what age to start
 

Sitting here bored so thought I would stir the pot a little,at what age do you take your kid deer hunting. I have been taking mine for 3 years now. He started coming with me at 4 and this year at age6, he had his gun with him. He didn't get a shot this year but was close. Being this young, everything would have to fall exactly right, of course the deer stopped 20 yards away and was behind a tree, he then kindaleaned his head around the tree and decided he'd better run when he saw us sitting there. Waiting for next year and in the mean time will have to settle for fishing.

RE: what age to start
 

My daughter is going on 2 years old, so I have not yet brought my little one hunting with me. I would guess, based on my own thoughts that you can bring your child hunting at a very young age and build from there. I will wait for if/when my daughter lets me know she is interested and go from there.

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If you bring them to young they may get bored with the whole idea of hunting. As for shooting, I wouldNOT let them shoot at game, noteven one day before they could hunt legal.

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I have been bring my son for 2 yrs now and he just turned 8 a few weeks ago. I find that he is alot happier with his gameboy with headphones in the box stand than without. There attention is not there yet but if they stay busy its easier for us to stay on stand. He loves the woods and hunting but he is only allowed to bring a BB gun when we are not hunting. The gun is off limits til I feel that its safe to let him handle it with 100%. I am a very safety first person so my 2 cents is only worth 2 cents normally.

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My dad started taking me hunting with him when I was 5. He said if I was old enough to start school thenI was old enough to sit with him in the woods if I wanted to. Of course I did. Ever since that first day dadsaysI couldn't stop talking about it. Apperantly I still can't.

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I started taking my sons at 5, and both killed their first deer at 6.

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That is the way I was. I was hooked from the start.

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I've allowed my kidsto go outand enjoy every aspect of hunting, from shed hunting, helping with the foodplots, checking the trail cams, roosting turkey, moving standsand about everything else in between. This seems to solidify their love and respect of the outdoors but I haven't let them hunt until later. In fact, my Daughter was 10 whenshe took her first deer and my sons will be 7 & 8 this season and will possibly have to wait just one more season before being allowed to actually shoot. The boys will probably go for their Hunters Safety Course this summer though.

My Daughter, now 11, seems to have really embraced this hunting thing!

First season hunting....


Second season....

RE: what age to start
 

My daughter is 12 years oldand hunts with me 2 to 3 times per year. although she is at my camp almost every weekend riding golf carts, fishing, etc.. I think some of the ages that you guys listed is way to young. Just my opinion though. The main reason so many young children are taken is because alotof wivesare demanding thatthe husband take the child and that makes everything o.k. for mama, which isnot enoughofa reason to endanger a child.A 4-10 year old child is not mentally capable of handling hunting in regards to loud gunshots, wounded animals flopping around etc. although they will try to act like it doesnt bother them because they do not want to disappoint daddy. I think you will see a loss of interest down the road. I have been President of a2000 acre exclusive hunting club inSE Alabama for 13 years and base some of my opinions on what I have seen. A 4 year old child was mistaken for a coyote while walking along side his dad in Macon County, Al. (Tuskegee, Alabama) right at dark about 5 years ago. This child was shot in the head with a 30.06 and he was immediately killed. This all took place on private land with "so called" experienced hunters who all happened to be family and friends. I was not willing to put my child in that danger at that young of age. Forums are for opinions and that was my 2 cents worth. Whatever you do with your child is your business.

RE: what age to start
 

did your daughter shoot that buck? Thats huge. wow

RE: what age to start
 

2-3

RE: what age to start
 

I just did a guided turkey hunt with a 7 and 9 year old. Great kids, but they clearlyweren't ready for hunting yet.

First off, I don't think they fully appreciated the firepower in their hands. Secondly, I don't think they had really formed the desire to be there. It was more of a show for dad than anything else. They would have rather been home asleep or playing Playstation.

Physically, they had trouble keeping pace, couldn't carry their gear, and if they would have gotten a turkey/deer, they would have been unable to get it out of the woods on their own. No sense of direction either.

In my opinion, a kid should start hunting at that age where he/she has formulated the desire and exhibited the ability to hunt. That is, they should be big enough to carry their own gear, responsible enough to safely handle their own weapon without an adult having to watch over their shoulder. They should be able to responsibly handle a bad situation (lost in the woods, or a broken bone, etc.). From my experience, that doesn't really happen until age 12-14.

Just because they can use a scope and can pull a trigger doesn't mean that they're ready. You don't give kids drivers' licenses just because they can turn a steering wheel.

