Take a Kid Hunting Weekend is September 23rd and 24th

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Take a Kid Hunting Weekend is this weekend.

September 23rd and 24th, children 15 and under can hunt small game without a license if they are with an adult who has one.

DNR Communications Coordinator Joe Albert says teaching a kid outdoor skills like hunting is a wonderful way to spend time together. “Taking your kids hunting is a great opportunity to hang out with them. There are no other distractions. There’s no video games and cell phones and things like that. You’re just sitting out there with them, explaining things to them, and just making that solid connection. And hoping that they’ll do the same thing someday.”

While hunting, kids learn how to search for game signs, properly handle firearms and access hunting land without too much time sitting still and being quiet. DNR Boat and Water Safety Coordinator Lisa Dugan says she didn’t start hunting until she was older, and to her, it’s important to pass on the skills to the next generation, and for her, “it was really important to learn that as a life skill. And especially the next kind of important thing in my life was to just be a little bit more self-sustainable, to have that skill to know how to get out in the woods, where my food comes from, is really important to me. And it’s important for me to be able to pass that on to my kids as well.”

Anyone who wants to learn how to hunt can find helpful how-to guides on the Minnesota DNR website or through a recorded webinar about getting started small game hunting.

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