Take a 9 Year Old While You Hunt Moose in AK?

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Double Naught Spy

Double Naught Spy

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I thought this was an interesting event. I can't find much information on it. An adult male relative (not sure of relation to boy) took a 9 year old moose hunting in Alaska as an observer. I think it is great that folks get kids involved with hunting and I have even loaned out my blind at my land for folks to use for their kids to get a first deer of a lifetime, which is really cool. However, I think there may be a problem with the notion of being on the ground, hunting some of the most dangerous game in North America where moose isn't the only dangerous game around and taking along a small child who isn't actually hunting and has no ability to mount any sort of defense.
https://1source.basspro.com/news-ti...most-dangerous-big-game-animals-north-america

Details are sketchy, but apparently while hunting moose, a mother grizzly/brown (both are reported) and cub crossed paths with the hunter and his sidekick and the the child was attacked and seriously injured by the sow. Apparently, the bear had the child by the head at some point. The male relative suffered minor injuries before killing the grizzly/brown.

So, would you consider taking a small child along while hunting fairly dangerous game and if so, what are your precautions for keeping your charge safe? I have seen where folks take youngsters into some fairly remote and dangerous areas for the youngsters to be able to hunt, but it is often multiple adults (most or all of whom are armed) that accompany the child.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/year-boy-injured-bear-attack-hunting-alaska-troopers/story?id=90342187
https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival/grizzly-bear-mauls-9-year-old-boy-alaska/
https://www.newsweek.com/bear-attacks-alaska-boy-he-hunted-moose-1745202
 
First off a moose is not “dangerous” game I don’t care what Bass pro has to say about it. there are some dangerous critters around in some moose country but the country itself, weather, etc is the biggest threat Depending on the child I’d considering taking them along, even in grizz country. The chances of getting injured or killed by a bear, even in bear country is pretty slim. While it is always a factor it wouldn’t be the deciding issue. Locals In AK take their young children moose hunting all the time.
Hunting truly wild backcountry is not without risk. And so is everyday life, far more children are killed and injured in car wrecks than will ever be injured by a grizz.
My children have been hunting with me and my wife since they were babies. When they were first old enough to ride they were packing into wilderness areas on horseback with us. They went to South Africa with us when they were 3 and 6. So yes I’d definitely consider taking them on an Alaskan moose hunt when they were that age.

And especially in this case where they were very near home outside of Palmer. It’s just a day hunt and they had an unfortunate accident. That same bear encounter could have occurred in that area on a hike or bike ride. I 100% would have taken a child along on that hunt.
 
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As far as precautions when I take children out, I always make sure they have proper clothing for the conditions. I make sure they have adequate snacks and drinks, and I am of the mind set that the hunt is geared towards a child. If they want to stop and play in a creek we stop. Hunts with children should be fun and it’s not about getting a critter it’s about the child learning and having fun. Getting a critter is a bonus.

I always carry a fully stocked first aid kit that includes serious bleeding control. So that isn’t a change. It’s always horrible when a child gets seriously injured and in this case a bear was involved so it was sensational enough to make the national news. I’m sure the antis will be all over this but the fact of the matter is it was an unfortunate accident. Imagine the outcome if the adult hadn’t been hunting and didn’t t have a rifle along?
 
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Double Naught Spy said:
So, would you consider taking a small child along while hunting fairly dangerous game and if so, what are your precautions for keeping your charge safe? I have seen where folks take youngsters into some fairly remote and dangerous areas for the youngsters to be able to hunt, but it is often multiple adults (most or all of whom are armed) that accompany the child.
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I'm having a difficult time categorizing "moose" as "dangerous game". Yeah, it's big. Yeah, it COULD be dangerous. But then a plenty of small game could be dangerous, too.

Moose, as far as I can tell having never actually hunted them, is not something hunters look to as a face-to-face encounter event in a hunt.

I would be more concerned that the child is adequately dressed and capable of handling the weather and terrain for the anticipated duration of the hunt. I would be more concerned that the child has an understanding of the potentials of the event and that the child is controlable.
 