RE: what age to start
 

Start teaching them Gun Safety at an early age with their play guns. Take them camping at an early age and teach them about the outdoors and wildlife.

If at the age of 8they seem interested, take them huntingwith youas an observer until the age of 12 and then to the Hunter Safety Course and thenstart them with a weapon with the stipulation that only under your supervision until the age of 13.

If at that time they show recklessness or disrespect towards any ethical part of being a sportman, wait untill they are old enough to buy their own Shotgun or Rifle.

RE: what age to start
 

I've been pondering this question myself lately. My kids are 6 and 8. I took my 8 year old squirrel hunting with me a couple of years ago and she was more interested in picking up pine cones. I took both of my kids once last year and they were somewhat disinterested. I'm trying to gauge their interest level instead of forcing it down their throats.

I have a nephew that had it forced down his throat at an early age and he hardly ever goes hunting any more. I'm trying to avoid that with my kids.

As for me, I started when I was five and haven't slowed down yet.

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The sooner the better!!!

RE: what age to start
 

I first went when I was 12, got my first deer my first morning too. Seems kind of late compared to the rest of you, but I think it was the right age.
A kid that hasn't even hit double digit age yet just seems a little young to be shooting a high-powered rifle at a living creature that requires a good shot to bring down.

RE: what age to start
 

We can take a kid along in our state but they have to be 12 and have passed the hunter safty course to get their first permit. I think thats about right for big game. I started hunting small game when I was six and big game at 12.

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I took my son once when he was 4, and again last year when he was 5. Last year he went on 3 trips with me, one sitting in a blind and 2 spot-and-stalk. He is learning fast about being still and quiet, so he will go on more trips as he learns more.

Training kids for gun safety should start as early as possible. My kids don't own play guns. I don't want them to associate toys and firearms at any level. Don't get me wrong, I think toy guns are fine for teaching gun safety, and I think toy guns like the ones that shoot nerf darts are fine. I just don't like the ones that look like real guns. I started my son at 4 with a single-shot pellet gun. Next year he can shoot the .22 bolt-action.

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I guess if you just taking them with you to hunt and observe I guess it would be at whatever age they are comfortable in the woods with you. My son was about 2 when he tagged along on some nice days without serious hunting being done. As for taking them and letting them hunt. I personally do not believe any child should be allowed to hunt that can't handle the weapon of choice on their own. I've seen videos of people taking their kids out when they held the gun up and had to put the gun on rest not for stabilization but because the child couldn't hold the gun up themselves. I just don't think this is hunting and they are too young to be doing it.

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My young kids love to "go hunting" but about an hour and half after sunrise they are ready to do something else. I understand this, and since I don't own a blind we go to find other activities. To meit is important to spend time with my children. It shouldn'tbe about the kill or how large a gun they can handle."Hunting" with my young childrenis about spending time togetheroutdoors.

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In my province you have to be 12 and have passed the hunter safety program. I started bringing my eldist son when he was 10. Even though he couldn't shoot he always had his part in the hunt from the beginning to the end. Starting with the making of the lunch in the morning, the scouting, tracking, spotting, gutting and skinning. By the time he was hunting himself he was already familiar with the basics and more to be successful in the woods. Included was the appreciation of just being out there. When he harvested his first deer he just wanted me to stand back so he could gut it himself. It will be a moment I'm sure we both will remember. Hunting has always been part of my family's lifestyle but I never would of brought him out with me unless he wanted to go. I've had friends that have taken their kids out when they were too young or when they didn't really want to go and now they are turned off and do not go at all. It may be different in my situation for it is normally -20 or so during our rifle season. I wouldn't want to take a young child out all day in weather like that.

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I don't want to ruffle any feathers here because I do realize the youth are the future of this sport, and I have absolutely zero problem with kids hunting - so-long as it's legal and all rules are followed. With that being said, when I started bowhunting at the age 12, I was pretty much on my own. Went with a neighborhood friend. It took me 3 years to even have an oportunity at a deer. When it finally happened, I was alone in a tree, shot, and ended up killing my first deer. This was something that I had accomplished on my own, went through the emotions alone, and to be 100% honest, to this day - it's one of the most exciting moments of my life.

If my dad was a big-time hunter, and would have brought me out during an early season youth hunt, I would not have had an oportunity to EARN this first animal, and I wouldn't have the appreciation that I have toward the animals and the sport as I do today.

I watch kids in all these hunting videos pounding GIANTS in early September with dad looking on - and half the kids don't even look excited. I know one thing, someday when I have kids, they will have nothing handed to them. Appreciation can only happen when an effort is put-forth!

