Opening day of Maine’s regular firearms season for deer represents a long-standing tradition for Maine hunters. A relatively recent trend too new to warrant traditional status is the youth deer hunt, where many youngsters experience their first hunting success. It’s great to see new hunters coming into the sport and starting with deer is not a bad thing. However, it could be considered too much of a good thing as some other time-honored traditions have gone by the wayside.

There was a time when nearly every youngster cut their hunting teeth on small game: squirrels, rabbits, hares and grouse. It was, and still is, an ideal way to teach nimrods basic skills like stealth, patience and woodsmanship before they move on to larger game. 

Starting with small arms like a .22 rifle or a .410 shotgun provides a potentially less punishing way to learn safe handling and marksmanship. Small game is rather generic so there’s less thought or pressure to be selective or competitive. Success rates tend to be higher as well, and young and new hunters need to build confidence before experiencing too much disappointment.

I dare say this next one is now largely absent from both hunting circles and summer camp. I’m referring to the snipe hunt. Chasing mythical creatures by flashlight was once a staple of every summer camp, with few realizing that snipe do exist. Hunters did, and some would slog the salt and freshwater marshes in search of these semi-terrestrial shorebirds before most other hunting seasons opened. 

A lot of hunters, even seasoned veterans, are unfamiliar with rail hunting. In early fall, these diminutive distant cousins of larger wading birds migrate south, stopping over to rest and feed in flooded fields and tidal marshes. Standard practice was to pole a gunning float through the tall reeds and flush the birds into flight. I was fortunate enough to find someone equipped and experienced enough that I got to sample the sport. That was a long time ago and I’ve since encountered nobody with the slightest notion of it. The last vestiges now reside in old sporting art.

The face of hunting has changed and we must change with it. I compromised by starting both my kids with turkeys, then deer. Fortunately, my son experienced something of a perfect scenario. He came up empty his first season, but enjoyed the experience. His first deer was a doe, and his second a little spike buck. Sure, it would have been great if he shot Ole Mossy Horns, but it would have spoiled him. Instead, he worked his way up, acquiring better skills and appreciation along the way; the way hunting should be.

Bob Humphrey is a freelance writer and Registered Maine Guide who lives in Pownal. He can be reached at: bob@bobhumphrey.com