? on hunting with my son

[PLAINSHUNTER]

Hey guys,
I grew up hunting in the Mid-West but the family and I have been in SW WA for 9 years now and we love it.  I've been following the board for a couple years and have finally joined as I'm traveling less for work and hope to be hunting more.  I've been coyote hunting this winter for the first time and really appreciate the tips I've been able to glean from the board.  No luck yet but I know I've still got a lot to learn.  I've read the regulations a few times but I can't seem to answer this question - Can I take my 12 y.o. son out in the field with me if he is not carrying a gun?  He is unlicensed (we're working on it) currently.  Or do I need to wait until he is licensed.  In Kansas you didn't need a license until 16 y.o.
Thanks in advance for any insight.

[lokidog]

He can accompany you anywhere you can legally go doing whatever activity you can legally participate in.

[jackelope]

Yes, take him. No license needed. You can do the mentor/escort thing too prior to hunter Ed. 1 season, has to be with you at all times. More info at wdfw website.

[h20hunter]

Exactly....give that boy a call and get him out there.

[coachcw]

yep just no gun on him 

[h20hunter]

If he can call in a dog for you to plug and gets his picture taken with it I'll have one of the sponsors of the site send him a varmit call as a "atta boy" prize.

[PLAINSHUNTER]

Wow!  This forum is awesome.
Thank you all for responses and your very kind offer H2OHunter
I hope to one day be able to give back to this board more than I've gained (probably not possible)

[lokidog]

yep just no gun on him 

Actually, I think he could carry a gun, as long as he is not shooting at a coyote.  You don't need a hunting license to shoot starlings or "city" pigeons do you?

[crschralping]

Very cool your taking your son out, hope to see a pic of him draggin a dog back to the rig soon!

[WaltAlpine]

Plains. Welcome to the site. It is an excellent place to gain a lot of good info. scour all of the threads and you will come up with stuff that eill be very helpful. You will also laugh uncontrollably on many occasions.

[Buckmark]

All my sons went with me at various times when they were young and not yet hunting, all carried a BB or pellet gun to learn proper firearms handling, muzzle control etc. They also got to shoot at various non living targets to learn marksmanship. I still have all the guns they use as kids, sometimes when they come over and take them out of the safe they recall/tell stories about when they used them back then.
Have fun, they grow up fast...

[PLAINSHUNTER]

So they can carry BB/Pellet gun so long as not shooting at game?  That's great and thanks Buckmark.  That's what my brother and I did as kids going out with our Father, Uncles and Grandfather.  My brother and I would beat the bush trying to flush birds (we didn't have dogs) while they were the shooters.
We didn't  much realize or care that we didn't have a chance at anything with our Red Ryders. Just having a blast being there.  Thanks again to all.