If you have your own property, or use of some friends private property, that is a good place to start your son or daughter out with a firearm. I put my 14 yr-old out in a ground blind on our own property with NO other hunters within 1/4 mile, took him out there and made sure the gun was properly handled and safety on before I left him. My son already had hunter's safety as well. I would not put my son, even at age 17, on public property with a gun. Alone or not, once a fatal shot occurs, often all is lost. Frankly, I get a bit nervous being close to another person with a loaded gun, any person. For that reason, I much prefer hunting alone and well away from others when gun hunting.
Thanks for sharing the account wareaglecj. Yes, that would be scary. In the dim light, the eyes play tricks on you. How often, as I am ready to pack it in, stumps and brush suddenly look like deer.
Last edited by MZS; 12-25-2011 at 05:04 AM.