I took my daughter and son out last year at ages 8 and 10, but last year was their "training year" so they could learn about how to set up, camo, wind, spoting dear etc. They passed the field dressing test, which is to say they "helped" me dress one and didn't freek out so this year my son has a Barnett 150lb crossbow that he has practiced with. I will impose a 20 yd max range limit and take him in a double tree stand with me opening day of bow season. We have an ancient persimmion tree that the deer love so hoping he has a great start and gets hooked. My daughter will either start later in the season or next, depending on her skill with the crossbow. They have to hit the vitals target first shot from a tree stand at three distances that I set up before I will let them out with a weapon. First rule is safety, second is have fun, third rule is never wound an animal, make sure you kill it.