Don't think he intended for the child to actually shoot the deer.

When you start taking kids in the woods, you first and foremost need to realize that it will be a different type of hunt than if you do it solo. It's all about keeping them engaged and interested. Some thoughts:

- go places that are easily accessible (don't drag them on long walks through nasty terrain to get to the stand)
- go when the weather is decent (we can handle bad conditions...kids usually have a lower tolerance for it)
- be patient and flexible. You will probably have to leave the stand earlier than you would on your own.

It's all about getting them interested and giving them good memories to build upon later. If you make their first experiences boring, miserable ones, you'll turn them off faster than you hook them. Their first hunts are about them, not you. I think some hunters forget this...I know of a few kids that have been turned off because of an over-eager parent that tried throwing them into the deep end of the pool too early.

With that said, starting early is probably better than waiting until they're 10, 12 or older. By then, they'll already have other interests competing for their time. I started with mine when they were toddlers, and they're already hooked (older now).