New to Hunting? Fish & Games’s Maiden Hunt Video Series Gives Behind-the-Scenes Look

Mentoring is woven in the fabric of hunting. For millennia the tradition has been passed down through generations and shared with friends. For the tradition to continue, each generation of hunters are tasked with passing the torch to the next.

Fish and Game’s Maiden Hunt Series explores how rewarding it can be for hunters to pass on their passion for the outdoors and shares the stories of new hunters—from completing hunter education and seeking out a mentor to experiencing their first hunt.

Each hunter comes to hunting with a different perspective, background, concerns, and interests. From balancing a love of nature with the emotional experience of harvesting an animal, to following in family footsteps, these short films explore the realities of becoming a hunter and illustrate how hunting is so much more than the harvest.

Over the course of five years, Idaho Fish and Game has teamed up with five brand-new hunters and paired them with seasoned hunting mentors. Our goal is not only help new hunters dip their toe into a new, intimidating outdoor pastime, but document the entire progress—the mental preparation, the pre-dawn hikes up the mountain, and the emotions that come with being so close to wildlife—in a five-part video series.

Check out each episode in our Maiden Hunt video series or stream the entire YouTube playlist.