Significant changes to Alberta’s Wildlife Act have opened the door for younger kids to experience hunting in a way that’s never been possible before. The changes are considered a modernization of hunting and a step towards alignment with other North American jurisdictions. With upland birds now legal for youth under ten (when accompanied by a licensed adult), and big game opportunities for those ten and up, there’s never been a better time for families to bring kids into the field.
However, hunting with children requires a different mindset. It’s not just about filling tags, it’s about planting seeds to ensure respect for outdoor activities and knowing where food comes from. Safety is always paramount, and knowing that anyone handling a firearm can listen and take direction without hesitation is fundamental. Hunting can teach youth responsibility, patience, ethics, and a deep respect for nature that lasts a lifetime.
Here’s how to keep the experience safe, meaningful, and most importantly, fun.
Start Early, Start Small
You don’t need to wait until a child can shoulder a firearm to get them involved. Some of the best lessons occur before any hunt even begins—such as spotting tracks, setting up trail cameras, or simply walking through the woods. These quiet moments help children feel connected and curious, two critical ingredients for lifelong interest.
Even something as simple as helping pack gear or glassing for animals through binoculars makes them feel part of the team. Take them hunting, where the hunt is not the focus, but the kids are. Our twin girls have been waterfowl hunting with us since they were 18 months old. They love every aspect of it, and we can honestly say that duck and goose are some of their favourite meals. From the first day out, having patience and making the event fun for our youngest group members, has always been the focus.
Keep it Fun, Not Forced
The hardest thing for most parents to remember is that the hunt isn’t for you, but rather for the children. Kids are far more likely to fall in love with hunting if they’re allowed to explore it at their own pace, like setting decoys and retrieving birds. However, it’s also meant to be playful and full of laughs, like when my girls emptied every shotgun shell box just so they could refill them.
Let your kids set the goals. Maybe that’s spotting a deer, making a good shot at the range, or just staying quiet for an hour in the blind. Celebrate those small wins, and don’t get hung up on harvest success. The goal is engagement, not outcome. A double-double may be a coffee with cream and sugar to some, but generating smiles and having some wild proteins to take home is a double-double win for any family engaging their children in a hunt.
Know when to say when. If a child is bored, cold, or tired, it is time to call it a day. Keeping things positive ensures they’ll want to go again. Break up the monotony for them by allowing them to take part—rattling the antlers, retrieving the birds, plucking some feathers, or breaking into the food stash—to keep them focused.
Safety and Ethics Come First
Firearm safety should be taught long before a child ever holds a gun. Model safe behaviour by keeping actions open, never sweeping others with a muzzle, and always pointing out why you’re doing what you’re doing. Make safety visible and habitual. We used sticks to teach the girls how to keep a barrel pointed in a safe direction. They ate it up and took pride in their accomplishments.
Discuss ethical shot placement, respecting animal life, and how choices we make in the field reflect who we are as hunters. Kids understand more than we give them credit for, and they’ll mimic what they see as a form of flattery.
Talk Openly About Death and Respect
One of the most challenging and vital lessons for young hunters is understanding the concept of death. It's natural for kids to feel emotional after their first harvest, or simply watching and experiencing it. Don’t brush it off, acknowledge the weight of the moment. Explain that taking a life for food is serious and that we honour animals by using everything we can. This field-to-fork mentality creates respect for wildlife, and for the effort that goes into feeding ourselves.
Last hunting season, we had a ruffed grouse fly into a window and die. One of our girls got a knife, cleaned the bird, and asked if we could have it for dinner. She showed respect, understood what happened, and proved that early fostering helped shape the youngster who felt sadness for the grouse but appreciated what it provided.
Let them help with processing if they’re interested, and involve them in preparing meals. This shows that hunting isn’t just about the shot. Game night at the Fensons is processing deer and having the whole family help. It started with having the girls mark the packages with drawings of deer, steaks, or symbols, and has grown into more as they get older.
The Benefits Go Far Beyond the Hunt
Hunting teaches children real-life skills that go well beyond the bush. It builds confidence. Successfully identifying tracks or bird calls makes them feel capable. Waiting in silence or hiking for hours builds resilience, and creates patience and awareness of everything around them. Packing gear, checking the forecast, and preparing meals and snacks teaches valuable life skills, including responsibility. Most importantly, spending time outdoors fosters bonds between children, parents, and nature.
Final Thoughts
Assess your child's physical and mental abilities. When they’re ready, involve them in hunting. Whether they’re five or 15, early engagement done with patience, safety, and a sense of wonder can lead to a lifelong love of the outdoors. You’re not just teaching them how to hunt, you’re helping raise the next generation of conservationists, providers, and stewards of the land.
Photo credit (top): Brad Fenson.
