My son has been hunting by himself since he's been 13. He is perfectly fine. He's shot more deer by himself than he has with me with him

Therein lies the problem. It sounds like you are qualified and responsible for making the decision but you buddy isn't if he allows his kid to go solo at 14. I have met many hunters in my life and some of them shouldn't even be allowed to carry a gun much less to decide when their kids are ready.

I started deer hunting with my father and grandfather at 6. Shot my first deer at 6 and my first elk at 7, on my father's license. In CO, the law at the time said you had to be 14 to hunt big game. My father decided he knew me and my brother better than the state and he started us early. By the time we turned 14 we both had a lot of hunting experience.

By the time I was 16 I had an old jeep and was pretty much roaming the Colorado Rockies at will. In the summer I'd disappear for as much as 2 or 3 weeks and just hit the high country camping, hiking and fishing. I always appreciated the huge amount of freedom my parents let me enjoy. I learned a lot by being alone and doing things for myself. But I'm from a different generation. I don't know that I would do what my father did in this day and age.

hell i"ll be 55 on dec the first & my dad still won't let me hunt alone
just kidding wish he was still around & able to hunt with me. here in ohio i believe there is no age restrictions but i think 14 or 15 is a good age to let them start to stray from you but not that far say within 500 yrds remember there your responsibilty until they are 18 .

id check with your state wildlife officers and see what they say about the legal age for a kid to hunt by theirselves. here in Pa. junior hunters must be accompanied by an adult until he is 16. 14 and 15 year olds must be with someone 18 years old.