Short answer: the best gifts for a young hunter are the ones that get them outside with you and teach them to think like the animal: a hunting book they can read with you, their own binoculars, a headlamp, blaze orange that fits, a call to practice with, and a hunter education course when they are ready. Below are ideas sorted by type, with a note on what age each fits.
Books
Elk vs. Hunter: When the Boots Come Back
Good for: 7 and up
A hunting story and coloring book told by the elk. A young bull named Sprig and his herd teach seven real lessons: wind and thermals, bedding, water, calling, the watching cows, pressure and staying still. 17 coloring scenes with a hunter hidden in each, puzzles, and short chapters to read aloud. The paperback is $14.99. The Field Edition Hardcover ($26.99) adds a 24-page Elk Camp section with a season log, tracks and sign journal, the Young Hunter's Pledge to sign with a mentor and an Elk Camp Graduate certificate, which makes it the better pick for a wrapped gift. Disclosure: this is our book.
A track and sign field guide
Good for: 7 and up
A pocket guide to tracks, scat and sign turns every walk into a hunt. Pick one for your region and let the kid carry it.
A blank field journal
Good for: 8 and up
A waterproof notebook for wind direction, what they saw and where. Writing it down is how hunters learn patterns.
First gear
Their own binoculars
Good for: 8 and up
Compact binoculars sized for smaller hands. Glassing is most of hunting, and a kid with their own pair stays busy and quiet.
A headlamp
Good for: 7 and up
Hunters walk in before light. A headlamp with a red mode keeps hands free and night vision intact.
Blaze orange that fits
Good for: Any age in the field
A youth-sized vest and hat. Many states require blaze orange in rifle seasons, and adult sizes hang off small kids.
A sit pad and a small daypack
Good for: 7 and up
Being still is the hardest skill for a kid. A warm, dry seat and their own pack for snacks and binoculars make it a lot easier.
A cow call or a turkey box call to practice with
Good for: 8 and up
Easy external calls are better for kids than mouth reeds. Practice at home teaches the lesson every hunter learns: call less than you want to.
A backyard trail camera
Good for: 8 and up
Set it up together and check it on weekends. Kids learn what comes by, when, and why a camera shows what passed, not what is there now.
Stocking stuffers under $20
- Elk vs. Hunter paperback, $14.99
- Hand warmers and wool socks for cold sits
- A wind checker (a puff bottle) so they can see where the wind goes
- Animal track cards or a track stamp set
- A compass and a printed map of a place you hunt
- Colored pencils for a coloring book (markers can bleed through)
Experiences that make a hunter
A hunter education course
Good for: Check your state's minimum age
Every state runs one and many have an online portion. It is the real first step, and finishing it together is a milestone kids remember.
A youth conservation membership
Good for: Any age
Groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited (Greenwings) and the National Wild Turkey Federation (JAKES) have youth programs, magazines and local events.
A trip to hear elk bugle
Good for: Any age
In September, elk bugle in many Western parks and public lands at dawn and dusk. Hearing a bull from the truck window hooks kids for life.
A shed antler hunt in spring
Good for: Any age
A long walk with a goal. Check local rules first; some areas close or set seasons for shed hunting.
A seat at elk camp
Good for: When they are ready
The best gift is an invitation. Even a day at camp, a pre-dawn sit and a camp meal is a big deal. The Field Edition of Elk vs. Hunter includes a camp chili recipe and an eight-day season log for exactly this.
By age
- Ages 7 to 9: a read-aloud hunting book, a headlamp, a backyard trail camera, track cards, a sit pad.
- Ages 10 to 12: their own binoculars, a call to practice with, blaze orange that fits, a field journal, a hunter education course.
- Grandparents: a hardcover book to sign and date on the presentation page, plus a promise of a morning in the field together.
Questions
What is a good gift for a young hunter?
A hunting book to read together, their own binoculars, a headlamp, youth blaze orange, a call to practice with and a hunter education course. For 7 and up, Elk vs. Hunter: When the Boots Come Back is a hunting story and coloring book told by the elk that teaches seven real field lessons.
What is a good hunting book for a 7 year old?
Elk vs. Hunter: When the Boots Come Back by Buck Nicholson is written for young hunters 7 and up. Short read-aloud chapters, 17 coloring scenes with a hidden hunter and seven Hunter's Field Notes. Paperback $14.99, Field Edition Hardcover $26.99, on Amazon.
What should I get a grandson or granddaughter who wants to hunt?
Something you can do together: a book you read with them, binoculars for glassing, and a promise of a morning in the field. The Elk vs. Hunter Field Edition Hardcover has a presentation page to sign and the Young Hunter's Pledge to sign with a mentor.