kids out hunting is great. Lots of folks take kids deer hunting but that can be tough if they can’t sit still. We’ve had a lot of luck introducing kids to hunting small game, doves, and pheasant. We’ve also taken them waterfowl hunting where they can talk and squirm a bit until the birds are coming. Great article and I hope all of us take a kid hunting or fishing this year.

Dana @ The Wild WoodsWoman Says:

24 August 2007 at 11:44 pm.

Kids do have trouble sitting still during hunting. But you can get around that problem by using 2-person blind and giving them a chair that is comfy and doesn’t squeak. Works like a charm! They can wiggle away, and the game is less likely to see the motion.

Bryan Says:

24 August 2007 at 11:50 pm.

Very good and important points in this article! We’ve got stiff competition in those videogames, so making it fun will go a long way. There is a lot of preparation that goes into helping children have fun, but the benefits last more than a lifetime!!!

Jon Says:

25 August 2007 at 8:03 pm.

Great post!

I am very blessed! My 2 sons and 2 daughters, make sure their kids enjoy the outdoors and respect it. This is something that has to be passed down from each generation!