Dads, how old for son to hunt alone?
 

As the old saying goes, "Be careful what you ask for?" :sad0064:

Our gun season opens Saturday morn and I was just talking a moment ago with my youngest son (he was 13 in May) and asked him if he wanted to hunt with me or did he want to sit in his own stand? He honestly sounded eager to get a chance to finally hunt by himself! :cry:

In his defense the boys not a newbie, this will be his 4th season, he's killed 7-8 deer including 3 wall hangers, he's 6ft tall, a great athlete, never been a minutes trouble and in general just a great "All American Kid" but dangit that don't make it any easier for me to realize that I'm just "an old man who can go be alone now"! :( For some reason I NEVER felt this way with his older brother (who is 18 and is essentially a "fair weather" hunter who can take it or leave it).

My 13 yr old REALLY enjoys hunting & fishing and I've encouraged him from day one. He's a self imposed "trophy hunter" and has already let several 100-120inch bucks walk earlier this year during the juvie gun weekend. He can handle and shoot lights out with his Rem 7600 7-08 and the only stands I have on my place besides ground blinds are shooting houses with stairs and commerical 12ft 2 man ladders with rails and a few 10-12ft tripods. So I guess I'm answering my own question about the safety aspect but I still just wanted to hear from other dads about when and how they made their decision?

When I was 13 I was carried deer hunting 3x by my step-father. Then the following season as a 14yr old I was given the keys to a 3 wheeler, dropped off at the farm on Friday afternoon after school and then picked back up Sunday night. It was me, my bow, an old Warren & Sweat climbing stand and I literally learned it all by myself. I look back now and think, "DAMN my parents either had WAY to much confidence in me, were ignorant of the dangers or they just wanted me out of the way!" :confused0024: Now I'm NOT ready to drop my son off at the farm for a solo weekend but still... I don't know what to think or say!

What did you dads do?
HL

I can't offer any advice since I'm not yet in your shoes. I'm a bit cautious though so I think 13 is too young to hunt alone. BUT...I may have another opinion whenmy child reaches 13.

Once a kid thinks they got the hang of something, they are always chomping at the bit for that freedom to do it by themselves.

All I gotta really say is SIX FEET at age 13?! You grow 'em BIG!

My oldest is 10 and we're currently in the hunting together stage, but I would say it has more to do with his maturity than anything. From what you've said, he sounds like a great kid who may have earned the right to hunt alone.

Now by that I mean, he can sit his own stand etc. but I would not start dropping him off at the edge of the woods and letting him have at it. I would want to be hunting the same general area with him.

Well... My Grandfather had me out on my own with his 12 gauge at age 11 (1971).

That said, the PC hunting police have already made those decisions for us in MN. today... A young hunter has to, by law, be 14 years old before they can be out on their own.

I'm not sure about the laws in your state. But if it's legal, the greater question is the one you have to answer... Do you believe that he's ready??? I believe you've already answered that!!! If it's legal, cut him loose... Sorry Dad:sad0064:

lol KK yeah, we growem big. His 15yr old sister is 6ft, his 18yr old brother is 6'5 240. (I'm 6'4" 250 and my wife is 5'9" xxx :s4: both of us have tall parents and family so it's in em)

Nitro I agree, he's not ready to be put out on the complete opposite side of our place just yet (625acs) and I'd be within 1/4-1/2 mile usually and always within radio or text reception!

I guess I'm just having the hardest time with "our baby" being old enough to start doing for himself and of course that puts me in a new chapter of life and I guess I never thought about it before because it's sure struck me hard tonight! I always thought I'd be READY for this day but now that it's here I'm in a "weird mood" about it. I don't know, can't even really describe how I feel. :sad0064:

Depends on the kid, but this one sounds like he can certainly handle it. I started leaving my boy in the stand and (trying) to drive deer toward him when he was 12 - - but I was always within sight, and never more than couple of hundred yards away.

We've hunted in separate stands at the same time, a few hundred yards apart, in the intervening couple of years.

But your kid sounds more than ready for it.

My best friend and I were turned loose by our fathers when we were 13, and we really got to hunt for real "by ourselves" when we hit 16 and could drive.

