Would Your Kid Make the Right Call? Take the Fence Crossing Test

Every hunting accident report reads the same way: a small decision, made fast, without training. The good news? Decision-making is a skill — and like any skill, kids can drill it before the day it counts.

Why Scenarios Beat Lectures

Tell a kid a safety rule and they'll nod. Put them inside a situation and make them choose — then show them how their choice plays out — and the rule becomes theirs. That's how hunter education researchers recommend teaching, and it's exactly how our academy courses work: every mission ends with scenario drills where the young hunter has to make the call.

Below is a real drill from our training library. Read it to your child at the dinner table tonight and let them answer before you do. (No peeking, parents — try it yourself first.)

What Most Kids Get Wrong

When we run this drill, the most common wrong answer is the careful-sounding one: "I'd hold my gear tight and climb really carefully." It sounds responsible — that's the trap. Careful is not the same as safe. Safe means both hands free, every time, no exceptions. If your child picked that answer, they're normal — and they're exactly who structured training is for.

One Drill Is a Start — A Course Is a Habit

A single scenario plants the idea. Our courses drill it until it's automatic: eight in-depth lessons per course, scenario drills after every one, quizzes, an earned trophy badge, and a printable certificate of completion your kid will actually want on the fridge. Courses are matched to three age levels (5–8, 9–12, 13–17), so the same situation is taught at your child's level.

Before the season, also check your state's rules — the Buckeye Hunter Hub hunting resources page keeps links to regulations, harvest reporting, and interactive hunting maps for Ohio and neighboring states, and their hunting groups are a great place to find youth-friendly mentors.

Keep Going

New to taking kids afield? Start with our first deer hunt checklist for kids, then browse the youth hunting safety FAQ for the questions every parent asks.