Hi kodiak,I've taken my nephews (now 15 and 12) hunting with me for the past 8 years,my son (3) has been out with me this fall,and they love it.I try to keep the kids interested by showing them all the sign we find and teach them how to use a map and compass.I give them all a pair of binos and a compass,then show them where we are on the map and tell them "this is where we want to go",now you get us there.We hunt some big woods with alot of old logging roads and I help guide us in the right direction,but we get there and they have fun learning and seeing the new areas.I pack a large back pack with all the extras (lunch,drinks,socks,hats gloves)that we could possibley need and off we go.I,ve shot a couple deer with my nephews and they helped gut and drag them out,so they've seen the end of a deers life and understand the finality of it.That was a concern the first time I pulled the trigger,but they handled it well.I always let the boys target shoot back at the house with the .22s,so bringing extra guns in the woods wasnt a concern and they always get their turn carrying the rifle while we hunt,it helps teach them safety in the woods.Keeping them interested is easy,just let them tell you when its time to go home and youll have as much fun as they do.