My kids are 8 and 9. Both girls with little interest in hunting themselves, but like to help me with the animals when I get home. I have let them help with buthcering deer since they were 5 (not much help, but they like to hang out and watch). Im going to get them a bow this Christmas and start teaching them to shoot. We started shooting 22s about two years ago. They also like to watch hunting show with me, so to answer your question, i guess it all depends on the child. I have a friend whos little boy shot his first deer at 7. shot it with a 243.