FOR those for whom hunting is part of their family’s DNA, their question is, “Why wouldn’t children go hunting?” The benefits to body, mind and soul are so obvious that they remain largely unspoken amid the drama and achievement of a day’s hunting.
Even after two decades hunting hounds, some of my most treasured memories are from hunting as a child, taking on a big vale on my 14.2hh “Pegasus”, right behind hounds, with the obligatory falls and even quicker remounts. I recall the excitement of being sent off on point on my own for the first time.
The 21st-century child is afforded a galaxy of opportunities, but these are generally highly structured and offer little genuine freedom or risk. By contrast, the hunting field gives an independence defined by relationships with animals, humans, land and the elements. This thrilling mix of the known and the unpredictable means thousands of children hunt regularly, imbuing them with confidence, fun, respect and a sense of belonging.
When the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sought to define the 10
