DNR officer Zachary Walker teaches his daughter Lilliana how to hunt for the first time.
(Courtesy Zachary Walker)
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources holds two youth hunting weekends a year. The first one was on September second and third. The next one will be on November 25 and 26.
Zachary Walker, conservation officer for the DNR, took his kids this past hunting weekend.
Walker said his dad taught him how to hunt when he was a kid.
Lilliana and Gracie Walker (Devan Ridgway, WFIU/WTIU News)
“It was a family tradition that was passed on from his dad,” Walker said. “He felt it was important to pass it along to me.”
Walker said he has hunted ever since and taught his two daughters how to hunt when they were five. Both girls, Lilliana and Gracie, got their apprentice licenses and took hunter education last year before getting their official hunting licenses.
“It's one of those family traditions it's passed on,” Walker said. “But it also is one of the opportunities to spend time together outside learning about nature. It's more than just the hunt.”
Walker said he’s still teaching his daughters the logistics and safety of hunting, and is learning more himself along the way. He sometimes brings donuts, chocolate milk and coloring books to keep Gracie and Lilliana entertained while they wait for the animals.
“It's a game of chess, but more encompassing is the experience,” Walker said. “And that's one of the most important things to me is the experience — the exciting part is watching it through my kids eyes, and watching them develop and master those skills. And that, to me is probably the most challenging and the most rewarding.”
Walker said the Indiana youth hunting weekends give his kids the opportunity to get practice hunting when the animals are not on as high alert.
“When I was a kid, we didn't have that opportunity, we didn't have youth weekend,” Walker said. “So it gives the kids a head start on the hunting season before the adults get released.”
Gracie Walker, one of two daughters, is eight years old. She said her first year hunting, she and her sister shot a turkey. She finds squirrels the hardest to hunt and doves the easiest to hunt.
“We usually get up in the morning, like really early, then we get our hunting clothes on,” Gracie said. “We go to spot we want and we have a tent, we have our stand and we have some chairs.”
Gracie said likes hunting because she can spend time outside with her family and learn to provide food for herself. Her family usually hunts for a few hours at a time.
“We usually bring peanut butter crackers, sometimes donuts,” Gracie said. “I like white white-powdered donuts; my sister likes chocolate.”
(Devan Ridgway, WFIU/WTIU News)
Gracie’s sister, Lilliana, is 10 years old. She said she was scared to learn how to hunt the first time.
“We were out there waiting for hours and we were listening to this owl in front of us,” Lilliana said.
Lilliana said she thinks about the excitement of hunting a lot; it has taught her patience and responsibility. She plans to continue hunting in the future.
“I’ve enjoyed it for a long time,” Lilliana said. “And I want to keep enjoying it.”
Cindy Stites, wildlife recreation supervisor for Indiana DNR division of fish and wildlife, said adults aged 18 and older with a hunting license are allowed to accompany anyone aged 17 years and younger to hunt on public land and any private property they have access to. Those 17 and younger do not need to have a license to hunt during these weekends, but must be able to hold their own hunting equipment.
“Kids like it because they feel like it gives them a head start,” Stites said. “They get the opportunity to go out before the animals start to get spooked.”
Adults are not allowed to hunt during the two youth hunting weekends, they are designated strictly for kids.
“If they’re hunting on public land, they’re not out there competing for space,” Stites said. “They’re not out there worried about hunter pressure or crowding.”
In September, kids can only hunt dove and squirrel. Once deer season opens in November, they are permitted to hunt deer during the second youth hunting weekend. If caught hunting an animal out of season, they will be turned in through the “Turn in a poacher” hotline and an investigation will ensue.
Stites said anyone can get up to three apprentice licenses before having to take hunter education. If you are born after December 31, 1986, you are required to take hunter education to get an official hunting license. If kids under 17 have an apprentice license, they are allowed to hunt at any time during the year.
Once you have taken hunter education, you can go to a licensed retailer to purchase your license. A hunting and fishing license costs $32.
