What age did you start your kid hunting?

[huntlakewood]

My daughter started going at 11 and I told her you go for two years and I dont hear I am cold all the time I would put her through the class well she is 18 now and still hunting with me. Gets mad when she cant help with the butchering do to work. she will be my partner untl the day I die. Mom goes to Ilove it 

[TeamBoyd]

GWP - Too funny, you had me laughing out loud.  I also fathered a GSP and your timeline fit him perfectly.  I let him keep his nuts however.

[Buckrub]

Get your kid into hunters ed as soon as they can pass the course.... put in for ghost points.
Start the kid out with small game and work your way up....when you feel comfortable he/she is ready for big game..next comes permits which ghost points for a couple of years will only help.

[300wsm]

My three year old daughter told me she wants to hunt bear and nothing else.    wonder if she will still say that in 5 or 6 years.  Just found out we are having another girl so hoping one of them will be my hunting buddy or both.

[lokidog]

Took my daughter duck hunting with me at 5, my boy turkey hunting at 4.  She decided she wanted to do HS at 14.  Not sure she will hunt but at least she is thinking about it.  Weathergirl has started going through the HS manual with our son who is now 7.  He just finished reading the fourth Harry Potter (700+ pages) and scored 19/20 on the AR test.  I think he'll do fine on the manual.  Unfortunately, he is kind of small for his age so I am a bit worried about the shooting part.  He does well with his sister's .22.

[throttlejocky20]

Here's my opinion, you cant set an age on something that this. I believe its all on the child and there maturity level. For instance I know a kid who is 13 father was a big time military man and I would not even think about letting him go after game with a weapon. Not that he is not capable but way to immature. I have been taking my son hunting since he was 8 months old. I would put him in his back pack and go (archery hunting only). A lot of hunts could have been more successfull if this was not the case, but that's the price you pay to get the youth involved in something  you love. When will he start hunting well that's all up to him, when i believe he is ready to do it safely and ethically.

[Magnum_Willys]

As soon as they can read and past the test themselves if they are physically strong enough to handle the rifle.  My son was 8. 

[couesbitten]

My son took hunter's ed at 9, turned 10 in October, about three days before deer season opened.  He started out shooting a 30.06 with reduced recoil ammo.  Shot his first buck the following year, first elk the next year, and second buck the third.  It's been great, he's my favorite hunting partner, without question.

[Bob33]

Here's an interesting story from the other end of the spectrum:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/10/16/1211836/outdoorsman-stronger-with-age.html

"Old Guys Rule"!

[dscubame]

I was 10.  Going to do the same with my daughter next year at 10.  She was more than ready this year at 9 but I was not ready. 

[HUNT]

Take them when they are ready.  My oldest was 9 when he started.  My middle son was 8.  My youngest was 9.  Each one if different.  But they all had experience shooting trap starting at 7. 

[krout81]

I was in the woods at 5.  First tag @ 11 that was my Dad's rule. I can remember a few times seeing elk and watching my father shoot a few when I was younger.  My grandfather always came with us so we didnt always go tromping in the woods, did a lot of fishing on the HOH.  I will proably do the same with my kids as long as they are ready, and want to go.    

[Birdguy]

I took my son hunting the first time when he was 5. We had 2 doe tags so figured he would really get to see what it was about. He watched the shots and helped where he could carrying binos, and a back pack as we drug deer. One of my greatest hunts to date.
    Took the daughter at 9 and the boy at 7 to HS. They told me to put the boy through and see how he did. Passed the class just fine but being on the small size, had a little trouble with the shotgun shooting (optional) but did do it. My daughter went out pheasant hunting that year and decided they were too quick, but we had a good time. He did not hunt that fall, but did turkey last spring. Got both shooting .270 for her and .243 for him. I was not confident in his shooting yet and she did not want to shoot a deer. Now this spring both are eager to go turkey and can not wait for deer. She shoot less then 2" groups @ 100 yds. everytime and he is under 4". If all goes well I may not hunt (carry a gun) for several years, but carry a video camera all hunting season .
   As mentioned before each kid is different and you will know when the time is right. It is always a good idea to put the kids through hunter safety so they understand the key issues. Good luck and can not wait to see pictures.

[royalbull]

my dad made me wait until I was 12, so although I would take my boys along with me, I made all three wait until they were 12

[BIGINNER]

MY PARENTS DIDN'T HUNT,   MY FATHER-IN0LAW GOT ME INTO GUNS,   AND I GOT INTO HUNTING BY CRUISING THE INTERNET UNTILL I FOUND THIS SITE.  I'VE HAD MY HUNTING LICENCE FOR 2 YEARS NOW,   


MY KID IS 14 MONTHS RIGHT NOW,  AND HE SHOOTS HIS LITTLE DAISY BB GUN,  (I COCK IT AND HE POINTS AND PULLS THE TRIGGER)     HE LOVES GUNS...