Went to Colorado this year bear hunting. There was a three year old in camp (not mine). A bear came into camp and probably got within twenty feet of him. Nature is nature.
I agree with many who posted here that you can’t guarantee safety anywhere especially when you leave the enclaves we have constructed that give us more control (you never have total control).
It wasn’t long ago that humanity lived among nature. We birthed and raised our kids in nature. We have dogs as pets partially because we wanted to rely on their senses to protect us, and that thinking has continued to the point that we imagine we are completely protected from nature. It’s the moments when our strength (intellect) fails to meet the level of an opponent’s strength (claws and teeth and strength) that we freak out. At our cores, though, we are still natural creatures. We are still a part of the natural world. We are still vulnerable and yet we are also apex predators. I think it’s important to expose kids to the natural world. When doing so, however, we should use our strength (again, intellect). I’m not saying this person did anything wrong. It could happen to any of us.
When I take my nine year old I make sure to be as safe as possible and try to control the environment. With all my efforts I know something unexpected could still happen at any time. I don’t take the seven month old.
 
My oldest granddaughter has been tagging along on deer and coyote hunts since she was 4. She is now 16 and has taken deer and yotes her fist yote was when she was 5, first deer at 8. You are more likely to be injured or killed in a car accident than in the woods. Biggest concern around here is drugies and growers.
 
It depends on the 9 y.o. I have a 9 y.o. grandson who can't sit still nor refrain from talking constantly. I would not take him based on the cost of a moose hunt that he could ruin. I do take him deer and turkey hunting on my place because it doesn't matter if he messes up a chance for him to shoot a deer or turkey. It's his hunt.

However, I would and did take his sister on hard to draw hunts at 9 y.o. because she would listen, be quiet, and help me blood trail.
 
BTW

If you haven’t read the linked Bass Pro article on North American “dangerous game” it’s about what you’d expect from Bass Pro. Laughable to say the least. Here is what they are basing their claim on moose being dangerous..


Moose

Speed: As fast as 40 miles per hour.

Size: Can weigh up to half a ton, and rise up to 6.5 feet (measured at shoulder).

Threat: In Yellowstone, there was only one known moose attack between 1980 and 1999.

So in 19 years there was ONE, 1, UNO “attack” on a tourist by a moose. Which is amazing considering the stupid things tourists do to moose at Yellowstone park. I’d have thought Yellowstone moose would have more gumption than that.

And I completely fail to see how a tourist getting to close to a moose for a picture has anything to do with hunting a moose?

Moose will jack you up if you get between a momma and it’s calf, or when calling them in during the rut the bulls can get a bit aggressive especially in tight cover. There was a bow hunter who got full on mooseyfied this year in Colorado. He was calling during the rut.
 
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Wolfshead said:
In my experience and of my opinion, the thing is that if it were a camping/hiking trip, it would have been an unfortunate accident.
But, since a gun was involved as well as hunting, it is a deplorable action by a careless adult.
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I think you are exactly right. The pop press never misses a chance to vilify gun owners and or hunters.
 
My father was stationed in Alaska when I was that age. He and some of his buddies planned a float trip down the length of the Deshka river to coinside with the king salmon run. Mom MADE him take me. He may have hated it, but it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. In the case mentioned above, something bad happened. It could as easily have been a car accident on the way to the toy store.
 
alsaqr said:
Don't think i would take a 9 year old moose hunting in grizzly/brown bear country.
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Would you take a 9 year old child hunting in rattlesnake country? Your chances of getting bit by a rattle snake is multiple times greater than being attacked by a brown/grizzly bear.

“A venomous bite is called an “envenomation.” Although death from venomous snake bites is rare, a worker with a severe envenomation or allergy to snake venom can die from a venomous bite. Each year, an estimated 7,000–8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States, and about 5 of those people die.”


