What age did you start your kid hunting?

[TeamBoyd]

I have three sons but the oldest is just now 7.  I'm really starting to think about getting them in the Field but was wondering what age some of you that have older kids started them at.  I was thinking 9 or 10 to take hunters education and start with a .22.  Any words of wisdom from the older generation

[Uplandbum]

Pulled out my Hunter Certification for this one.  I am 21 now and I received my hunter certification in 1998 when I was 9 years old.  My dad bought me a 410, thinking a small shotgun because we hunt upland birds, but we found out fast that it was to heavy and the hammer was difficult.  My next gun was a youth model 20ga pump which worked much better until I grew out of it.  He had a .270 that I could shoot when we deer hunted.  I shot my first deer when I was 11 but had watched my dad shoot deer before then and I started carrying a loaded shotgun while bird hunting when I was 12, I think... but carried an unloaded one since I was 10 which I would load when the dog pointed.

[quadrafire]

I started taking mine with the daisy red rider at about 9, he just took hunter saftey course this year at 13 (about 2 yrs later than I would have liked, but its how it worked out) Now I am fine with it. He is very responsible. Didn't kill anything this year, but we weren't able to get out much.

[quadrafire]

oh--
and the younger kids in the class I think were ill-equiped emotionally ie, the 9-10yr olds. I think it was more for the parents.
so make sure your kids want to do it that early, not just because you do

[DoubleJ]

my oldest is 8 and bagged his first deer this year.  he could have passed hunters ed at 6 if he could have held a gun.  take them when they're ready.  you will know when.  i knew it was time when his christmas list last year was 3 pages and there was not a non hunting related item on it

[huntergreg]

I got mine when I was 8 years old. My son is 7 years old right now and has been hunting with me since he was 3 years old. I am going to wait untill he is 9 or 10. Before I get him into the class.

[Bob33]

My son passed hunter education at 7 1/2.  He got the top score in the class on the test (75/75), so don't think for a minute that young children can't study and do well. He was still a bit too small to hold a gun safely in my opinion, but he's accompanied me on some hunts for a few years and gained some experience.  I expect that by next year he should be easily able to safely hunt with adult supervision.

Now his younger 6 year old sister is asking when she can take the class and start hunting....

[Deep Forks]

I was 8 and my son was 9 and my grandson will be 10.  It all depends on the maturity of the youth, all are different.  We all were handling weapons and learning the rules long before taking firearm safety.  My son and grandson both would tell anyone when ask, at a very young age, that an unloaded gun kills the most people....Even at 5 my boy's always checked their BB guns for being loaded before doing anything else and they still do with any weapon handed to them even if told it's unloaded.  

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Both my daughters took Hunter Ed. when they were seven and killed their first deer the next season at 8 years old.  Some may think that's too young, but I figured if they weren't already into in it by the time they were ten they wouldn't be interested by the time they turned 10  

[Raul Duke]

 Oldest showed interest in hunting @ 14. Took his class and harvested his 1st doe that fall.
Second oldest took his class this year at age 12. He also hunted with us this fall, but could not make the shot.
My other 2 want to hunt aswel, girls ages 10 & 5. I have told both of them when they turn 12, they can take the class. Then we will see if they are ready.  I think 12 is a good age.

[ridge line]

My son passed hunter education at 7 1/2.  He got the top score in the class on the test (75/75), so don't think for a minute that young children can't study and do well. He was still a bit too small to hold a gun safely in my opinion, but he's accompanied me on some hunts for a few years and gained some experience.  I expect that by next year he should be easily able to safely hunt with adult supervision.

Now his younger 6 year old sister is asking when she can take the class and start hunting....

                         well said bob33. My son Austin was 5 turning 6 and past his hunt-ed class with a 92%He has harvested a deer the past 2 years.. My youngest son just turned 4 and i will wait until he is at least 7. Every child is different.

[huntergreg]

You can do it all online if you want. here is a link

http://my.hunter-ed.com/welcome/how_it_works?default_course=201050

[Caseyd]

I started going out when i was like 7.

Took hunters safety when i was 12

[patton1]

My son is 9. He took hunter safety this summer.  He really impressed me with how much he payed attention and only missed one question on his test.  I think a lot of it depends on how much they really want to get out there and hunt.  He was we really excited and he got his first deer during modern firearm with a muzzleloader. A nice little 2x1 blacktail.

[GWP]

Well, introduced him to a chukar wing at about 8 weeks, and kept going from there. At 4 he is just coming into his own, and had grown into a nice boy. Had to cut off his nuts though...