ORIGINAL: ahunter55

I started taking my one son when he was about 4. He would just be on stand with me & fortunatly for me, he was very quite & not antsie. When he got tired, I would let him sleep. He was along on a few blood trails & I was always explaining things I knew (or thought I knew) to him all the time.. He is now 34.
I missed a Buck at about 20 yds one afternoon & stuck the arrow in a tree next to the deer. When I was digging the arrow out he looked at the tree we had been in & said "Dad, how can anyone miss a Deer that close?" My reply was, do you like coming hunting with me, he said "sure" I said, if you want to keep coming "DON'T tell anyone".
We were in a Bowhunting camp 4 years ago & another kid my sons age had shot a Deer they counld't find. I over heard my son tell him-ask my Dad to look,He can find anything if it dies. Made me feel great. The kid did ask & I did find the Deer, pure luck but THEY will NEVER know that.
They will keep bringing you joy (most of the time) all your life & when they are older, great hunting companioins.
I have 33 & 16 year old Daughters doing that now-learning.
Good Luck-take them as often as you can & when YOU think they will enjoy it. I have never pushed any of my kids to hunt & 3 out of 6 do...