Little Known Bear Attack Statistics
  • There were 664 attacks by brown bears on humans between 2000–2015.
  • Around 11 people in North America die from bears per year.
  • Glacier National Park encountered two fatal bear attacks on the same day in 1967.
  • Since 1872, bears have killed eight people in Yellowstone Park.
  • Between 2000–2017, in Alaska, there were eight attacks by bears.
  • 15 attacks from polar bears were recorded globally between 2010–2014.
  • There were 11 fatal attacks in Romania between 2000–2015.
  • 32 US states are home to black and brown bears.
  • A male grizzly bear can weigh up to 1,700 pounds.
  • 71% of grizzly bear deaths are because of humans.
 
I wouldn't, but not necessarily because I'm worried about their safety. For MOST people a moose hunt is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If I ever got the chance, I'd not want the distraction of watching out for a child that young. I'd want to be 100% focused on the hunt.

I did take my 2 oldest grandkids archery hunting several years ago when they were about that age. They were spending the night with us the night before the opening day of archery season. When I was getting my gear laid out for the next morning one of them asked me to "take us bear hunting". So I did. Technically deer and bear season was open, and there was a slight chance a bear could have been in the area I hunted. But that was a local hunt 15 minutes from home where I'd not cry over a missed opportunity.

I've had a few close encounters with moose while vacationing in Colorado and multiple close interactions with black bear here in GA and TN. I've never felt threatened, even when around black bear with cubs.

My wife has an obsession with moose and made the mistake of getting closer than I liked once in Rocky Mt NP for some photos. After I pointed out how dangerous that was, she hasn't made the mistake again. We saw many more at State Forest State Park.

I've killed 3 copperheads in my yard since moving here. Black bear have been spotted within 1/4 mile of my home. So dangerous situations can be close to home

And while I do understand the odds of danger is low, it isn't zero.

Colorado hunter sustains serious injuries from moose (nypost.com)

Bear Attacks Teenager Sleeping in Hammock (newsweek.com)

Black bear euthanized after attacking family at Tennessee campground, injuring mother and daughter | Fox News

Hikers discover bear eating man at Smoky Mountains campsite (nypost.com)

3-year-old and mother attacked by bear in Great Smoky Mountains National Park - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham

These are recent within the last 2 years. I could go back 20 years and find many more incidents including 2 or 3 more deaths within 1/2 days drive of where I live.
 
Patocazador said:
It depends on the 9 y.o. I have a 9 y.o. grandson who can't sit still nor refrain from talking constantly. I would not take him based on the cost of a moose hunt that he could ruin. I do take him deer and turkey hunting on my place because it doesn't matter if he messes up a chance for him to shoot a deer or turkey. It's his hunt.

However, I would and did take his sister on hard to draw hunts at 9 y.o. because she would listen, be quiet, and help me blood trail.
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Exactly. My older son helped me get a deer when he was 9 or 10. I was trying to whistle to get a buck that had just been shot at on the next farm over to stop, but couldn't. (I haven't brought the cracker with peanut butter snacks along since.) He coughed and stopped the deer long enough for me to put a slug into it's aorta.
When the older one had been hunting with me a year or two, the younger one (9 at the time) begged to come with, and at SWMBO'S insistence, (and against my better judgement) I brought him. I set him on the ground under his brother's stand, where I could keep an eye on him. The older one was starting to get his slug gun lined up on a doe he had coming towards him when his brother yelled " Hey look! A deer!" :rofl:
The older one grabbed a slug from his vest and whipped it down onto his brother's head, who promptly came running over to me. I told him I'd have thrown a shell at him too if he did that to me.
The younger one had to wait about six more years before he hunted with us again, and his brother (hopefully joking) told him if he did that again, the slug would be going about 1400 feet per second.

As for moose; I'm glad they usually aren't aggressive. The one I had stand up in front of me in some thick brush made the .44 Mag. in my hand seem undergunned.
 
H&Hhunter said:
First off a moose is not “dangerous” game I don’t care what Bass pro has to say about it. there are some dangerous critters around in some moose country but the country itself, weather, etc is the biggest threat Depending on the child I’d considering taking them along, even in grizz country. The chances of getting injured or killed by a bear, even in bear country is pretty slim. While it is always a factor it wouldn’t be the deciding issue. Locals In AK take their young children moose hunting all the time.
Hunting truly wild backcountry is not without risk. And so is everyday life, far more children are killed and injured in car wrecks than will ever be injured by a grizz.
My children have been hunting with me and my wife since they were babies. When they were first old enough to ride they were packing into wilderness areas on horseback with us. They went to South Africa with us when they were 3 and 6. So yes I’d definitely consider taking them on an Alaskan moose hunt when they were that age.

