What Is The Appropriate Age To Introduce A Child To Hunting?

Originally published in the Merritt News– Othmar Vohringer The Outdoorsman

© By Othmar Vohringer

The above is a question I am asked quite often by parents who wish to introduce their children to hunting. The answer is not cut and dried. In my opinion the introduction of a child to hunting is dependent on the child’s maturity, which is not necessary measured by age.

When I was a child I never was pushed to become a hunter and neither can I remember that it ever came up in a conversation. My father never said: “Now you’re old enough to learn about hunting.” I grew up seeing game mounts hanging on the wall. I was used to eating meals consisting of game meat and I knew that it meant taking the life of an animal. I grew up listening to my father and his friends hunting stories. In other words it was natural for me. I do remember that at about the age of eight asking my father if I could go with him to the range and shoot a gun. Of course he was pleased to take me along. About a year later I followed my dad on a scouting trip where he told me what signs to look for and explained them to me.

Hunting Season Rewind

(Originally published in the Merritt News– Othmar Vohringer The Outdoorsman)

© By Othmar Vohringer

Where has the time gone so quickly? It seems I just purchased my hunting license and species tags last week and now the 2010 hunting season is already part of history.

This year I didn't get to hunt nearly as much as I had hoped for, but I did fill the freezer with healthy organic game meat. Despite the fact that I didn't go out much I regard it as a successful season. I do not define success by the number of deer I shoot but by the people I meet and the experiences I have. This year I was able to help a young hunter from Wisconsin to get his first whitetail deer buck. Closer to home I was able to assist a novice hunter with advice to get his first black bear and whitetail deer doe.

Popularity of hunting decreases across nation

© By Othmar Vohringer

In an Associated Press article by Todd Richmond, I read that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that hunting license sales in 33 states have declined. There is considerable concern that if this ongoing trend keeps up hunting as we know it and enjoy it might soon be a thing of the past.

There are many reasons why hunting is in decline. The loss of access to hunting land due to urban sprawl is listed as one of the major factors. There are other factors too such as the aging baby boomers that retire from hunting but most of concern are youth that rather spend all their time indoors playing computer games and on the internet than go outdoors.

PeTA Targets Sarah Palin

© By Othmar Vohringer

It was just a question of when, not of will it happen, that the notorious animal rights activist group PeTA would take a swing at former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Sarah’s pro hunting and pro firearm stance and the fact that she is very outspoken about it in public make her a prime target for animal rights and liberal anti gun fanatics.

PeTA issued a scornful press statement after the airing of Palin’s new reality show “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” (It’s one of the few reality TV shows I actually enjoy watching) in which she hunted caribou with her father in Alaska.