advice on hunter please!!
 

My son is 14 and has hunted with me since he was 3. Last year he sat alone and stayed on stand all but about an hour of daylight. He killed a few does and a big 9 point. This was with gun and ML. This year he wants to bow hunt. He is a good kid and mature for his age but I worry about him. I bow hunt too and we can communicate by text message. Should I sit within seeing distance or at that age would he be alright alone?? Some of you guys with kids chime in please!!

To me it depends on the kid and where you hunt. If your son knows the land that your hunting then I would give him some space or if you hunt private land so that you don't have to worry about other people hunting the same area. If your hunting public or unfamiliar land then I would keep a closer eye on him.

We are on a 34,000 acre lease. All his stands are within a mile of camp and he knows that area pretty good. I grew up hunting it! I think it is time to turn him loose I just need some reassurance. He let close to 100 deer walk last year and to me that shows maturity. You guys with kids how old were they when you gave them this freedom??

I think this really depends on the maturity but it sounds like he is ready. My 11y/o who is still a little squirrly has proven to be much more mature in the woods than I ever would have thought. He even passed a good buck last year because he couldn't make a clean shot without shooting through some brush. Honestly, I'm more concerned about him not using his harness when in a treestand than any issues with a bow or gun.

I don't have kids but I will offer this. Bow hunting is all about keeping your shots to within your capable range and determining what is a good shot angle and what isn't. Only you can make the call as to wether he knows what a good shot angle is with a bow. Another question is has he practiced with his bow long enough? Is he a good shot?

Age is not enough to make a determination because I know plenty of grownups who don't practice like they should and can't make an ethical shot on a deer with a bow.

My son is only 5 but started taking my nephew with me a few yrs ago, he just turned 19.

He had done some hunting but not a lot. I started him on the ground and was close by, and now have him in a stand. I kept an eye on him at a distance, and always told him where I would be. Last yr was the first time we hunted where we knew where each other was but couldn't see each other.

Biggest thing is safety, make sure he is wearing his harness, uses a pull up rope and uses his head. Have a general idea of where you both will be.

Have a set time to make contact with you or to be at camp. Since you are using text messages have him text you that he is sitting later or is done for the day. If he gets lost or off the path to stop walking and to make contact with you.

He sounds mature for his age and makes some great choices from what you said. He has that thanks to you and your teachings. Sooner or later you are going to have let him hunt solo, ask him what his opinion is and give it a try.

if its worth anything thats when i started out on my own i mean they always new where i was and i had my cell but i hunted alone or with a buddy in a differnt spot

If he is sitting stand alone with a gun, then I see no reason to delay the bow if he knows his effective range and will take shots within it. Is his judge of distance inside 40 good? If so, he's letting deer walk, knows the area and knows to keep in touch. So long as he practices stand safety it sounds like you know the answer to your question.

Let him go... I started Bowhunting by myself at 13 because i showed maturity and interest according to my dad. All kids are different, my Fiance's brother is 26 and wouldnt leave him home alone, but people are raised differently and he sounds ready to me.

I shot my first deer with a bow at the age of 14 with a couple of friends about 35 miles away from the nearest adult. I think if he is a good kid there is no worries.

Take a video camera and sit in the same tree with him. That way you will be happy and he will get to relive the moment with everyone around him.

Amen to that...and I don't think there's an age restriction on this. I know a couple of adults that have yet to figure this out! :confused0024:

I bow hunted alone from my own stand when I was 14, my Dad was on the same piece of land (we had no communication back then) we would meet at a certain time usually just after dark and walk back to the house together. Make sure he has a good flashlight and a good safety harness.

I do not have kids, but by the time i was 14 I struck out on my own, mainly because i didn't want to be all that close to people. Maybe ask your son what he would want to do?

Thanks guys. I know he wants his space and I guess he is gonna get it. Was gonna hunt within sight of him but his stand pretty well covers his funnel. I guess I will hunt within a half mile or so a couple times and then move on to where I really wanna hunt. Thanks for the advice and confidence building.

I have 2 Bowhunting kids-1 boy, 1 girl & they are in their 30s. Sometimes We still SIT together & I have the video camera.
Nothing like sharing the hunt with your kids BUT when they started (son at 14) he sat alone. He knew where I was-I drop him off at stand & he waited until I came to get him.
In our area-we are not over 200-300 yds. apart. One set of stands we can see each other (150 yards).

I hunted years with my brother & 90% of the time we were within 200 yds or less of each other (maybe 30 years).

He's ready Are YOU!!!!!

I started at the age of 13. I hunted alone with my dad always in a stand a few hundred yards away. Killed my 1st deer by myself at 13. Your son is more than ready for the task.

The power of modern technology...text msg. The most dangerous part is entering and exiting the stand. Have him send you texts when he is doing each.

I'd say he's good to go.

I forgot to put it in my first message but I killed my first deer at the age of 14. Also with a bow.

My son killed his first deer at 9 with a bow from a double stand. We hunted out of it until we wouldn't both fit. I then hung a Loc On about 30 yards from him and put him in the old familar ladder stand. I was close enough that I could yell "stop" at any time but never needed to. I think he was 13 the first year we did that.

That was about the age my old man cut me loose, now am worrying about him and if I should sit with him....lol

My father sat within 100 yards of me till I was about 15 and I kinda miss it. Go with your gut, seems to me that you'll make the right choice.

I think that if you can trust your son to sit in a treestand alone with a gun, then why not let him sit in a treestand with a bow. The first year I would hang out within sight to make sure he is using his harness and judging good shots, after that let him go on his own..