Posted: 10/8/2015 11:14:10 PM EDT
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Looking for advice. My 2 boys 10 & 12 year olds want to deer hunt. They have had hunter safety and they are good shots with both .22 and 20g
My questions are We want to hunt from a ground blind. Would like one big enough for the 3 of us. Any suggestions. Can they each have a gun in the blind with me or can there only be one at a time with a gun. I won't be hunting, this is for them so do i need a license? Can I have my 1911 on my hip? Any other rules? I hear coyotes at night if I see one and can they shoot it. Below is a pic of my land. The red lines are atv trails. The blue is creek. the north and east sides are subdivisions. On west side 2 neighbor houses. Total acres is 150. Fields are planted in soybeans this year. Last year was corn. They have not been harvested yet. I put some orange numbers in where is thinking about setting up a ground blind. Any thoughts suggestions? Edit also any other suggestions for gear, tips and tricks, etc. they'll be hunting with 20g slug barrel, no scope. Should i get some sort of shooting rest? I've never hunted deer so it will be a first for me as well. 
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If you're talking about hunting the youth hunt this weekend, read this.
An adult 18 or older is required for every two youth hunters. Both can have firearms if you are all together, you cannot... but you may have a "self defense" pistol if you have a CCW license, or you own the land (no ccw license required on your own land). If both have had hunter safety, you do not need a hunting license. Doesn't apply to you, but if either has not had hunter safety, then you must possess a hunting license (of any kind, doesn't have to be deer license). You don't have much time to get a ground blind if you're hunting this weekend. Gander Mountain, Cabelas, Mills Fleet Farm, Dunhams, even Menards, all have them. For 3 hunters, I'd go with a "hub" style blind, as they're typically taller, wider, and easier to set up (but do cost more). Menards has one that should be plenty big enough, and it's under $100. I wouldn't spend too much on a portable blind, if this is your land. Once you get some experience and lay of the land where the best deer trails are, you can build some permanent blinds out of plywood. 
As far as where to set up, look for the bedding areas and the feeding areas, and set up on any trails that connect the two areas (preferably down wind). Those tree lines separating different fields are the 1st place I'd look for deer sign. The very best time to hunt is the first 2-3 hours of daylight, and the last hour. But if you've seen deer feeding the fields during mid-day, then be out there all day. The most difficult thing you'll have to do is keep two boys that age still & quiet.  Deer have amazing noses, AND amazing ears... their eyes not so good, but they are very good at detecting movement, so stay downwind, be quiet, don't move unnecessarily outside of the blind.
A word about blaze orange.... If you are on public land, a ground blind must have 144sq inches of blaze orange visible on ALL sides... private land you do not need orange (but it isn't a bad idea to have some, just in case of trespassers). You all must have blaze orange clothing, on both public & private land. |
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Some great suggestions by rfb45colt and I just have a few more.
1. Don't get a cheapo blind. The cheap ones are flimsy, hard to setup, don't anchor to the ground very well, and the walls whip around in the wind. Get a good one and it will last for years. Make sure you tuck the blind into the brush or cover with branches or it will stick out like a sore thumb. 2. When hunting out of a popup blind, a shooting rest is a great idea as you can't rest the gun on a tent wall. A rest is especially important for kiddos when dealing with heavy guns. 3. With 3 of you in a ground blind, wind is going to be your number 1 enemy. You need to make sure where ever you setup that the wind is not blowing towards where the deer are going to come out. 4. With subdivisions on the North and East, I'm guessing the deer are bedding in that pocket over cover by the north pond and the west side of the property. With a South wind, I would setup in that line of trees just east of the S in Soy Bean. With a West wind, I would setup east of the Y. Either way, make sure you have shooting lanes into both fields. With a East wind, I would setup on the south end of the Soy Bean marked field and prepare for some longer shots. With a South wind, I would setup in that little line of trees on the very north edge of the Soy Bean marked field but make sure you guys are in the stand way before sunup and ideally enter the field from the north subdivision side so you aren't blowing scent into the bedding areas when walking in. 5. Bring lots of snacks and sodas!!!! Have fun!!!! |
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Thanks for the advice guys.
