Mentoring advice....

[Drew2255]

      So a friend of mine decided this is the year he is gonna dive in and learn how to hunt, GREAT! Ecstatic to hear the news.... then It dawned on me, I've never really mentored somebody in hunting, I've done the basics with him, range practice/scouting etc, being a teacher in the woods is a whole new aspect for me....... 

       For the most part we all learned how to hunt from somebody and those memories of learning the sport were some of the best memories made (at least for me), my question for the community is this, what should I focus on with him this year, anybody care to share their experiences of being a teacher, rewarding/not so much.....?

[Zag]

Bow and gun hunting? For now I'd say really shrink the distance down to less than 20yrd shot with bow for his first attempt. Gun I'd say just understand what's down range and really understand your surroundings. Other than that's it trial and error.

[Drew2255]

Zag I think that's sound advice, I set him up with my old bow, so when we bow hunt I'll make sure his shots are at that distance and not stressing on difficult shots...

[wooly]

Tip #1

If you're gonna be a good mentor, you need to b smart about it.

You're gonna need to learn to place ALL the blame on the noobie when things go wrong... and take ALL the credit for yourself when things go right.

That should keep you covered until his first kill, and then you can steal his spot,lol

 

 

 

[biggamefish]

I don't know if his is a young hunter but if it is make sure it is fun for them.  Don't post him on stand for a ton of hours first time.  If you want change his stand throughout the day makes a big difference. 

[Uncle Nicky]

My experience has been yes, rewarding, provided the student is teachable. When both my boys told me they weren't really interested in hunting any longer, I didn't get mad or try the hard-sell approach to change their mind, I knew it would not be fun for either of us if their heart was not in it. 

I haven't "formally" mentored anyone, but I have shown a few adults that were just getting into the game the ropes, I made them cut their finger and sign a contract in blood not to divulge my secret spots, LOL. But it's neat seeing them progress, move on, and fill their tags every year on a regular basis after they have graduated Uncle Nicky's boot camp. I'm also guiding some hunters this year for fall turkey (unpaid), I enjoy calling the birds in for them and my dog enjoys the extra action.

[mowin]

It's very rewarding, at least for me it is.

My advice is don't over think the teaching part. Just hunt the way you normally do while simply explaining why.

Let him do his thing, safely of course, and point out how you may have done things differently in that situation. 

He'll develop his own style and methods after you show him the basics.  

 

Edited October 26, 2017 by mowin

[Swamp_bucks]

Thats great your mentoring someone doesnt happen enough.  I remember my dad and me walking through the woods he would explain to me why the deer trails ran the directions they did.  He would have me explain to him what certain things were rubs, scrapes, different tracks, ect. Turned into a game and now he comes to me for information.

I would stress for a new youth or adult hunter that failure will happen its how they learn and overcome that failure that will improve their skills the most.

[moog5050]

Last year we took a new hunter to get his first buck.  Phade told him to pack a lunch (like 3 times) and he had to stay in the stand all day (while we secretly left for the diner).  No luck until I get an excited text at 4:45pm.  "Just shot a buck".  Not the best shot and we left him overnight but by the next morning he was gutting a 2yr old. One happy camper.  Enjoy it.  It's really fun to be around when a newer hunter gets a deer.