Junior hunters: The Willand family goes rabbit hunting
By Michael Willand, Goodyear

What better way to introduce youth to hunting and the great outdoors than taking them rabbit hunting?

Kids have short attention spans, so they tend to get bored and lose interest on hunts with long days spent glassing or sitting in stands or blinds. Rabbit hunting is a great way to energize young hunters and introduce them to the basic fundamentals of hunting.

Rabbit season is year round and statewide. And rabbits are literally everywhere. With the abundance of game available, youngsters can hone their skills at “spot and stalk” and making the all-important shot under the excitement of the moment.

I took my sons Christian, 8, and Michael, 10, to Game Management Unit 10S over the Memorial Day weekend. We had a great time hunting rabbits. The smiles on their faces were testimony to their pride from their harvest.

My sons are shooting a Mossberg Plinkster 702 semi- automatic. They wanted a firearm with light weight and balance. They could hold and aim it on their own in a proper standing posture, without the aid of shooting sticks. We kept the open sight to keep it light, and also so they could practice the basics first.

My sons became interested in hunting out of my passion for the sport. I was eager to introduce them to hunting, and one day I took them along on an archery hunt in Unit 42. They loved it so much that I had to think of a way to allow them to hunt as well. I wanted to prepare them for big game when their time came, and we all know that watching is not nearly as much fun as hunting and taking your own game.

If you want to give a youngster an enjoyable outing and teach him or her skills in the field, definitely head out for some rabbit hunting.