But that was a different time (a time when we could leave shotguns in our cars in the school parking lot to dove hunt after football practice)....I digress....

You son is ready, man.

And congratulations for it; he isn't ready by accident. You've done a good job.

[QUOTE=HatchieLuvr;4100436]lol KK yeah, we growem big. His 15yr old sister is 6ft, his 18yr old brother is 6'5 240. (I'm 6'4" 250 and my wife is 5'9" xxx :s4: both of us have tall parents and family so it's in em)
QUOTE]

:jaw: Holy cow! I was lucky to reach my last growth spurt and hit 5'2''!

I think you gotta go with your gut. Its bitter sweet when you cut them loose. You're sad but proud at the same time.

In west Virginia you have to be 15 per regulations to hunt on public or land of others, without a license adult with in sight.

I began hunting young, its not like he is going out afield alone, just in his own stand.....

At 13 he should be fine to sit in his own stand from what you say, this isn't his first hunt he has bagged deer, knows the rules, routine, and identification along with judgement on what is a doable shot and whats not....

He is totally old enough and experienced in my book to sit in his own stand.

In Michigan the youth has to be with in unaided eyesight of an adult(18). I am not sure at what age they can go off on their own.

My property is such that I could see my son at 100 yards with unaided eyes and he would still be able to see deer I didn't. He was 14 before he expressed a desire to have a stand of his own.

:D Al

In PA, they have to be 16. My son is 11 and has been hunting since he was 6. He's gotten 5 whitetails and two exotics so far. I think he could be ready to hunt alone at 13, but it's not allowed.

When I say alone, I mean he's in a stand and we both know our locations. With 2-ways, we could check on each other.

When I started hunting, my dad just gave me the 410 or 20ga and said, "have fun". Those were different times. :D

I'm going thru the same thing I've had 4 great years with my son in the stand with me.He has carried a gin or bow for 4 yrs but has actually went with me since he was 4 so 7 yrs total. He now wants to hunt his own stand. I believe I'm gonna put another stand up in sight of me just to keep a watchful eye on him.

In NH they have to be 16 to go solo.

How about a compromise if you are comfy with him being alone. You walk to stand with him, once he's in, safe and sound, you move off. Come back later.

The question is how mature the young hunter is. Not how many candles were on his last birthday cake.
I've known 12 year olds I trusted alone in the field and 18+ year olds I wouldn't trust doing anything potentially dangerous without supervision.
It's a judgment call on the part of the mentor.

Sounds to me like he is ready. I take a 13 & a 14 year old hunting occasionally, and they are not ready to be on their own, but haven't been raised in the culture. They enjoy it, but haven't developed the maturity to be on their own yet.

Your son, though, sounds like he has it all together. I could only assume that a hunter that would pass on pretty nice TN deer would also be aware of what is behind his target.

I would have no worries sending him to his own stand if I were you.

The only draw back to not being with him is on your side...you don't get to be with him. But, you get to go with him, talk about what happened, and still have that connection. It may end up being even more enjoyable having the opportunity to tell each other about your own hunts.

Good luck in the morning...I'll be in my neck of the TN woods again, and am ready to let the rifle ring up something with antlers! Took a couple does during bow season, so meat isn't a necessity at this point. It's all about the big boys from this point on!

This is spot on.

In Wisconsin you have to be 14 to hunt without an adult within sight and talking distance.

A hunter needs to be both physically and mentally mature to safely hunt alone. The decision process is so important and really isn't fair to put a kid out there that isn't ready. Most states have laws relating to children and minimum driving age and my take is much the same with hunting. A loaded gun is just as dangerous as an automobile for someone who doesn't have the experience or judgement to properly use them. I vote for 16 with all the proper training to go it alone wihout supervision.

By the time my son was 12-13 he logged 100's of hours in stands with me. Had many encounters with deer that were just let go to walk by us. At 14 yo I had no problem with him in his own stand and i get what you are saying. He is 18 now and I am still nervous when he goes on his own. I think its just being a dad. My buddys kid is 14 now and no way should he be left on his own. Good kid, but has alot of growing up to do (deer hunting wise) before I would leave him alone. So, every kid is different and should be treated that way.

In Florida you have to be 16 and pass the safety coarse.

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.