And especially in this case where they were very near home outside of Palmer. It’s just a day hunt and they had an unfortunate accident. That same bear encounter could have occurred in that area on a hike or bike ride. I 100% would have taken a child along on that hunt.
Click to expand...
Well put. Bad things happen no matter what you're doing.
 
H&Hhunter said:
BTW

If you haven’t read the linked Bass Pro article on North American “dangerous game” it’s about what you’d expect from Bass Pro. Laughable to say the least. Here is what they are basing their claim on moose being dangerous..


Moose

Speed: As fast as 40 miles per hour.

Size: Can weigh up to half a ton, and rise up to 6.5 feet (measured at shoulder).

Threat: In Yellowstone, there was only one known moose attack between 1980 and 1999.

So in 19 years there was ONE, 1, UNO “attack” on a tourist by a moose. Which is amazing considering the stupid things tourists do to moose at Yellowstone park. I’d have thought Yellowstone moose would have more gumption than that.

And I completely fail to see how a tourist getting to close to a moose for a picture has anything to do with hunting a moose?

Moose will jack you up if you get between a momma and it’s calf, or when calling them in during the rut the bulls can get a bit aggressive especially in tight cover. There was a bow hunter who got full on mooseyfied this year in Colorado. He was calling during the rut.
Click to expand...
Definitely a bit of fuzzy math being used in that article. According to them, grizzlies kill 1 in 35,000 people every year. That's around 228,000 fatal grizzly attacks per year. o_O
 
Double Naught Spy said:
So, would you consider taking a small child along while hunting fairly dangerous game and if so, what are your precautions for keeping your charge safe?
Click to expand...

As many have said, it would depend on many factors. None of which the linked article gives us. While these types of stories garnish much attention and media, the amount of these scenarios is very rare. Odds of a 9 year old being injured as much by taking them to Mac Donald's for a Happy Meal is greater. We don't know how much experience the relative or the 9 yr old had in the field. The fact the relative was able to shoot and kill the bear during an active attack tells me he was somewhat experienced. Many 9 yr olds in Alaska are probably more experienced with dealing with the wildlife there, than the majority of us here.

As for how dangerous moose are, my sister and Niece lived outside of Kenai for many years. They were much more concerned about being attacked by a moose than bears. So much in fact that they would carry a pump shotgun with slugs with them when they went outside to hang up the laundry. Statistics tell us that Moose do indeed attack more folks up there every year than Grizzly, Black bears and wolves combined. Bear attacks do tho, have a greater risk of being fatal. Down here in the lower 48, we have poisonous snakes and......bees. Both are a bigger risk to a 9 year old accompanying us in the field than bears in Alaska. Yet most of us have had a 9 year old accompany us, whether it was hunting, fishing, foraging or just taking a hike. Are we being irresponsible?

There is a certain amount of risk in everything we do. Every year 9 year olds participating in youth athletics are injured. In fact 3.5 million kids under the age of 14 are injured annually. Do we question whether or not it is proper for their parents to let them Participate? I doubt very much if there are any of us here that did not have a near death experience at some point in our life. Luck or skill made for us to still be here.
 
What is the real difference between taking a kid with you on a hunting trip and taking same kid on a camping trip to places with moose and bears and rivers and whatnot? Not much really.

I will argue that moose are dangerous…I lived in AK for 7 years and moose can be docile or they can get aggressive…in the blink of an eye. Bulls during the rut and momma’s with calves are the main ones. But we had a small bull that came by our yard every so often and he was an ornery sucker. Used to snort and stomp at my kids playing outside when he came around. I made sure they knew to come in when he came around.
 
I have never seen or hunted moose, so cant comment. Some general hunting I would take a kid along sure, no different from walking trails or camping. Some types of hunting no, just where I need to cover distances fast or the action is fast, like springing a mob of pigs in the thick stuff.

