Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Youth Board => Topic started by: Maverick on April 24, 2016, 09:19:34 AM

Title: How old?
Post by: Maverick on April 24, 2016, 09:19:34 AM: How old were you and your kids when you did hunter safety? Curious what the apropriate age is. I was 11 when I did it. My nephew was 10 years old.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Timberstalker on April 24, 2016, 09:28:18 AM: I was 8. I can barely remember it to tell you the truth. I feel like 10 is a good age to do it.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Gobble Gobble on April 24, 2016, 09:36:12 AM: I would like to put my son through at 10 or 11. It all depends on his maturity and ability to be responsible & trusted with a weapon. He will be 8 in July & is currently grounded till further notice from any kind of shooting or play hunting for his inability to follow safety rules. He frequently gets in trouble for hunting the dogs with this nerf gun and nerf bow. The straw that broke the camels back was he hid in the tulips like it was a ground blind & shot the neighbors service dog in the eye with a nerf gun. He was told not to do it by both me wife & the neighbor. He was lucky the dog was not hurt.

So to answer your question I believe it should be on maturity. My son at this rate will be a teen before he gets to go through it.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Timberstalker on April 24, 2016, 09:40:33 AM: Quote from: Gobble Gobble on April 24, 2016, 09:36:12 AM
I would like to put my son through at 10 or 11. It all depends on his maturity and ability to be responsible & trusted with a weapon. He will be 8 in July & is currently grounded till further notice from any kind of shooting or play hunting for his inability to follow safety rules. He frequently gets in trouble for hunting the dogs with this nerf gun and nerf bow. The straw that broke the camels back was he hid in the tulips like it was a ground blind & shot the neighbors service dog in the eye with a nerf gun. He was told not to do it by both me wife & the neighbor. He was lucky the dog was not hurt.

So to answer your question I believe it should be on maturity. My son at this rate will be a teen before he gets to go through it.

I understand the problems here........ However, this is funny as hell.
Sorry you are having to deal with it. He will learn from it.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Maverick on April 24, 2016, 09:53:26 AM: My nephew is currently 7. Not planning on him doing hunter safety this year but I do trust his maturity. I believe his biggest struggle is hes a smaller kid. Hoping he has a growthspurt lol. Hes been out hunting with me since he could walk. My plan is that if he passes hunter safety in say a year I would have him hunting just ducks, Turkey's and maybe coyotes until he got a little older to try deer hunting.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: PolarBear on April 24, 2016, 09:54:34 AM: My daughter passed her hunter's safety at age 11. I sat in on several of the classes and there were quite a few parents that were obviously forcing their kids through the course. a lot of them were 5-9 years old. There were also a couple of kids in their mid teens that had no business being there. As said before, it all depends on maturity level of the kid and not the age or desire of the parent.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: splitshot on April 24, 2016, 09:56:43 AM: I think it was about 1956, I was about 15. that was the first year that it was required. started hunting at about 10 and did not need it unless I was illegal. mike w
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: jrebel on April 24, 2016, 09:57:14 AM: I was 8 years old. My daughter will probably do it next year at 9.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: MuleySniper on April 24, 2016, 09:57:25 AM: My son just passed at the beginning of April. He's nine. He was the youngest kid in his class. Did very well, passed his written with a 70 out of 75. Start teaching basic weapons safely as early as possible as that is the major focus. I'll add he has spent a lot of time in the woods with his grandpa and I and that really helps too.
MS
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: ghosthunter on April 24, 2016, 10:09:05 AM: I have taught Hunter Ed over 25 years. Do t rush them.
Let them be kids. A toy gun is a toy gun. A real gun is a real gun.

Generally if the child is doing well in school. They will be fine in Hunter Ed.
8 years old to 100.

I see folks every year bring their child to class knowing they are not ready,but hoping they might slide through. It's a dis- service to the kid and the kid who was ready but couldn't get a seat because the class was full.

Relax
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: goosegunner on April 29, 2016, 11:14:31 AM: It defenitly comes down to maturity, not what age and all kids are different. I think the tuff part for the younger kids. Is sitting through a 4hr class every night for 4 nights. There's a lot of info to take in. I had twin boys that did it at age 9. One boy was completely fine and the other would check out mentally after a couple hours. He ended up not passing of course. So what I did with him was the online course where we could study and go at his pace. Then still after he passed and had a couple season under his belt I still made him go through the in class course.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Jonathan_S on April 29, 2016, 11:17:42 AM: 9 years old back in '98 or '99.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: CP on April 29, 2016, 11:18:56 AM: I've never been to a hunter's ed class.

