Brad,

You are right, it is my opinion, it is prefaced with IMHO (which means you DON'T have to accept it as your gospel), and it is consistent with what we actually do in our elk camp, and yes the young lady was up to the task on several counts:
**She was "in it" for 8 days, no whining about wanting to go home,
**She was tough enough to keep going even though she aggravated a knee injury.
**She was tough enough to take the cold and the elements,
**She was mature enough to sit and wait quietly day after day,
**She was capable of handling a capable rifle (one that many folks here would imply "she couldn't.")

IMHO, kids are more of a grey zone and one has to balance their "I can/want to do it" enthusiasm against what you know they (and the game) will be challenged with. I saw a kids that "talked his way" into going on his dad's elk hunt and before it was over the kid considered it the "trip from hell" and ended burned out on hunting and don't hunt to this day.

I'm thinking before you drag them off on an away from home/remote location to a "grind it out for a week(or two)" elk hunt, that by the time most (repeat, most) are truly ready for it, their ability to handle a capable rifle is pretty much an issue of their past. Until kids reach that point of multi-competency most the folks I know keep them busy on all the other numerous game species that are available that involve a less rigorous exercise.

Even so, as you know, folks will continue to go out and do what ever it is they do and with varying results. (IMHO, of course.)