Just my opinion of-course.

RE: what age to start
 

I hear you WKP, but not everybody "pounds Giants" when dad takes them hunting. My dad wanted to spend time with us and did not know what he was doing and we hunted non-productive land to begin with, so it was pretty much just get up real early and freeze your butt off all morning, but it was fun for me. Like Whitetaildreamer was talking about, this may have been part of what turned my brother off to hunting. Too much boredom too early could be a problem unless a kid is just a born gung-ho hunter. If you have options, I would think that for younger kids, a sure fire duck hunt or squirrel hunt would be more memorable then sitting on a stand freezing. As the kid gets older he may take more to the patience / bigger reward side of hunting that you get with deer.

RE: what age to start
 

mna that rack was as big as she is....whatta trophy...if mine were interested, i would of gotten them to go with me as early as 4-5, but as fate has it, they don't want to hunt....maybe when they get older...the one thing i regret growing up is that my dad didnt/doesnt hunt and i didnt start hunting until i was 27...... here in florida we have a law that says any kid born after a certain date has to get a hunters safety course , but they came out with a trial basis, they can hunt for a year without getting the course cert., this way they can try it out if they like it great, if not, then thats ok too......its helped out getting kids in the woods..

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I actually got my hunter's safety course last summer, in August, when I was 13, and I shot my first turkey at 14, this spring, and I got pumped!

I missed a deer in January in Alabama, but I've gotten better with my .308 since then, and am really looking forward to deer season.

I am kinda happy I started at 13, since I wasn't raised around guns too much, since my uncle was more of a hunter, not my dad.

I am glad I was 13 when I first started, since I was able to have more maturity with guns, my dad doesn't have to worry about me being careless with a gun, and my uncle doesn't worry.

I still learn stuff, I showed a 3 year old (my cousin) how I was shooting the BB gun, and I let him shoot, had to help him pull the trigger, and he hit the target, and I told my uncle, and he said that he didn't want him to be doing that anymore without me asking him, and I understand that now, but he wasn't ridiculously mad at me or yelling "What were you thinking!", he was patient, and just told me, and explained, which makes me really happy I have him as my hunting mentor.

I won't make any broad numerical judgement, 'cause all kids are different.
I can only share my story, and hope it relates to someone whom it will help.

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We just had our first kid. She's two months old, but I can't wait to get her out to smell the outdoors. I know she'll enjoy the sights and sounds. Here in Montana, you have to be 12 years old to hunt during a legal season. I imagine she could shoot plenty of gophers before that though.

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I started coming at 7 to watch. I started hunting chickens (ruffed grouse and spruce grouse) when i was 12 after i did my safety courseand started big game hunting when i was 14 (this past season).this hunting season i was lucky enough to fill all my tags andgot my first moose and my first two deer (one buck and one antlerless)

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My son will be legally allowed to hunt here in Michigan next year when he's 12. I'm getting him a 7mm-08. He's going to learn how to hunt and survive either by watching dad until he's ready to pull the trigger himself or when he does pull the trigger himself, I cannot wait.

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IMO it depends on the child and how he was brought up, and not the age. I know 16 year olds that I would not let in the woods with a firearm. Then I know 8 year olds that I trust. It depends on how they were taught. Tom.

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Actually they've lowered the age to 10, with some restrictions. Can't hunt alone in Michigan until 17 though.

I'd would like to see it left up to the parents though, except that I'm not sure all parents are able to make that decision objectively.

RE: what age to start
 

we live in alabama, which is one of the most liberal states when it comes to hunting...I took my 8yr son last year deer hunting 3 times with me. before gun season started he was shooting alot with his little rossi .243(single shot w/safety) i sighted in his scope dead on at 100yds and put that as his limit as the farthest he could shoot at a deer.

he was very good with his gun and got to know it very well. first day out we saw a nice little 6pt which was about 150yds away, he was wanting to take the shot so bad, but I wouldn't let him(i think he could have hit it off the shooting stick). I told him if it came inside 100yds he could shoot. The buck when the other way and that was that.

the next two times he got alittle bored and even fell asleep one time, but that was ok too. On our trips I spent more time teaching him little things about gun safety and pointing out the importance of gun barrel control. He has a better understanding of how he is required to handle a gun.

the 3 hunts last year was all on his grandpaws private land, this year I'll be on WMA land for a 2 day youth hunt with him.

I'm saying 8yrs old is a good age, 3 of the boys I coach at baseball on my sons team already have killed their first deer, one kid last year killed 4!. IF the child shows intrest. If not wait till they get older, say 10 or 12.