My daughter was 21 when she took it. To me it has to be their idea to hunt and she didn’t express an interest until then. My other daughters have yet to express interest and I expect they never will.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Dhoey07 on April 29, 2016, 11:23:14 AM: I was 12. Shooting an animal isn't a game,and I won't let my kids take hunter safety and buy a license for them until they understand that. I doubt that most young kids understand exactly what they are doing or the responsibility that comes with taking an animal. It's not if they can pass the class, or if they can hike the hills, it's if they should.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Seahawk12 on April 29, 2016, 11:27:12 AM: I never took one. Started hunting back before there was such a thing.
My daughter took it at nine years old. I sat through all the classes with her. She loved it and did very well.
I believe that the question of "when" to put a kid through the course has more to do with the individual childs ability to pay attention and learn and less to do with how old they are. If the kid has a desire to take the class and you are willing to put in the extra time to make sure the kid is absorbing the information then I say to go for it.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Thefisherman83 on April 29, 2016, 11:35:11 AM: I was 11, only missed 1 on the written test and aced the field course. This was in 94.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: 7mmfan on April 29, 2016, 11:50:06 AM: Quote from: Dhoey07 on April 29, 2016, 11:23:14 AM
I was 12. Shooting an animal isn't a game,and I won't let my kids take hunter safety and buy a license for them until they understand that. I doubt that most young kids understand exactly what they are doing or the responsibility that comes with taking an animal. It's not if they can pass the class, or if they can hike the hills, it's if they should.

I also did it at 12. And you are correct in making sure the kid knows exactly what is at stake when you hit the woods with a gun and a plan to kill something.

For me, I had been hunting with my Dad a few times, but had never seen an animal killed or been there for the field dressing/butchering. It was all new to me. I shot a nice buck in the first 20 minutes of my first day out. I was about 500 yards from my dad when I jumped him and shot him on the run at about 80 yards. I had to finish him when I got to him. My very first realization was that that deer was running for his life and I killed him. I did a lot of growing up in that instant. I realized that it was not a game, I owed it to that animal to minimize his pain and suffering. I also realized that I was a predator, and it was what I was meant to do.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: BIGDOG253 on April 29, 2016, 11:58:33 AM: I was 11, there were kids younger than me in the class. I aced the field test but barely passed the written with an 80% :yike:
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: police women of America on May 02, 2016, 02:39:19 PM: I did it at 12, but 11/12 is an appropriate age to me. I think a hunter should be old enough to know exactly how the gun works and be able to skin their own animal.
But I agree with Gobble Gobble, it's also based on maturity. If you know they will be safe alone with a gun and won't shoot at the first thing they see, that's a good maturity level.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: steen on May 02, 2016, 08:08:49 PM: Age isn't a factor. Mostly you should look at desire without pushing, ability to handle a firearm, ability to take tests ( some kids just don't test will at a young age). My kids took it around 11-12 mostly because we had 4 girls within 3 years and we needed to ease into it. Taking them all hunting was a pretty big undertaking, but hugely rewarding. Easing one to two at a time as beginners was the best for us. This year my Grandson will be 10 and is taking it. He surprised me with it just a couple weeks ago and he happened to be at his Mom's the week he went and she took him!!! He didn't have any desire a year ago but I didn't push it. He tested well for his age on hands on. Tomorrow is the written and we'll see. He'd go with me so I'm not worried about it. He can just come along this year also. He loves to camp. So each child is an individual and my Grandson is a prime example of you never know! Good luck.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: j_h_nimrod on May 02, 2016, 08:33:33 PM: I think I was 10-11 when I finally had to take the class so I could range farther afield. I had already been running over my buddies hundreds of acres and a few other places where licenses didn't apply, not that there were licenses for coyotes, prairie dogs, magpies, and porcupines that I knew of. I finally figured I better get a hs card and license when I started hitting public land for for rabbits. Couldn't hunt big game until 14 so that was not a problem.

