Hunting wild animals has been the subject of much debate and media attention. Animals should never be killed for sport and trophies, but a clean shot to an animal for food purposes is acceptable.
Not everyone has the temperament to kill game animals, but there are some important lessons that come with hunting. One of these can be teaching kids to only take what they need from nature and nothing more.
Also, by teaching them proper hunting skills, you’ll make sure they’re equipped to kill an animal swiftly and to end its pain and suffering as soon as possible - quickly and mercifully.
We take a look at 5 tips you can impart to your child on how to hunt the right way.
- Know your equipment
Whether you’re teaching a kid to hunt with a gun or a bow and arrow, you have to teach them to know their equipment. That means getting to know every part of the equipment and practicing with it so that they become an expert.
Fumbling around with a gun or a bow and arrow can see the gear ‘going off’ and accidentally entering the heart of a parent instead of the target animal. You’ll never want to hunt again. Knowing your weapon inside and out is an essential skill for every hunter.
- You must be licensed
Every hunter handling a gun has to be licensed. A hunting license is actually there to control hunting; otherwise, every Tom, Dick and Harry could just willy nilly shoot what they like.
Certain animals are under threat and have to be protected. There isn’t such a thing as grabbing your equipment and hitting the trail. Whichever state you’re hunting in, there are licensing and certification requirements as well as certain restrictions that have to be complied with. To avoid any misunderstandings, it’s a good idea to always carry your hunting license and certificate with you.
- Accessories that enhance
No hunter wants to burden themselves with a lot of unnecessary gadgets, but apart from your weaponry, there is other gear that can be a valuable addition to your hunting gear.
Night vision goggles binoculars have a host of practical uses that make them worth owning. They use a special infrared light, sending a beam of infrared light out in front of them, allowing you to see into the night at different distances. They come with straps to attach to the head and also come with photo and video capabilities.
- Time it right
Some hunters say hunt in the early morning and others say the last hour before dark. Having said that, it’s difficult settling on the right hour. A lot of hunting success depends on the region and the hunting property.
A good tip is to do your homework before you go so that you go in the peak hunting season. A good idea in understanding the best time to hunt deer is to have a good look at deer behavior because their behavior actually changes as the seasons change.
- Hunting apparel
When it comes to hunting, just as with any other sport, it’s nice to be well turned out – to look the part. Not only that, you don’t want to wear bright tropical colors. After all, the idea is to disguise yourself somewhat so the deer don’t spot you.
You want to blend in with your surroundings. You also want your hunting garb to be protective so hunting boots and socks, hunting pants and tops, hunting gloves and backpack can all help towards you being able to seriously rough-it in safety while you pursue your awesome outdoors hunting adventure.