Went to Cabelas with the boys tonight. Went to three different people asking for suggestions and help getting all the right gear, blaze orange, etc. never could get anyone to help us or answer any basic questions about wi deer regs, etc. Thought these guys were the outfitters. Left with nothing. Decided to try fleet farm. First person I spoke to was Zak. young kid maybe 18 y/o in the hunting area. He was great! He really helped us out. I asked if he hunts deer and he said every year since he was allowed. He spent about 45 mins with us getting all the basic gear, answering questions, getting appropriate ammo, etc. it was great. Then Erika at the hunting license area got us all licensed and made sure we were legal, etc. She was also a hunter. Because I had ever had a deer hunting license it was only $5 for me, so I decided I might as well have one and if I feel like going out by myself in the main season I can. I was very impressed with their service and willingness to help a newb. I will certainly throw more hunting business their way. The boys are really excited and so am I. Even if we don't see a thing it'll be a memory. Each of us experiencing our first deer hunt together. |
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Quoted:
An adult 18 or older is required for every two youth hunters. Both can have firearms if you are all together, you cannot.... Quoted:
An adult 18 or older is required for every two youth hunters. Both can have firearms if you are all together, you cannot.... There is no limit on 12 year olds during the 9 day gun deer season with a single adult so long as they have a Hunter Safety Certificate. Only 1 mentored hunter with each mentor though. (4) A mentor under this section may take only one person hunting at a time for whom he or she is serving as a mentor In the case of the OP, the 12 year old may have their own firearm and must remain "within sight and voice contact without the aid of any mechanical or electronic amplifying device other than a hearing aid" . but the mentor for the 10 year old may never posses it. Quoted: If both have had hunter safety, you do not need a hunting license. Doesn't apply to you, but if either has not had hunter safety, then you must possess a hunting license (of any kind, doesn't have to be deer license). Quoted:
but you may have a "self defense" pistol if you have a CCW license, or you own the land (no ccw license required on your own land). . You may NOT have a "self defense" pistol with the 10 year old. Only 1 firearm between the mentor and mentored hunter. There is no exception for CCL, etc. 29.592 (3)A person who is authorized to hunt with a mentor under this section and a mentor under this section with whom that person hunts may jointly have only one firearm, only one bow, or only one crossbow in their possession or control while hunting.
(4) A mentor under this section may take only one person hunting at a time for whom he or she is serving as a mentor. |
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These have been answered already but I am answering them again so that you are clear..... Quoted:
Can they each have a gun in the blind with me or can there only be one at a time with a gun. Each may have a rifle. Quoted:
I won't be hunting, this is for them so do i need a license? No, not necessarily. You need a hunting "Approval" which could be a license or even a Hunter Safety Certificate while mentoring the 10 year old. "Approval" means any type of approval or authorization issued by the department under this chapter including any license, permit, certificate, card, stamp or tag unless the context requires a different meaning. Quoted:
Can I have my 1911 on my hip? Not so long as you are mentoring the 10 year old Quoted:I hear coyotes at night if I see one and can they shoot it. Yes during the same hours as the Deer Hunting so long as they possess a Junior Small Game License. |
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Quoted:
There is no limit on 12 year olds with a single adult so long as they both have a Hunter Safety Certificate. Only 1 mentored hunter with each mentor though. Quoted:
Quoted:
An adult 18 or older is required for every two youth hunters. Both can have firearms if you are all together, you cannot.... There is no limit on 12 year olds with a single adult so long as they both have a Hunter Safety Certificate. Only 1 mentored hunter with each mentor though. (4) A mentor under this section may take only one person hunting at a time for whom he or she is serving as a mentor. Op said both boys have had hunter safety, and they bought licenses at Fleet Farm. Therefore they aren't utilizing the Hunting Mentorship Program. According to this on the DNR website, mentor program or not.... "• One adult may not accompany more than two youth hunters. If one youth is under the “mentored hunter” rules, the adult may “accompany” no more than one other youth at the same time and only if the second youth is at least 12 – 15 years of age and has completed hunter education". |
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Quoted:
You may NOT have a "self defense" pistol with the 10 year old. Only 1 firearm between the mentor and mentored hunter. There is no exception for CCL, etc. Quoted:
Quoted:
but you may have a "self defense" pistol if you have a CCW license, or you own the land (no ccw license required on your own land). . You may NOT have a "self defense" pistol with the 10 year old. Only 1 firearm between the mentor and mentored hunter. There is no exception for CCL, etc. 29.592 (3)A person who is authorized to hunt with a mentor under this section and a mentor under this section with whom that person hunts may jointly have only one firearm, only one bow, or only one crossbow in their possession or control while hunting.
