Taking a youngster turkey hunting? These 9 tips will help make your gobbler hunt a success

#8  KEEP THEM OCCUPIED

Nothing ends a hunt earlier than a fidgeting child with a hunger on. That’s why all our family outdoor expeditions include a well-stocked snack bag. Another essential is a back-up activity—preferably non-digital—for when the action slows down. One spring, for example, I surprised my youngest son, Jack (pictured), with a colouring set that kept him engaged during the hunting lulls.

#9  THINK OF THE FUTURE

Time flies faster than a wary grouse. One day I was carrying Charlie through the turkey woods on my shoulders, then—Boom!—my outdoors protege was suddenly carrying a tagged turkey over his. And in the process, he was also carrying on with the hunting tradition.

As hunters, we must do our part in the succession planning for our collective conservation future. Aside from our own children, for example, my wife and I have introduced hundreds of young people to fishing and hunting through various outdoor education programs. But even if you can instill an enduring passion for turkey hunting in just one child this spring, you’ve made a resounding difference.

Just don’t forget to bring the proper boots.

Robert Pye is looking forward to enjoying this year’s spring turkey opener with his two sons.

HIGHER LEARNING

Here in my home province of Ontario, it’s never been easier or more affordable for kids as young as 12 to complete the Ontario Hunter Education Program (www.ohep.net) to earn their hunting licence. My youngest son, Jack, was one of the first to participate in the new $60 online course, which includes the exam. Such web-based hunter ed options are also available in most other provinces (see link below).

Until grads such as Jack decide to also complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Program, they can still go hunting with archery gear. Charlie is already able to hunt with a firearm because he completed an instructor-led, one-stop classroom training session that included both the firearms and hunter education programs. In Ontario, apprentice hunters can now also purchase their own turkey tags, which means they no longer must hunt off of a mentor’s tag.

As a proud hunting dad, I applaud everything we can do as a hunting community to encourage more mentorship and hunter recruitment. To that end, Ontario should consider allowing apprentice hunters to use their unpunched spring tags during the fall turkey hunt, as is the case with black bear tags for all hunters. That way, we can further encourage more family hunting time, and add more bang for a young hunter’s buck.

For links to online hunter ed programs across Canada, go to www.outdoorcanada.ca/huntclass.