Mentoring Youth Hunters

May 6, 2021

Question: I’m taking my nephew out for his first turkey hunt on some property I have access to. His sister wants to join but doesn’t have a hunting license. I’m wondering what limitations she might have so a game warden doesn’t think she’s hunting too. For example, can she be in camo with us given that we’re only letting my nephew shoot?

Answer: First and foremost, thank you for being a mentor to a youth hunter, and possibly two! You’re a critical link to the future of hunting. We believe that a first-time hunter’s success in taking wild game, cooking and processing it, and sharing with family, is an incredibly empowering moment—especially for youth. For your niece, making sure she doesn’t possess a method of take – as in a shotgun or archery equipment – should be top priority. This will help avoid creating the impression that she’s hunting. If your nephew is in sole possession of the shotgun for the entire duration of the hunt, your niece can be with you. Note that she should not assist with set up, decoy placement, or calling.

However, by simply being there as a non-hunter, you can teach them both the intricacies of a successful turkey hunt. If successful, you can walk them through the plucking and cleaning process. From there we suggest you encourage them both to learn to cook the turkey and plan the meal. You can also help them work through the disappointment at the end of a day if your nephew is not successful, another important lesson about hunting.

Turkey hunting is challenging enough for experienced hunters, so hunting with first timers, especially kids, presents its own challenges. As you are probably aware, one of the most important strategies of turkey hunting is keeping still. Kids often have a difficult time keeping still, but teaching them will significantly increase the chances of a successful hunt. The best way to keep your apprentice hunters still is often to keep them as comfortable as is reasonably possible. We suggest using a ground blind that all three of you can fit in. Ground blinds help conceal excessive movement and they come with reasonably comfortable chairs. There are lots of online resources and other tips you may want to review to make your hunt successful. One of them is CDFW’s Guide To Hunting Wild Turkeys in California, which is free to download on our Upland Game Bird Hunting page. Good luck!