Plan on working with my wife and daughter so she can get hers at ~9 if she is ready.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: jackmaster on May 02, 2016, 08:41:45 PM: I was 12 but had been huntn with my dad since I was in 2 grade, my son took it and passed at 8 but I didn't let him hunt deer until he was 10 or 11, my daughter went when she was 12 and I didn't let her deer hunt until she was 14 , huntn came natural to my son it just took my daughter a little longer, they both had to show me they were ready, just because they go through hunters Ed doesn't mean they should be tromping the woods with a gun, make them prove to you that they can handle themselves, it's a pretty big deal the first time they actually drop the hammer on something other than birds..
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: wadu1 on May 02, 2016, 08:43:46 PM: I was 14, got my certificate at Tacoma Sportsman's Club about 1964/5. first tag at 14/5 because of dad's work schedule. Got a spike MD that year near Republic on my first hunt with dad. I sure wish he could get out with me again but at 90 I don't think so.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: jmscon on May 02, 2016, 09:33:53 PM: I didn't go through the course until I was 25, that was 2003! My mom's dad was a fairly successful hunter but wasn't hunting anymore by the time I was old enough to get interested. My dad hunted a little bit but quit after him and another guy drew beads on each other!

I have a daughter that's two and one on the way. All I can do is hope that they might be into hunting but I'm not going to force it on them.

Patients is key, don't force them. When they are ready they will let you know.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Rainier10 on May 02, 2016, 09:48:07 PM: I think I was 40 and took it at the same time as my daughter who was 8 when the class started and turned 9 during the class. She did great but we did a bunch of studying leading up to the class.

My youngest daughter took the class at 9 as well and passed with no issues, again we did a bunch of studying in advance of the class to get her familiar with the material.

I now teach hunter education and can say that it all depends on the kid. Statistics say that the failure rate for kids under 10 is exponentially higher than those kids 10 and older. Not to say you have to be at least 10 but statistically they have a better chance of passing.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: runamuk on May 02, 2016, 10:20:11 PM: I am old enough I didn't need it, however my son who was hearing impaired and had failed it twice in 2 states needed some support so mama took it with him, he was 11 and when he took it with me he passed :) the kid wanted to hunt ducks bad.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: drakehntr on May 14, 2016, 01:28:07 PM: My 9 yr old was begging me for the past year to take hunters safety. I had it my head to wait til he was 11. But i thought if he can take the class and show me how responsible he is, i will go with it. He passed easily summer of 2015 and shot his first buck and several ducks his first season. Super proud of him.

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Title: Re: How old?
Post by: clindsayrun on May 14, 2016, 04:27:09 PM: We have a family tradition of 10 years old. Grandpa started at 10, Dad started at 10, my brothers and I all passed hunters safety and started hunting at 10. My boy will wait until he is 10.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: buckfvr on May 14, 2016, 05:16:03 PM: Passed class and got mine in 1964 @ 10.........
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: The Gobble-stopper on May 15, 2016, 09:36:06 AM: I was 12, and I too was a Hunter ED teacher for years. Back then we would discourage parents form bringing any child younger than 10. The maturity level was just not there at that time to put a loaded weapon in a childs hands. And expect him to truly understand the consequences of pulling the trigger. And until recently I was given the chance to make assessments, on the ages we should allow. I feel 10 is the average for maturity, but I have seen 8 year olds that would be fine. And on the other hand I saw adults in there 50's that were more immature than those very same 8 year olds. So go figure. A good upbringing, early learning from responsible adults. And most will do fine. I would recommend no one under 8. And those 8 to 12 year olds should be chosen by there parents or guardians on a case by case decision. And please do not put them through class just to get an extra tag for the parent to use. Each year we hear and see this happen. Only a few, but it is disheartening when you hear a parents say in front of the children, that he is doing it only for him and not the child. Just my two bits.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Jonathan_S on May 17, 2016, 07:52:26 AM: Quote from: The Gobble-stopper on May 15, 2016, 09:36:06 AM
I was 12, and I too was a Hunter ED teacher for years. Back then we would discourage parents form bringing any child younger than 10. The maturity level was just not there at that time to put a loaded weapon in a childs hands. And expect him to truly understand the consequences of pulling the trigger. And until recently I was given the chance to make assessments, on the ages we should allow. I feel 10 is the average for maturity, but I have seen 8 year olds that would be fine. And on the other hand I saw adults in there 50's that were more immature than those very same 8 year olds. So go figure. A good upbringing, early learning from responsible adults. And most will do fine. I would recommend no one under 8. And those 8 to 12 year olds should be chosen by there parents or guardians on a case by case decision. And please do not put them through class just to get an extra tag for the parent to use. Each year we hear and see this happen. Only a few, but it is disheartening when you hear a parents say in front of the children, that he is doing it only for him and not the child. Just my two bits.

Wow that is pathetic!

