this is a pretty interesting thread. Lots of different ideas. My take on the situation is this. Taking a kid out and letting them shoot a deer just to say they did, isn't my way of doing things. However if that is what gets them hooked I guess it might be ok, but should never be construed as hunting. I personally was 12 before I could legally hunt. I followed my dad into the woods countless times before that though. I was a mature child and my dad had enormous confidence in me at that age. I gutted my 1st deer, with a little help. Also dragged it. I was small, but its amazing what an adrenaline rush can do for your strentgh to drag a deer. I swear I have a harder time dragging a deer now as a full grown man than I did as a little tiny kid.