kgkoon...
what the heck is irrelevant about cardeer's suggestion that a small woman might have the same difficulty that a child would? Are you telling me that if you kill an 800lb elk that you are going to field dress it, and pack it out all by yourself... no help? Even if help is available? Don't be silly.
In some ways I agree with your complaint.. I don't think sticking a child in a deer blind, and pointing him in the right direction just so he can pull the trigger is a good way to teach him to hunt. But if a 7 yr old (or 5, or 6, etc..) is willing to go to the range to get proficient with his deer gun, and is eager to get out to the woods and look for deer.. then I think it is our responsibility as parents to guide them into the hunting experience. Doesn't mean they can "do it all" from the start... that's ridiculous. They do what they can handle. If they can cleanly kill the animal, then they can sit by and observe, or even get involved in the field dressing. I think they need to see what is necessary to bring an animal to the table. Kids learn by being shown... it's your responsibility to pass along your hunting knowledge and ethics to them.

"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness..those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Santayana