ElkNut1 makes an important distinction regarding desire.... just to follow up on that....

A wiry 11 year old with burning desire to go and a proven " tough mind set" in other adventures is better company than a stout 17 year old that is there because he is being " taken" along, but is not really into it.

Either the 11 or the 17 year old may be unable to carry his own pack and rifle and keep up the pace or simply keep up the endurance or tolerate the sleep deprivation (the 11 yr old by lack of raw physical strength, the 17 yr old possibly by lack of drive or attitude).

In any case be prepared to scale back your own elk hunting ambitions in order to be a worthy " guide" who works within the " client' s" limitations. They' ll be the new hard chargers in your group soon enough if they don' t get " burned" on that first trip.

It is a good thing to take a young one hunting,
EKM