I don't think you can put a definitive age on when a kid is ready to hunt alone. I have 2 sons, one 16, the other 17. My older son started hunting alone when he was 13. When my younger son turned 13 he thought the old man was going to cut the leash - wrong. He was not ready, I made him wait until he was 14. This is for private property, shooting house hunting only. No climbing or fixed position stands, no still hunting. Each kid is different and thus when it comes to priveleges such as hunting, they are earned.