So tonight was my 3rd sit since Saturday's bow season opener. The wind wasn't exactly right, but needless to say a good sized doe walked under me at about 28 yds. As she was passingI gave quick brrrapppp, she stopped.....then twwwap. During thetextbook follow-through, Iwatched my arrow pass right through the vitals.

My first thought was to get my son so he could come and walk with me on his first tracking mission. He loves to walk in the woods with me. He's only two, but can identify moss, trees, birds, and most important deer. He speaks in phrases like....niiice deer, biiiiig treees, it's gettin daaark daaaady. It's an awesome feeling,and I really wan't to break him in early as far as introducing him to a downed deer, buck or doe. I wan't him to know andrespect where foodcomes from, and what happens whenwe hunt, and when an animal is killed.

So I got down from my tree, walked over to the arrow stuck in the ground and realized it would be an easy track job. This is my first year using mechanical broadheads...two blade rage to be exact. The result is total devastation(as most of you already know). I always was skeptical of any mechanical, but finallyfellvictim to the pressure...you know, all of those amazing photos of gaping entry and exit holes. I am totally sold on them.Blood was sprayed high in the bushes and on the trunks oftrees, andpieces of lung were hanging on limbs.....not bad ehh?

Slowly the idea of taking my two year old son to track this one, changed. For whatever reason I felt maybe he wasn't quite ready to see all of that blood and a huge hole in the side of a deer that in his mind is a nice animal that we look at every evening from the house, or out of the truck window. I couldn't explain to him the entire process in detail, he's just a little too young to understand yet.....or at least that's what I felt at the time.So I held back from getting him and retrieved the deer on my own.

So I guess my question is..... At what agehave you introduced "the blood factor" to your youngin? I know it's good to start-em at an early age, but there's no doubt a fine line. Some children might be more mature than others, some might not be able to handle it at all. I think two is definately too young. My boy has been to our gun club, and has seen 20 deer hanging on a pole, but hasn't had to witness yet the actual dressing, skinning, or blood. Now that I've had the feelings to actually take him on a tracking, I think maybe another year or two is definatelyin order.

What do you all think?

Just like anything it is going to depend on the child and you. If you think he/she is ready then that has to your decision. one child might be ready at 6 and another might be ready at 4. I personally think that 2 is a little young, that is just my opinion. You could have him watch a video with you and see how he reacts to that. If it keeps his attention

I think you did fine.You have more than enough time and seasons ahead of you to complete your boys introduction to hunting. Lets face it. Except for us diehards there is nothing pretty about spraying blood and lungs.

My 17 YO doesn't hunt and has no interest. It's just not his thing although it's a disapointment to me. My 15 YO daughter however is dying to hunt with me so you just never know. It's getting harder and harder to bring kids into the sport.

PS.. Enjoy him while he is young and have fun.

I think that you're demonstrating the characteristics of a good parent, and I think that you're absolutely correct. As I'm sure you know, the difference in what a two year and a four or fiveyear hold can grasp in their young minds is enormous. As for me personally, I didn't introduce my kids to that part of the hunt until I thought that they were old enough to actually begin to understandwhat huntingreally involves, and that was at six years old for my oldest son.

All I wanna say is.....Kudos.

YOU know best what your child might be ready for....and what you want to expose him to.

You have nothing short of my total respect.

My stepson didn't like the blood part when he was young. My Daughter on the other hand wanted to see inside the deer. Go figure.

I agree with Little Chief. I think about 5 or 6 would be the soonest I'd consider it. But like mentioned, it depends on your child and you'll know when better than any of us.

pigiron:

The more I think about this...the more I think it's not unlike training a good retriever. My first Lab ....I introduced her to the gun when she was 9 weeks old. We started from about 300yds when we were shooting skeet (friends were shooting) and I kept her at a good distance. When she heard the first shot....she wanted to go there. We SLOWLY worked our way in their direction.....and an hour later she was sleeping under a pine while we shot.....not 10 yds from us.

My second Lab wasn't so intrigued. Started her the same way, but it took a couple hours to get her comfortable....and I never got closer than 100yds from the gunfire. It took 3-4 sessions to get her acclaimated to gunfire. Different personalities.

In thinking of your situation....I'd ask if you've watched hunting shows with him. I wouldn't assume he knew what what going on (how could he?). I'd ask him questions. What just happened?! (on the shot) Do you think he got him?

When you're trailing....and he sees blood.....I'd ask him if he knew where "that stuff" came from? Why is it there? What do you think we might find if we keep following "this stuff"?

He is SO innocent, right now....and there's no way he's putting 2 and 2 together.

Baby steps, man.....baby steps. You did GREAT!

Thanks all, for the kind replies.

Having my first son/childmakes itespecially tempting to introduce him toall of my intersts and passions prematurely. I guess it's the excitement level of knowing, or should I say hopeingthat yourchild will take after you and be your spittin image. Things must happen in moderation, and if they don't happen the way you planned.....well, that's OK too.

Exactly!...and thanks.

I appreciate your insight.