How To Give Young Turkey Hunters The Right Head Start

	How To Give Young Turkey Hunters The Right Head Start

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By Chris Christian

Watching a young hunter achieve success is quite a bit like watching a retriever puppy discover its first tennis ball. It can be one of hunting’s more rewarding experiences, and make many of us feel a good bit younger than our drivers’ licenses state. Making that happen, however, requires some care and planning.

"We spent much of a recent turkey season taking children hunting for one of our commercial videos and it was one of the most enjoyable hunting experiences I have ever had," says Will Primos, who ramrods Primos Hunting Calls and Accessories. "I personally didn’t get to do much hunting myself, but watching these kids was very rewarding. For some it was their first real hunting experience. I wish someone had done that for me when I was young."

"It was also a real learning experience," Primos continues. "I discovered that young, inexperienced hunters require special preparation and handling, and the better we did our job, the more they enjoyed the experience."

Florida hunting guide Mike Acreman, who’s had 22 years of guiding experience, agrees.

"You need to work a child into hunting gradually so that you can help them build their confidence," he says. "Throwing them into a hunting situation on the spur of the moment can have some adverse effects because the kids just don’t have enough life experiences to deal with it. And, if it results in an unpleasant experience for them, it can stay with them for a while."

Step one is assembling the proper equipment, and a major concern with children is the shotgun chosen. Among adult hunters, both the 12 gauge and the 10 gauge are very popular, but they are not the best choices for younger, smaller-framed hunters.

"The problem with the 10- and 12-gauges is that they are just too big and heavy for many younger hunters to comfortably handle in the awkward positions you frequently find yourself in when turkey hunting," notes Primos. "Surprisingly, the recoil isn’t really the big problem. Like most hunters, these kids don’t really feel the kick when they are shooting at game. It’s just that the guns themselves are too big."

In his filming sessions, Primos supplied youngsters with the 20-gauge Remington Model 870 Youth Gun. Some may feel the 20-gauge load is not up to the task, but Primos knows differently.

"We used the 20-gauge, 3-inch magnum loads and No. 4 shot with great success," he explains. "The 20 gauge does have a slightly shorter range than the 12. We try to limit 12-gauge shots to 40 yards, and with the 20 gauge we reduce that range to 30 yards. But, at that range, the 20 gauge will perform just as well as the 12."

There are a number of lightweight 20-gauge shotguns that can handle turkeys well. Most makers of pump shotguns offer downsized youth versions, but one should not overlook the inexpensive single-shots. Chambered for 3-inch shells and tightly choked, they can be excellent performers at a modest price.

"The single-shots are very light and handy, and very easy for young shooters to control," says Acreman. "I also think that having only one shot is a plus in a young hunter’s development. Show me a youngster that learned to hunt with a single-shot, and I’ll show you an adult that doesn’t miss many game animals."

While the youth model guns are reduced in size, smaller shooters still may find them a bit too long in the stock. That can cause them to place their shot charge below the point of aim, since the eye must line up at the correct height with the beads, that requires the stock to fit the shooter properly.

Given that young shooters are still growing, fitting the stock is only a temporary solution. Mike Acreman has a better one.

"Rifle-type sights are the best choice for a young hunter’s turkey gun." Acreman states. "They are easy to sight in, and once that is done all the hunter has to do is line up the sights. This not only solves the problems encountered in fitting the gun, but also reduces the importance of a tight and consistent cheek weld, which is sometimes very difficult for young shooters to achieve in the awkward positions you often have to use with turkeys."

Installing rifle sights on a shotgun is not difficult. Mossberg offers an accessory Ghost Ring sight system specifically for shotguns and, while it requires gunsmith installation, it is a quick and simple job. Another effective alternative is a set of Thompson/Center Contender pistol sights. Since most Contender owners have their guns outfitted with scopes, gunsmiths often have boxes of sights laying around, and can install them on virtually any shotgun quickly and inexpensively.

