FARMERVILLE, OHIO — Deer gun hunting season in Ohio doesn’t start for adults until Nov. 27. But this past weekend, kids under 18 were allowed to hunt with their families by their sides.

In rural communities like Farmersville, southwest of Dayton, families have made it a tradition since it began in 2014.

Tom Thomas has hosted several neighboring families on his more than 100-acre farm. Thomas also happens to be one of the most experienced hunters in Ohio, with a building on his property that looks like a natural history museum, complete several dozen mounts of wild animals he has killed on his four safari trips to Africa, including a rhinoceros and giraffe. Thomas has also hunted in Russia and in other parts of the world.

He’ll tell you that it’s just as rewarding watching families hunt together here in Ohio.

“The kids who are here, their parents started out here and got their first deer here,” Thomas said. “It’s rewarding to have them enjoy it.”

His granddaughter, Jordan Johnson, is an avid hunter who works for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. She helps Thomas guide the young hunters.

“This weekend is a little special for the kiddos who are out there that are under the age of 18 because they get two days on Saturday and Sunday to be able to hunt with their rifles before the actual deer hunt season comes in,” Johnson said. 

“So, it’s a special time with a little less hunting pressure and they can get out there with their family and friends.”

In addition to sitting in an elevated deer blind from before sunrise, the young hunters learn how to track a deer after they’ve shot it.

“You get to be up close and personal with your friends and family and then you get that skill set of tracking and honing in,” Johnson said. “Your adrenaline running it’s like a roller coaster when you finally find your deer.”

“I got really, really excited the first time I found it,” said 14-year-old Lucy Shell, a freshman at Valley View High School. “Dragging it out was hard work but it’s paid off.”

Lucy and her two sisters couldn’t wait for this weekend to be out hunting with their dad, Nick and friends.

“It’s fun to know that you’re the one who killed it and you’re the one who found it and you’re going to skin and dress it and all that kind of stuff.” She says she never gets squeamish.

“It can be like that for some people, but I’ve been doing it all my life so it’s kind of normal for me.”

Her mom, Jami Shell, hunts too. She and husband Nick spent the past week giving their kids a refresher course in hunting safely.

“We had a lot of conversations about gun safety and being aware of your surroundings,” Shell said. “When you see them put all those things together and do it right and enjoy it in the process it’s very cool and it’s a very proud moment.” 

The Leis are another proud family gathering at the Thomas farm, including eight-year-old Parker who shot his first buck down the road and brought it to Thomas to be processed.

“I feel really good about getting my first buck,” Parker said. “He was just standing 40 yards away from me and my dad told me to shoot him right under the white spots so I did and it was a perfect shot.”

The clean kill impressed their local state wildlife officer, Trent Weaver, who stopped by to check on some old friends.

“They’re learning life skills,” Weaver said. “A lot of the team sports they may be doing in school, they become spectators when they graduate. It’s hard to play football as an adult. This is a life skill you can do your entire life.”

 “Everybody’s on the cell phone and stuff any more and this is actually time and one on one and a lot better bonding I think,” Thomas said. “The things they do when they’re hunting, they’ll never forget.”