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Post by bigugly on Aug 7, 2005 7:00:27 GMT -5
I posted this on another fourm and got about 50/50 response yes and no. This year my oldest son is 7 years old. He has been hunting with me since he was a baby in a back carrier. Has saw me shoot everthing except deer. Has went out with me but always from ground blinds. This year I am getting a buddy stand so our gang can tape some hunts. Do you think 7 is too early to take up a tree stand with me. He is a good listener and does what he is told ie. don't lean over platform! What do you think.
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Post by kevin1 on Aug 7, 2005 7:18:35 GMT -5
I'm trying to get my 8 year old grandson into a HE class so that he can hunt with me this year , so I see no reason why a properly supervised 7 year old shouldn't . The only reason that I waited until now was that my Son wouldn't let him go out earlier .
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Post by 911 on Aug 7, 2005 7:22:48 GMT -5
I dont think it is too young my daughter will be 7 at the end of oct and i plan on letting her get i n the stand with me
She will be wearing a safety harness too!!!!!!
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Post by cambygsp on Aug 7, 2005 7:49:06 GMT -5
My son has accompanied me on hunts of all kinds, (including deer) since he was old enough to walk. He obtained his H.E. certification when he was 8, and took his first shot at a deer several months later, at the ripe old age of 9.
He shot his first turkey this past spring.
NOPE....they are never too young to be introduced to this sport!!!!!
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Post by schoolmaster on Aug 7, 2005 9:23:07 GMT -5
I raised 3 sons and a daughter and they all went hunting with me at an early age. I took plenty of stuff they liked to eat and drink and when they were tired I went home. I didn't get a lot of game at first but as they grew older and learned to shoot and handle a gun safely we did better. When they had the gun I didnt carry one so they were going to do any shooting that was to be done and I had only one gun to watch. They are all hunters now and the grandkids are hunting too. So the hunting tradition is passed on.
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Post by gundude on Aug 7, 2005 9:40:34 GMT -5
7 is way to OLD.. start them as soon as they show and interest. And oh yes make sure they listen well.
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Post by bigugly on Aug 7, 2005 10:37:15 GMT -5
In Ontario you can"t legally shoot game untill you are 12 years old. I said legally and I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea but yes I did harvest animals before I was leagal and at that time the age was 15. I think it comes down to if it is in you to take an animals life. My wife for example loves to eat all wild game but could never bring herself to killing an animal.
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Post by raporter1 on Aug 7, 2005 13:08:24 GMT -5
In Ontario you can"t legally shoot game untill you are 12 years old. I said legally and I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea but yes I did harvest animals before I was leagal and at that time the age was 15. I think it comes down to if it is in you to take an animals life. My wife for example loves to eat all wild game but could never bring herself to killing an animal. I would hate to have an elected body tell me at what age an individual can hunt. Some very young people are quite capable while some 30, 40, 50 year olds have no business in the woods. |
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Post by greg on Aug 7, 2005 16:34:49 GMT -5
Not too young, IF the little fella has the DESIRE to do it. Best advice is to make sure it is FUN for him. That usually means, for most youngsters, going on just the occasional outing, and staying afield for only a limited time, and hopefully in good weather. Don't keep him out after he is bored with it or he gets cold. It is easy to burn a kid out by forcing him to stay out too long, or in freezing weather. But if you make sure it is an enjoyable and comfortable experience, he can actually see some game, and take along some snacks and such, and most kids will love being included. I think if you take a thoughful approach to introducing him to hunting, you may end up with a hunting partner for life.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 7, 2005 17:27:27 GMT -5
Not too young, IF the little fella has the DESIRE to do it. Best advice is to make sure it is FUN for him. That usually means, for most youngsters, going on just the occasional outing, and staying afield for only a limited time, and hopefully in good weather. Don't keep him out after he is bored with it or he gets cold. It is easy to burn a kid out by forcing him to stay out too long, or in freezing weather. But if you make sure it is an enjoyable and comfortable experience, he can actually see some game, and take along some snacks and such, and most kids will love being included. I think if you take a thoughful approach to introducing him to hunting, you may end up with a hunting partner for life. Greg has hit it.. If you take your son hunting the whole hunt will revolve around him and not you. It would be a matter of trying to make it as pleasurable event for him as much as possible. If he is in the stand with you by all means make sure he has a harness that fits him.. Good luck and have fun with your son.. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 7, 2005 17:30:38 GMT -5
In Ontario you can"t legally shoot game untill you are 12 years old. I said legally and I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea but yes I did harvest animals before I was leagal and at that time the age was 15. I think it comes down to if it is in you to take an animals life. My wife for example loves to eat all wild game but could never bring herself to killing an animal. I would hate to have an elected body tell me at what age an individual can hunt. Some very young people are quite capable while some 30, 40, 50 year olds have no business in the woods. That happens in a lot of states. You would be surprised at the number of states that require hunters to be a certain age and pass a HE program before hunting.. |
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Post by jajwrigh on Aug 7, 2005 21:56:49 GMT -5
I agree with a lot of the responses on here....age is just a number and the best age to start a boy in the woods depends on the boy. Take him out and good luck to you! ;D
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Post by budfields on Aug 8, 2005 8:52:44 GMT -5
Hello..
I think much depends on the kid.. Not all have the same degree of maturity. I have seen kids at age 7 and 8 that were far more "advanced" than many teenagers and then again, I have seen kids that age tha had NO BUSINESS being in the woods.
I had my son trailing along with me when he was about 4 or 5 years old. This was mainly during rabbit hunting trips but as he showed interest in hunting, I started taking him squirrel hunting and on scouting trips and treestand placement trips for deer hunting.
He also successfully completed a Hunter Safety Education Course and he started hunting with ME... not this friends. I was with him when he harvested his FIRST deer and the memories we shared through his youth hunting experiences are PRICELESS!!
I always had adults ask me.. "Why are you ALWAYS taking the kid hunting? Wouldn't you want to hunt without him sometime?" I always stated "I WOULD RATHER TAKE MY KID HUNTING THAN BE OUT HUNTING MY KID!!!"
I have six grandkids now and ALL the grandsons are showing interest in hunting and fishing and the granddaughters like ti fish and ride in GRANDPA's bass boat and that is GREAT WITH ME!!!
I always close my e-mails and articles the very same way.. "TAKE A KID HUNTING AND FISHING!!"
GOOD HUNTING,
Bud Fields
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