Maturity is a better ruler than age in determining whether a young person is "ready" to hunt. Both my sons killed their first deer at 6, but my youngest actually started hunting with me at 5 and was "ready" at that age. My youngest isobsessive about anything hunting or shooting. My oldest, however, actually was probably not ready at 6, but I wanted him to hunt and made it easy for him to be successful. He has since lost interest in hunting, and I blame myself for pushing him too soon. Hind sight 20/20.