On a positive note, thank you for volunteering so much of your time for the program :tup:
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: SweetCosmicPope on May 20, 2016, 10:21:25 AM: I took the course when I was 19, but that really doesn't count because I had been hunting since I was 8 and only took it because they changed the law in Texas. lol My gramps had started teaching me about gun safety long before he ever allowed me to even touch a rifle, however.

My wife and I agreed that my son couldn't even touch a red ryder bb gun until he was 8, which we did after much begging from him, and I used that as an opportunity to give him a jump start on hunter's ed, in the same tradition as my gramps did with me. I spent the next year teaching him about muzzle control, the safety rules, trigger discipline, etc; I additionally drilled into him that hunting can be fun, but to realize he's taking another creature's life and to be respectful of that fact and hunt for animals we're going to eat and to do it cleanly.

He turns 9 next week, and he's been begging me to start letting him learn how to shoot a "real gun" and take him hunting, so I finally turned him loose on the hunter's ed course. He studied, and studied, and studied, and was able to recite his safety rules on the second night. He wrapped up on Tuesday, and he's still hauling his hunter's ed book and 2016 regs guide everywhere with him and reading them because he's so excited to get out and hunt.

For kids his age, and I'd say I noticed this with several of the other kids in the course as well, I think the toughest part is paying attention for the long classes at night. My son actually has ADHD, and by the time he gets to class and sits through 3.5 hours, his meds have long-since worn off and he had a VERY difficult time focusing and sitting still. Fortunately, I sat in on the class with him, and I was able to help him study at home to fill the gaps.

My criticism is that alot of the kids there clearly weren't ready to hunt big game, yet, but their parents were eager to get their special permits apps submitted. What we're doing is getting my son a smaller .22LR to train on, and start hunting small game like rabbits and stuff, and he can come with me while I hunt deer. He's anxious to hunt deer and turkeys and bears, and everything, but he's going to have to crawl before he walks. Hell, I've never even shot a bear. lol
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: bigjohn98591 on May 20, 2016, 10:41:37 AM: I was 7 when I took Hunters ed. I was the youngest in the class, but had the highest score in the class. I had been hunting with dad since I was old enough to walk, and took that time to drill gun safety in to my head just as I do with my girls now. My wife and two middle daughters took the class last summer. this summer I will put my youngest in the class, she just turned 9 in March. I will sit through the class with her. What really pissed me off last year was the day of the final exam parents who were (according to my wife n kids) giving the students the answers so that they will pass the test. I will help my daughter with the question, but the answer is all up to her and I've made it very clear to her.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: deadyote on May 20, 2016, 11:41:53 AM: I was 17 but my son just did it last year and he was 9. He was the youngest but did fine. My 2 cents is DO NOT TAKE THEM TO THE TACOMA SPORTSMANS CLUB!!! The kids were treated like crap and have heard similar stories from others.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: SweetCosmicPope on May 20, 2016, 12:15:49 PM: That's interesting about Tacoma Sportsmans Club. Did anyone say anything about shooting there? They were recommended to me, and I was planning on taking my son there for target practice and sighting in the rifles. Don't want him treated like he's not welcome, however.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: deadyote on May 20, 2016, 01:40:20 PM: Shooting there isn't the issue in my mind. When your shooting your not dealing with people beside the range safety guys who have to be strict because of safety, but after how the instructors in the hunters ed class talked and treated the kids in the class, I'm done there. I go to Paul Bunyan and the people there are much better, plus it's only a couple minutes away. My opinion, so take it for what it's worth.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Rainier10 on May 23, 2016, 10:04:51 AM: I haven't been to the class at Tacoma Sportsman Club. My buddy took his son through and said it was a good class. His son was 9 at the time. He did some studying before hand to get ready for the class.

I took my youngest daughter through at Paul Bunyan. They were great and it actually inspired me to become an instructor myself. Those guys out there are really passionate about hunting and cover a lot of material for sure. She got to shoot a rifle, shotgun and bow. Their walkthrough course is very good.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: huntnphool on May 23, 2016, 10:27:46 AM: Hunter Ed graduate class of '71 for me. :tup:

My daughter took the class at 10 at Cabelas, cool place to have a class, then purchased her own license with money she saved. Took that pic on the way out.

My son took his class also at age 10 but at Tacoma Sportsmans Club, I thought they did a great job with the kids. We went from there and headed to Cabelas, he wanted the same picture as his sister. :chuckle: He too had to earn his own money and buy his own license.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: SweetCosmicPope on May 25, 2016, 04:50:12 PM: Yeah, we also went to Cabela's over in Tulalip.

