youth hunting organizations
- Thread starter pier-rat
- Start date
Back "in the day" when I was your age, teamed up with a bunch of guys in school and we called ourselves "The Swamp Rats" and proud of it. Hard to believe that I was ever your age. None of my family members hunted and my father was in the Navy. I'm going to hope or assume that you have had hunter safety. Not sure what your state offers but some offer enhanced hunting classes in addition to the hunter safety program. Some stated even incorporate a hunting trip as part of the course. Find a member of the IHEA organization or contact a local conservation group. Ask around or even talk to a DNR officer. In the long run, buddying up with some fellow rats in your school might be your best bet. Good luck to you.
Be Safe !!!
Be Safe !!!
fisherman66
New member
If you don't have family into hunting your best bet is to find a friend who's family does. Make darn sure your folks are okay with this too. Once you become an adult you get to make independent decisions; so if yer folks are not comfortable with this now, a time will come. Ideally you mother or father could learn to hunt with you.
L_Killkenny
New member
Do they have 4H where you are at? They are heavy into hunting and shooting sports around here. Start slow, be safe and have fun.
CB
BTW, you might start like I did and start trapping instead of hunting. No gun needed and it will teach you more about critters than any time spent in the woods with a gun.
CB
BTW, you might start like I did and start trapping instead of hunting. No gun needed and it will teach you more about critters than any time spent in the woods with a gun.
Evan Thomas
Inactive
The hunter safety class would be a great place to start, assuming your parents are OK with this. You'll need to do it anyway to get a hunting license, and the instructors should have information on youth groups, whether your state has special youth hunting seasons, etc.
In my state, the DNR also sponsors mentor programs, so young people who don't have family members who hunt can start out with an experienced adult.
And, please -- fix that "fishing..." thing, before one of the moderators fixes it for you...
In my state, the DNR also sponsors mentor programs, so young people who don't have family members who hunt can start out with an experienced adult.
And, please -- fix that "fishing..." thing, before one of the moderators fixes it for you...
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Vanya wins.
pier-rat, you're quite welcome here--but we do require an adult level of behavior. That is not negotiable. And we keep the humor way over on the clean side.
pier-rat, you're quite welcome here--but we do require an adult level of behavior. That is not negotiable. And we keep the humor way over on the clean side.
Evan Thomas
Inactive
Isn't there a member here whose sig line includes information about a forum he runs that's specifically for under-21 shooters? I can't remember who it is, but perhaps he'll chime in, or someone else knows who I'm thinking of...
No, pier-rat wins. Nice edit.Art Eatman said:
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
pier-rat, you're welcome to start a thread in the General forum, asking if there is a forum or website which focusses on issues for the under-21 folks.
fisherman66
New member
Maser.....hmm, I can't think of anything positive to say.
Hey pier-rat, welcome aboard. I am the member in question who ran the forum deticated to teenagers into shooting. I deactivated it about a year or so ago due to the inactivity and the fact most all the original posters and my staff members are not teens anymore.
I'm 20 years old and feel I should offer some advice from one young gun to another. There are quite a few gun boards out there that are very unfriendly towards young shooters, but this site is an exception. As long as you act mature and remember you are dealing with adults who have a low tolerence towards immaturity, then you will be just fine here. Remember that it's the job of us young bucks to show the old bucks that we are capable of keeping the shooting sport alive and well for future generations.
I'm 20 years old and feel I should offer some advice from one young gun to another. There are quite a few gun boards out there that are very unfriendly towards young shooters, but this site is an exception. As long as you act mature and remember you are dealing with adults who have a low tolerence towards immaturity, then you will be just fine here. Remember that it's the job of us young bucks to show the old bucks that we are capable of keeping the shooting sport alive and well for future generations.
Check out the boy scouts. Many scoutmasters are into hunting (this one is) it's a good way to meet responsible trustworthy adults and learn outdoor skills while you''re at it. Even here in NJ we take the boys regularly to ranges for shooting many hunt clubs are happy to pass on their knowledge. When I was your age I got a hunt club to send me to conservation camp for a week even tho Dad wasn't a member. Just make sure your folks know who you're with and youth protection guidelines are followed
Hunting Clubs Youth Hunting!
Hi Pier-rat -
Check with your Division of Fish and Wildlife! Most states have a listing of clubs for youth and also sponsor special youth hunts. Back when I was young, living in Virginia, there was a Youth deer and turkey hunt held at Fort AP Hill VA. Few people know about the hunting lodge there. It is a big log cabin style hunt lodge with a central room with a big three story field stone fire place. There are about 30 rooms around the second floor that have a balcony view of the center area! As a kid we use to spend a long weekend there with the other youth and adults! It was neat because the Army supplied their own guides that knew where to go and the daily habits of the animals. The best part was only the youth were allowed to harvest an animal.
Today, I am a state certified Basic hunter and Bowhunter Education Instructor here in Massachusetts. Here we sponsor a youth program like you are looking for! Youth 10-17 make up our Youth hunters and it is a program of hunting conservation and tradition and skills.
You bring up a good question as why hasn't some National Organization sponsored a Youth Hunter program complete with a yearly program! Here in MASS we send our Youth to the State run Youth Conservation camp when they become 13-17 years old. There they get all the hunter ed certificates, needed for a firearm license in MASS, also safe boating course, Archery Course, and safety training and marksmanship in all firearms including hand firearms, rifles and shotguns. It is a great 2 week course and youth that graduate from the camp make life long hunters.
After all is said and done if us senior hunters don't bring along our future hunters the hunting traditions we have known will be gone the way of the dinosaur.
Mike -
Hi Pier-rat -
Check with your Division of Fish and Wildlife! Most states have a listing of clubs for youth and also sponsor special youth hunts. Back when I was young, living in Virginia, there was a Youth deer and turkey hunt held at Fort AP Hill VA. Few people know about the hunting lodge there. It is a big log cabin style hunt lodge with a central room with a big three story field stone fire place. There are about 30 rooms around the second floor that have a balcony view of the center area! As a kid we use to spend a long weekend there with the other youth and adults! It was neat because the Army supplied their own guides that knew where to go and the daily habits of the animals. The best part was only the youth were allowed to harvest an animal.
Today, I am a state certified Basic hunter and Bowhunter Education Instructor here in Massachusetts. Here we sponsor a youth program like you are looking for! Youth 10-17 make up our Youth hunters and it is a program of hunting conservation and tradition and skills.
You bring up a good question as why hasn't some National Organization sponsored a Youth Hunter program complete with a yearly program! Here in MASS we send our Youth to the State run Youth Conservation camp when they become 13-17 years old. There they get all the hunter ed certificates, needed for a firearm license in MASS, also safe boating course, Archery Course, and safety training and marksmanship in all firearms including hand firearms, rifles and shotguns. It is a great 2 week course and youth that graduate from the camp make life long hunters.
After all is said and done if us senior hunters don't bring along our future hunters the hunting traditions we have known will be gone the way of the dinosaur.
Mike -