I don't think it is too young for him to come along. Just keep in mind it might be a short hunting trip and don't expect to really kill a deer. Kids get bored easy and have trouble sitting still, so don't expect the world of the little guy.

Nothing wrong with getting them out there for the experience though. I took my buddies 8 year old tracking a deer with us once. Wasn't a problem. And my other buddies kids help us track and watch us field dress them when we hunt on their property.

I think I went squirrel hunting with my dad around 8 or nine, and got my first firearm when I was 10, a 20 ga H&R. A few years after that I got my own 22 marlin model 60. But I had been shooting my dads marlin lever action for a few years. I never big game hunted until I was in my 30's though. Just small game when I was younger.

My girlfriends son turns 8 tomorrow and I have to finnish sighting in my slug gun. I figured I would take along the 17 HMR and let him shoot it a little bit. It will be his first time shooting a real gun.

Paul