Taking your kids coyote hunting anyone do it?

Ok thanks for the replys. I have two daughters one is 3.5 and the other will be a year in 3 weeks. Well i guess ill have to get her out when it warms up. Its -10 right now. I did go out today with my cousin didnt have much luck, my cousin thought he seen something way out on a hill top but couldnt tell for sure and it never come in. Was windy though too.
 
My little boy was 4.5 last fall and seemed interested in going until I told him he would have to be quite and sit still. He can't even sit still when he watches TV. I haven't pushed him much and assume someday he will be ready. I do look forward to taking him.
 
Originally Posted By: yzsuperleeMy little boy was 4.5 last fall and seemed interested in going until I told him he would have to be quite and sit still. He can't even sit still when he watches TV. I haven't pushed him much and assume someday he will be ready. I do look forward to taking him. We all have a busted stands once in a while. To tell the truth we all have them frequently truth be known. Don't be afraid to take the Lil fella out. It's not the reward of that perfect stand and perfect kill, it's the reward of being out hunting and enjoying these moments with your kids. My son started coon hunting with me when he was 3. Now don't you think that wasnt an experience carring him bout 3/4 the time, leading a dog, carring a gun, light tangled.....WOW! We look back and talk about our past 10 years of hunting. Not a lot of kills, but a lot of laffs....Enjoy!
 
I have used piece of the camo fabric you can for blind material for years taking my 4 daughters out calling/hunting. Drape it over/around some yucca, sage or other vegetation and set them in or behind their 'tent' and the wiggles are not generally a problem. The mesh kind allows a little visibility for them, but I like the die cut better cause it had 'peep holes'. Have managed several coyotes and deer or two doing this. Have not quite got a handle on a 'muffler'.
 
Originally Posted By: weekenderTHANKS to each and every one who takes their own or someone else's kids hunting.
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Just scrolling through this thread makes me really proud to be associated with folks (PM members) who care enough to do so.
 
My son was seven when I started calling, and he was with me for the first one I called and shot. He felt a little bad about it...just like a dog he was thinking.
He is fourteen now and actually took his first shots at a coyote this past deer season.
I don`t go out near as much as I should..plenty of opportunities around here.
 
I have two sons and twp nephews that pretty much grew up at our house. All in their 30's now. The older son expressed an interest in hunting at 10. The younger one never did get into hunting but loves fishing. The nephews never wanted to hunt but still fish. The nephews never really knew their dad's so I was pretty much it.

I'm guessing all children are different. One thing I know for sure is if they don't want to go don't push them. There are no finer memories for me than those spent hunting and fishing with my kids. None.

There really are things we can take with us when we check out.
 
I think the first thing to think about is considering whether or not you can hunt with a very young child and have it be ALL ABOUT THEM! That's the main thing. Make sure the hunt is fun for them no matter what. If they have fun they'll want to keep going with you and at the ages of 3,4, 5, and 6 and that's the most important thing. Whether or not you kill something is secondary.

Miz Kiz gave some great advise! I would add that if you have the ability to gain access to a hunting blind or an elevated hunting tower, than go for it. Kids love them and it conceals their movement which might actually make it easier to have success at giving them the opportunity to see a coyote come in. If you know someone that has some of those blinds or towers around their properties, stop by and tell them what you'd like to do and see if they would be willing to give you permission to take your kids. A lot of people will give you the go ahead when they know you are taking kids. That's something I did with my son when he was four and started going with me. He loved it. Hunting out of any blind lets you be able to hunt longer as well. Pack along a video game, some snacks and let them push the buttons on the remote for the caller.
 
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I started taking my boy when he was 3. I would set him in some good cover like a patch of sage so his fidgeting wasn't as noticeable. On his first stand ever we called in a triple. I would explain to him how we had to be quiet and sneak into a stand and it made it fun for him to try and be sneaky. At one point on a trip I realized that he hadn't said a word for about an hour and had to get him to talk when we were at the truck.

Fast forward a few years and it is usually him convincing me to go out even if the weather stinks or I'm worn out from work. He hikes miles on end with me through deep snow, wind and cold as well as summer scouting trips and never complains. If I go hunting without him he is mad as can be the whole time I'm gone.

Last summer we had hiked to the top of a mountain to glass for elk. It had a been a tough hike but he never said anything. After we had glassed for a good long while I asked him if he was ready to move on. I'll never forget his response or how proud I was when he thought for a moment and said "yea, my legs don't hurt anymore so that's fine".

We had both endured that hike and burning thighs and calves without ever mentioning it. Just enjoying being out there together. My daughter is 2 1/2 and starting to show interest in going to the range, so it won't be long until I'm taking her too.

I say get em out early and often and enjoy every moment.
 
Well this post is very reassuring to me. My son loves to use my closed reed distress calls, and although I think he will have some trouble sitting still and being quite I really don't think it's going to hurt my chances as I'm still working on figuring all this out myself. Now to get him some camo and get him out there with me.
 
For sure! He shows interest so he gets to go. He hasn't shot yet mainly because he's 5 and not quite ready. It doesn't stop him from getting the glamour pic though!
 
I took my daughter earlier this year who was five at the time. She got to see and be with daddy for my first coyote. Ive taken her a few more times since then. She still has a hard time sitting still but she does enjoy hunting with dad. She even has her own call she uses around the house and outside.
 
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When I first took any of my kids with me, the first to go was the eldest @ age 10.
We only went to about 3 places, all of which I had previously called in, and never got any shots at, a coyote.
By this time, I had gotten him a .22 rifle, and so he carried it with him.
Before ever going, he was showing a bit of interest.
The first couple of stands were a bust. But on the 3rd stand, it was a different story.
Although only 10, my son was pretty mature, and so I decided to trust him to do exactly what I told him to do.
In 2 previous occasions at this spot, the coyote had widely circled me, in tall grass.
So, in hopes that my son would get a decent view of an incoming coyote, I set him downwind of me, about 40-50 yds, on a fence line that bordered the pasture where this coyote had been coming from.
Less than 10 minutes into the stand, all heck broke loose.
Just as I had hoped, the coyote came bounding past my son....within 30 yds. But instead of raising his gun & shooting it, my son was so excited that he stood & started yelling & waving...saying, "Dad! Dad! He's over here!".
Needless to say, but the coyote got away.....because I was laughing too hard to take aim myself.
That stand remains one of my fondest memories.

While, unfortunately, my son never got the "bug" like I had it all my life (he doesn't hunt anything), we have enjoyed a few more stands together in the past 19 years. But, only a few.
And while he has managed to hit 2 coyotes, unfortunately, we were never able to recover them....because I am a horrendous tracker w/o snow.

The other two sons, I took out on one stand, when they were 8 & 5.
I took them to a "honey hole".
They sat right beside me, but fidgeted the entire time.
And although we did get a coyote to appear on that stand, he never committed to coming closer than 300 yds.
Neither son showed any real interest before that day, nor since.
.........


Now, myself, if memory serves, was about 5 when I first went coyote hunting with my dad. However, that wasn't using calls. It was the old-fashioned way of using trucks & greyhounds.
I started going "full-time" (almost every Sat/Sun, from Oct-Feb) when I was 8.
I would not have traded the experiences, and adrenaline rushes, for anything.

And ever since, I have been obsessed with coyotes 24/7/365.

And since taking up calling, in 1995, the obsession has only increased.

And, so, I feel it is a good thing to take youngsters hunting...if they show interest.
 
He definitely shows interest and he loves using my hand calls, howling randomly using his voice, and asking when he can come along. I'll be taking him very soon.
 
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