How to take a kid on their first elk hunt

Short answer: take a kid on scouting trips and a short, easy elk outing before they ever carry a tag. Teach them to watch the wind, glass meadows at first and last light, and sit still for short stretches. Keep them warm, fed and close to the truck, and make the goal seeing elk, not filling a tag. Hunter education and a mentor come first, and the rules depend on your state.

Before the season

• Read the elk's side together. Kids remember a rule better when an animal explains it. The 7 elk rules cover wind, bedding, water, calling, the watching cows, pressure and staying still.
• Do hunter education early. Many states let kids take it before they are old enough for big game. In Colorado, big game starts at 12 (Colorado rules for kids).
• Scout in summer. Short hikes to find tracks, rubs, wallows and water turn the hunt into a story they are part of. Print the animal tracks worksheet and bring a ruler.
• Practice sitting still. Five minutes in the backyard, then ten. Count what moves. That is the skill that fills elk tags.

Gear that matters for a kid

• Layers, a warm hat, gloves and dry socks. Cold ends more kids' hunts than anything else.
• Blaze orange that fits, if it is a rifle season. Adult vests hang off small kids.
• Their own binoculars, a headlamp and a sit pad.
• More snacks than seems reasonable, and a hot drink.
• See the gift guide for young hunters for ideas by age.

On the day

• Go out at first light and come back by mid-morning. Elk feed in meadows at dawn and bed in timber by mid-morning, so the best viewing fits a kid's attention span.
• Check the wind together. A puff of powder or a milkweed seed shows which way your scent is going. Morning air slides downhill; midday air rises.
• Let them glass. Give them the job of finding elk first. Count the cows, not just the bull.
• Pick an easy spot over a perfect one. Pressured elk go far and steep, but a kid's first trip should be about seeing elk and wanting to come back.
• Quit while it is still fun. A short, good morning beats a long, cold one.

After the hunt

Talk about what the elk did and why. Did the wind give you away? Did a cow bark? Write it in a field journal. The Field Edition of Elk vs. Hunter includes an eight-day season log and the Young Hunter's Pledge for this.

This page covers elk behavior and planning, not firearm or archery handling. Real hunting starts with a hunter education course and an adult mentor who knows the way.

Questions

What age should a kid start elk hunting?

Kids can tag along on scouting trips and hunts long before they can legally hunt. Legal ages vary by state. In Colorado a kid must be 12 to hunt big game. Readiness matters as much as age: sitting still, staying warm and walking the distance.

What is the best time of day to see elk with kids?

First light and the last hour before dark, when elk feed in open meadows. By mid-morning they are usually bedded in thick timber.

How do I keep a kid interested on an elk hunt?

Give them jobs (checking the wind, glassing, counting cows), keep outings short, bring plenty of food, and make seeing elk the goal.