Youth Deer Hunting

MAHA encourages all that are parents to hunt every youth hunting season to include the youth deer seasons every year for as long as all can.

Our exclusive use private deer hunting lease land means that both parent and child will be able to enjoy each other's company without anyone else setting a wrong deer hunting example. While the youth hunting seasons vary amongst our three states (Kansas, Missouri and Iowa) there is plenty of opportunity that a youth deer hunt can be easily planned.

During youth deer hunting we recognize hunters are grown they are not born and gladly hope that all may harvest a racked buck regardless of the quality of that rack as we do not have any trophy deer or penalty fees. We do ask that for youth deer hunters they do harvest from their second deer on increasingly larger racks until they do get into the trophy range of 130 for archery and 140 for firearms deer season. For now have a good review of this youth deer hunting success gallery and look forwarded to many great days in the field.

Kelsey, Youth Hunter

Recent season

From daddy Shawn: "...Kelsey, strikes again with a very respectable 9 pointer during the youth deer season (she also got a 23lb turkey during the youth turkey season...but I can't find the pictures...maybe someday)...The best part though....getting to see my daughter add another one to the board. I am so thankful that she enjoys being out there with her 'old man'."

Previous season

via email: John, Kelsey and I went out this weekend for the Missouri Youth deer season and we had a great time. This great buck was just the icing on the cake. Here is the story.....

Kelsey is 11 years old and got her first deer last year, a button buck, down here where we live. She told me she wanted to try for a "buck with horns" this year and I said we would give it our best shot.

On early Saturday morning we were sitting on the ground waiting for the deer to arrive....they did. We saw a total of 23 deer that morning, including three bucks (some we weren't sure of the sex). A small fork horn, the one pictured, and an even larger, taller, eight pointer. The bucks were looking for girlfriends, but the doe just aren't ready yet.....what an exciting time to be in the field. Unfortunately, the deer were all in a cut corn field about 250 yards away....too far to shoot, but close enough to watch. We got to see the big boys chase and check for about 15 minutes...it was quite a sight. Kelsey's fortitude was tested a few times with some close, easy shots on doe...but she said she wanted to wait...so we did.

The next morning we decided to set up near the cut corn field where all of the chasing was going on. It was drizzling and cold, but she is quite the trooper. At about 6:30am, we saw this buck chasing a doe over in the same spot where we were located the previous morning...such is deer hunting.

Kelsey was a bit disappointed, but I told her to be patient because the doe had broke off from the buck and he was all alone again. Well, about an hour later he decided to check that same corn field we were watching to see if any of the ladies were around....well there was one...just not the one he
was hoping for. She made a great shot at a very close 25 yards and he went down in his tracks. I am pretty sure I was more excited than she was at the time....

She is becoming quite the accomplished hunter with two deer and one mature gobbler under her belt. Talk about pressure as her "guide". I am not sure we will be able to top this year's success, but the time together with her will be great regardless of what is in the back of the truck.

Good hunting, Shawn

Following the links below under the "More on this topic?" category will show parents and children enjoying the day in the field both with the children hunting or simply accompanying their parent.

This follows under the Association rule that immediate family members of the Association members that are not hunters may accompany the member at no extra charge. Once that immediate family member starts carrying a gun or bow then the membership must be upgraded.

An immediate family member is the spouse or child the adult member has guardianship of. It does not include other children or relatives. Guardianship does include step children, split guardianship and those cases where the member has responsibility for siblings or others in the absence of a parent. The intent is for promotion of youth hunting and only for those youths the member that signs the release of liability form has guardianship for be it parent or otherwise.

Good luck to all while deer hunting!