Practice Tips

For Jakes

It is important that a youngster practice with a shotgun in order to develop skill and confidence. But it should not be overdone.

"It’s not a good idea to let young shooters handle many heavy loads," notes Will Primos. "The 20-gauge, 3-inch magnums will kick just as hard as a 12 gauge and that can ‘build a flinch’ in a young shooter. What we found to be the best was to use light 20-gauge skeet loads. These have very little recoil and will shoot to the same point of aim as the heavy loads. They work well for sighting in and practice."

"Even with the light loads, you want to keep an eye on the youngster," adds Primos. "If you see any sign that the recoil is becoming uncomfortable for him, take a break or even stop for the day. You want to keep the practice sessions enjoyable; you can’t force children to have fun."

Acreman also believes fun should be a part of any practice session.

"I like the Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C turkey targets for practice sessions," he says. "You can staple these to a short 1-inch by 1-inch stake and stick them into the ground at various ranges between 15 and 30 yards. The child will get instant confirmation on a hit because the pellet holes are bright yellow.

"It’s a lot more fun than walking down to count holes in a piece of paper. Kids like instant gratification, and these targets provide it."

Learning to call is another important aspect of pre-hunt preparation, and while a young hunter is better off if an experienced adult does the calling in the field, he should be given the opportunity to learn.

"The more the child understands about the entire procedure and why things are done in a certain manner, the more comfortable and confident they will become," says Acreman.

Primos agrees, and notes that some calls are not difficult for youngsters to master.

"Friction-type calls, such as our Model 207 ‘Spring Hen,’ are very simple to use. They can yelp, cluck, purr and cut, and it doesn’t take a lot of time to learn these calls. They even can be mounted onto the forearm of the gun, which makes everything easier for a young shooter to handle."

"If the youngster wants to participate in the calling, they should be taught to do it. You can’t believe how proud they are when they harvest a bird they helped call in. You just created a lifelong turkey hunter."

What To Do

On The Hunt

Keeping a fidgety youngster still may be more difficult than enticing a gobbler close enough for a shot

The most careful pre-hunt preparations will be of little value if the supervising adult doesn’t follow through on the actual hunt. As Will Primos and Mike Acreman have learned, youthful hunters often require special handling in the field.

"One of the main problems when turkey hunting with children is movement," Primos explains. "Kids are naturally energetic and fidgety. When we were filming with kids, we had to find ways to make them comfortable while keeping them still. One of the best ways was to have the adult sit with his back to a tree with the child sitting with his back to the adult’s stomach, almost like sitting in his lap. This allows the adult to help guide the child through the procedure, watch for the bird, assist them with the gun, and handle the calling. The adult could communicate with the hunter very quietly from this position, which is very important. You can move on a turkey, but you have to do it at the right moment."

Good camouflage is critical for younger hunters. While a more experienced adult can get away with a lot less camo than many would suppose, younger hunters need every edge they can get. They should be outfitted with full camo, including face mask and gloves. One area, however, is often overlooked.

"Make sure that the child has dark or camouflaged shoes," advises Acreman. "You can bet their feet will move — it’s almost impossible for them to keep them still. I often carry a section of camo cloth that I can drape over their feet and legs for just that reason."

Even if the hunting techniques are handled well, disappointment can result if the supervising adult forgets an important factor.

"Patience is the key," Acreman states. "The adult hunter has to really want to work with the child and sometimes that’s not easy. But, the more patience and enthusiasm the adult brings to the hunt, the more rewarding the experience will be for the child."

"You’ve got to make it fun for the kids," Primos adds. "Some hunters get much too serious and kids just aren’t ready for that. Relax. Take some breaks. Keep plenty of soft drinks and snacks on hand. That makes a real big difference.

"You want them to enjoy and be encouraged by the experience. After all, they are the future of the sport. If they grow up not wanting to hunt turkeys, there won’t be any turkey hunting for anybody."

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