(4) A mentor under this section may take only one person hunting at a time for whom he or she is serving as a mentor. They are not under the Hunting Mentorship Program. If they were, I'd agree. But... AFAIK, that does not apply while accompanying licensed youth deer hunters (NOT mentors), when (again AFAIK) the OP may hunt game other than deer, with a firearm - if properly licensed to do so, and with a weapon legal for what he's hunting. If the OP owns the land, he does not need a small game license. Small game may be hunted with a handgun, with a minimum of a 4" barrel. If he can carry a firearm or bow to hunt game other than deer, why could he not also carry concealed... or open carry a handgun for that matter? If he owns the land, he can carry a concealed handgun on it without a permit. Not that it applies here, but... deer bow season is still open during the youth hunt, only difference this weekend is all hunters (other than waterfowl) must wear blaze orange during youth deer hunt. If the OP has an archery license, and his kids are licensed, not "mentored", is there anything that would prevent him from carrying a bow or crossbow and hunting deer with it on his archery license? |
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Quoted:
Op said both boys have had hunter safety, and they bought licenses at Fleet Farm. Therefore they aren't utilizing the Hunting Mentorship Program. A "mentored" hunter is still a licensed hunter. A Youth Mentored Deer License is $7 (10 or 11 year olds only). A "Mentored" hunter is anyone who was born On or after January 1st 1973 and does not possess a Hunter Safety Certificate. A 10 or 11 year old may only hunt as a Mentored Hunter and is still required to purchase a license. It is irrelevant if a 10 or 11 year old holds a Hunter Safety Certificate. They are still a mentored hunter until they reach the age of 12. |
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Quoted:
"• One adult may not accompany more than two youth hunters. If one youth is under the “mentored hunter” rules, the adult may “accompany” no more than one other youth at the same time and only if the second youth is at least 12 – 15 years of age and has completed hunter education". This applies only during the 2 day Youth hunt and not during the 9 day regular deer season. All mentored hunter rules still apply. |
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Quoted:
They are not under the Hunting Mentorship Program. If they were, I'd agree. But... AFAIK, that does not apply while accompanying licensed youth deer hunters (NOT mentors), when (again AFAIK) the OP may hunt game other than deer, with a firearm - if properly licensed to do so, and with a weapon legal for what he's hunting. If the OP owns the land, he does not need a small game license. Small game may be hunted with a handgun, with a minimum of a 4" barrel. If he can carry a firearm or bow to hunt game other than deer, why could he not also carry concealed... or open carry a handgun for that matter? If he owns the land, he can carry a concealed handgun on it without a permit. Not that it applies here, but... deer bow season is still open during the youth hunt, only difference this weekend is all hunters (other than waterfowl) must wear blaze orange during youth deer hunt. If the OP has an archery license, and his kids are licensed, not "mentored", is there anything that would prevent him from carrying a bow or crossbow and hunting deer with it on his archery license? I would sincerely like to know where you go the idea that a Mentored hunter does not need a license or that a licensed 10 year old is not a mentored hunter. The chapter which clearly states that the mentor may not carry their own firearm of any type in addition to the 1 shared with the mentored hunter and that a 10 and 11 year old is always a Mentored Hunter. Taking this another step, if you are mentoring a 42 year old adult during the 9 day gun deer season, you still may not carry any other firearm in addition to the 1 firearm shared with the mentored hunter. Thank you for providing the FAQ style info on the Youth Deer Hunt. NR 10.01(3)(ev) is the actual Admin Code which supports the statement that an adult escorting hunters during the 2 day Youth Deer Hunt may only excort a maximum of 2 licensed hunters between the ages of 10 and 15 so long as only 1 of those hunters is between the ages of 10 and 11 or does not have a Hunter Safety Certificate. |
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Had our first day in the blind today. Didn't see any deer but there is a lot of sign around. maybe tomorrow. decided to take just the take one at a time. 10 y/o today and only one firearm. Left my 1911 at the house. Tomorrow the 12 y/o.
I'll let you all know if we happen to get a shot. |
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Quoted:
Had our first day in the blind today. Didn't see any deer but there is a lot of sign around. maybe tomorrow. decided to take just the take one at a time. 10 y/o today and only one firearm. Left my 1911 at the house. Tomorrow the 12 y/o. I'll let you all know if we happen to get a shot. Good Luck! |
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Thanks again for all the replies. Ended up putting the blind up just north east of the S in soybean. In the tree line as it makes the turn from north to east. Seemed like a good spot . I had shooting lanes down both directions of the atv trail and into the woods to the east and of course north and west into the field.
We did hunt Sunday as well. Got out just before sunrise and sat for a few hours. Didn't see anything. Did hear a few grunts from across the field. Took a rangefinder just so I'd get an idea of the shot distances. any deer would have had to be pretty much in the middle of the field to have a decent shot distance. Too bad I couldn't use a rifle. I have a great lever action 30-30 that would be perfect for this. I think what I need to do is get a trail cam and just set it up on different spots to see where they're hanging out. I just don't know a lot about their habits to get a feel of the best spots to be. My son and i had a great time anyway. He eat a couple of bags of noisy chips, coughed, sneezed and farted more than once. Then at about 9:30 he said he had an "air bubble" and needed to go back to the house. We made it back just in time.
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Quoted:
Thanks again for all the replies. Ended up putting the blind up just north east of the S in soybean. In the tree line as it makes the turn from north to east. Seemed like a good spot . I had shooting lanes down both directions of the atv trail and into the woods to the east and of course north and west into the field. We did hunt Sunday as well. Got out just before sunrise and sat for a few hours. Didn't see anything. Did hear a few grunts from across the field. Took a rangefinder just so I'd get an idea of the shot distances. any deer would have had to be pretty much in the middle of the field to have a decent shot distance. Too bad I couldn't use a rifle. I have a great lever action 30-30 that would be perfect for this. I think what I need to do is get a trail cam and just set it up on different spots to see where they're hanging out. I just don't know a lot about their habits to get a feel of the best spots to be. My son and i had a great time anyway. He eat a couple of bags of noisy chips, coughed, sneezed and farted more than once. Then at about 9:30 he said he had an "air bubble" and needed to go back to the house. We made it back just in time. I'd probably have set up around there or south of the S, any corner is pretty good -- just depends on wind. Might also want to look at where they cross/follow the ATV trails. Another thing, I can't count how many times I've seen a deer driving in on an ATV, I always walk from at least a mile or two out if I'm going into a stand. Leave the ATV at the house since it's not a long walk. |