My son loved his instructors too. I felt like they were very good with the kids. It was inspiring to me. Makes me want to volunteer my time once I'm more familiar with the intricacies of hunting in Washington.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: silverdalesauer on May 27, 2016, 10:31:01 PM: Hunter Education course in 1987 - I was 15.

My oldest son, now 14, took the course at age 12.

My youngest son is 10 and will probably take it at age 12 too. He's too busy fishing to hunt right now anyway. :)
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: blindluck on June 03, 2016, 10:01:08 PM: I was 9, followed my dad around on whidby island with a youth model single shot 20 gauge with slugs. I remember hoping I didn't see a deer because I was scared to shoot the gun.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: HunterofWA on September 17, 2016, 11:38:49 AM: I was eight, had some fun, didn't really harvest anything by my self until 11. Still it helped me grow up a bit faster. It's a great way to build character. But the biggest thing is if they can shoot comfortably and if they are good listeners.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: bronczilla on October 04, 2016, 09:17:04 AM: My son passed Hunters Ed last weekend, he is 9 :tup:
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: bigjohn98591 on October 04, 2016, 09:45:14 AM: I was 7 when I took the class (I'm 43 now) my wife and two middle daughters took it last year my daughters were 15 & 14 and my youngest passed this year she is 9. All took the test on their own, I had to help explain a few words on the test to the youngest but she answered the questions on her own. It really pissed me off last year when the others took the test that there were parents giving answers to kids who were taking the test. I told each of my kids and my wife that they were on their own and if they failed it was on them, just as my dad did me. I have been teaching my kids from an early age about gun safety and they have been hunting with me from the time they were little. I have always felt that gun safety should start at home and from a young age.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: mulehunter on October 04, 2016, 10:22:25 AM: My daughter passed Hunting safety course when she just turn 8 years old. Dave was great Instructor in Easton. As long as you think your kids can read good and expect to pass the class then why not take them to class. It doesn't hurt to try at age 7 or up. :tup:
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: tlbradford on October 04, 2016, 10:47:51 AM: My daughter did it at 8 years old as well. Her reading comprehension and maturity was pretty high at that age. The instructor was excellent. I made it a point to make sure she attended the classes, and did not do the online course. I kept her on turkey and grouse the first year and a half. She is 10 and started on big game this year. She will probably be 12 or 13 before I let her swing a shotgun on birds on the wing.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Nailed it on October 04, 2016, 10:56:10 AM: My son is 8 and just passed. Parents could not even sit by there kids in class, because it was full. A teenaged girl, who slept through most of the class, and could not identify any gun, got a 58%, still passed. My son and most others paid attention, and studied. Kind of a slap in the face.

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Title: Re: How old?
Post by: lokidog on October 05, 2016, 12:31:26 AM: How does a 58 percent pass? I thought it had to be 70, which is still too low IMO.

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Title: Re: How old?
Post by: b.roberts on October 05, 2016, 05:31:04 AM: I'm sorry some had a bad experience at Tacoma sportsman's club. My daughter took her class there at 11, three years ago. I thought the class was great and the instructors were fantastic.

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Title: Re: How old?
Post by: lamrith on October 05, 2016, 12:57:03 PM: What? Our class this year was 70% to pass, how can 58 be considered passing?

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Title: Re: How old?
Post by: euskfnm on October 05, 2016, 01:11:54 PM: My elder buy @ 11; 4 years ago, But my younger one wanted to do it also ; he did it this year and he is 8
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: bronczilla on October 11, 2016, 12:46:04 PM: Quote from: lokidog on October 05, 2016, 12:31:26 AM
How does a 58 percent pass? I thought it had to be 70, which is still too low IMO.

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60 is passing
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Rainier10 on October 13, 2016, 12:53:06 PM: I think it is 60 out 75 questions is passing for the traditional class.
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: Nailed it on October 13, 2016, 02:59:24 PM: Yes 60 out of 75 is passing, but some teachers will go over the wrong answers with the students. Then they pass.

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Title: Re: How old?
Post by: lokidog on October 13, 2016, 06:04:10 PM: Quote from: Nailed it on October 13, 2016, 02:59:24 PM
Yes 60 out of 75 is passing, but some teachers will go over the wrong answers with the students. Then they pass.

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That makes more sense, that is an 80%. Still shouldn't pass them if they got the answer wrong originally though, that would not have flown when I was an instructor....
Title: Re: How old?
Post by: YoungFowler on October 13, 2016, 06:09:08 PM: When I did it it was 80% I believe

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