And that basspro article sounds hilarious.

Cougars
They can also jump as high as a two-story building.
Size: Can weigh 150 pounds, and stretch up to six feet in length.

Jump as high as two storey building and stretching to 6ft eh? regular fantastic four stuff.

Bison
Speed: Bison are agile and fast, capable of speeding across the land at speeds of 30 mph.

'Speeding at speeds of' great copy right there. Seriously who wrote this, a 6th grader??
 
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Don't want to start arguments but a Moose can most certainly KILL ANY ONE OF YOU !. Will they ? IF cornered or calves are about BANK ON IT !. Bad azzes in the woods besides Grizz are Wolverines Mountain Lions and BISON !. Depending where you are or hunt of course ,Russian Razor boars aren't a day at the beach either .
Some folks die from an insect bite . I can personally attest to the Power of the Swine ,as well as Wolverines . Decades back a close friends cousin worked for the county ,also raised hogs slaughtered wild game for himself and commercially . Tommy had a pet pig named Suzy just like a huge overgrown dog ,smart playful but #600 lb. Never allow them to step on your feet !!. He also had Lucifer a 1100 lb. Razor cross boar ,for breeding purposes and NOT a pet . Yall know what a freeway concrete barrier is ,they weight around 2400 lb. ,Lucifer would push them around in his enclosure . One scary SOB that hog was ,he was aptly named for a reason !. Suzy used to piss off the neighbors as she would swim in their pool ,they were afraid to tell her No apparently . One or two of Tommy's daughters about 12-15 years old would go and scold her and she'd get right out of the pool and follow them back home . He's 73.3" tip to tip Alaska Alaskan Moose 73.3 tip to tip.jpg
Meanst Animal lb per lb to ever walk the earth.jpg
 
BushMaster-15 said:
Don't want to start arguments but a Moose can most certainly KILL ANY ONE OF YOU !. Will they ? IF cornered or calves are about BANK ON IT !. Bad azzes in the woods besides Grizz are Wolverines Mountain Lions and BISON !. Depending where you are or hunt of course ,Russian Razor boars aren't a day at the beach either .
Some folks die from an insect bite . I can personally attest to the Power of the Swine ,as well as Wolverines . Decades back a close friends cousin worked for the county ,also raised hogs slaughtered wild game for himself and commercially . Tommy had a pet pig named Suzy just like a huge overgrown dog ,smart playful but #600 lb. Never allow them to step on your feet !!. He also had Lucifer a 1100 lb. Razor cross boar ,for breeding purposes and NOT a pet . Yall know what a freeway concrete barrier is ,they weight around 2400 lb. ,Lucifer would push them around in his enclosure . One scary SOB that hog was ,he was aptly named for a reason !. Suzy used to piss off the neighbors as she would swim in their pool ,they were afraid to tell her No apparently . One or two of Tommy's daughters about 12-15 years old would go and scold her and she'd get right out of the pool and follow them back home . He's 73.3" tip to tip Alaska View attachment 1108936
View attachment 1108935
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Russian Razor boar? Never heard of it, are you referring to a razor back, so named for the stiff ridge of hair on their back line?

A zebra will flat out stomp you to death if cornered, that doesn’t qualify them as “dangerous game”, just like a moose.
 
Sus scrofa Linnaeu with Sus scrofa ussuricus also known as Ussuri Boar. Linnaeu is a Razorback aka Russian Razor Boar .

Sorry I must disagree ; Dangerous in MY definition is ANY animal with regards to the ability too Kill a Human including a Ram .
Will they automatically NO of course not but ALL are capable of doing so ,so therefore IMO must be considered DANGEROUS .

A Bear generally will vacate premises before encountering a human as will a Moose but NOT ALWAYS !.

Having spent a bit of time in Africa in more regions than I care to recall ,there are a host of animals to avoid and few are on the Dangerous game list ,yet account for more Africans dying than ALL Dangerous game deaths put together .

So certainly depends upon one's definition of " Dangerous " . While we're at it , I'd list a couple of Females I once dated right up at the TOP TIER :evil:
 
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