What age did you start hunting?

[Todder]

I was just wondering at what age the members of this site started hunting. I was thirty before I started.

[Thunderhead]

I started at 12, but went along as soon as I was able to walk.

[Ferg]

Walked and sat with my grandfather and dad from as far back as I can remember - I think the first time I was on a stand alone I was 12 -

but that was back in the day - '67

ferg....

[Trout King]

I began going with my dad when i was 2...we have a pic together of the first deer he shot when i was with him...i was 3...my favorite picture. I started actually hunting when i was 12...i missed the same buck 2 times my first day out...i turned 12 october 25 and that night i missed that darn deer!!!I remember that hunt...and the severe case of buck fever like it was yesterday...but thats ok...the next morning my dad took me pheasant hunting, and i didn't miss my first pheasant. I remember these good times so well, and am very thankful my dad showed me to the outdoors at such a young age...he passed the next spring...but thankfully he showed me fishing and hunting before he passes, now these are my favorite things to do.
Alex

[hangoo]

very nice story Alex

[Molson]

Shot my first duck at age 9 on Saginaw Bay after my father missed. Trust me, duck #2 was a long time in coming, and I don't think dear ole' dad missed again, although I was given the first shot more than not. I also spent countless hours in the boat and deer stand prior to handling a firearm from age 5 thru 8. That was '67 and I haven't stopped hunting since.

[Airoh]

I started at around 8 years old. Was archery hunting whitetails at 12.
Holy Cow! I've been in the woods for quite a few years now.

[flyrod4steelhead]

Started hunting when I was 12. Shot my first deer that year as well, a nice (guessing) 2-2 1/2yr old doe. It was mid-Oct with about 1hr left of day light. Man I was shaking in my boot's while wating for the broadside shot. Even though it was a Doe, I was still shaking.

As a matter of fact, I still get the shake's when a deer come's into veiw, or I hear them, but can't see them. It's the anticipation of wheather (spelling?) or not you will see him/her or for that matter get a shot off.

Good hunting to all this year. Remember, it's not the kill or catch that should matter, it's the time spent in the outdoor's!!

[hangoo]

started at 14

baged my first deer at 16

[Kevin]

Started joining my Dad, Uncles, and older brother as soon as I was big enough to tag along.

Got out of it for many years for various reasons, then started again about 6-7 years ago.

[jigworm]

Started hunting bunnies and pats about 8 or 9. First deer killed at 13. Received a single shot Ithica .22 for my 4th birthday from my grandfather and a .20 gauge at 8 or 9 from my dad.

[rabbit whacker]

Got my Daisy Red Rider when I was 7 and my Little Brave bow about the same time. Did plenty of hunting ever since.

I would tag along with my dad with my daisy for pheasant and rabbits. Started sitting with him for deer when I was 10 years old. Officially started for rabbits, pheasant when I was 12. Started deer hunting when I was 14, shot my first deer ten minutes into my first season sitting next to dad using grandpa's Ithica model 37.

Man, I've got to go get some kleen-ex

[PITBULL]

I started at 14. Mom and Dad did not hunt. But my Dad took the time to go with me and supervise me. He got me my first shotgun a Remington 870 20 ga. And for that I will be forever grateful. This year My son turned 12 this shotgun will be handed over to him. Someday I hope that he will pass it down to his son or daughter.

[stevebrandle]

I think I was 7 or 8 when my dad took me pheasant hunting the first time. I got to carry a BB gun and he'd let me shoot first. Never got a pheasant, but can you imagine getting that one in a million shot and bringing one down? :p

[mike hartges]

I first started hunting small game and deer at age 18. I was a college student at Northern Michigan University. My roomate's family had a cabin near Manistique. Once I was invited to the cabin, I was hooked. The rest,as they say, is history. This is my 31st year hunting.

[eye1zLotto]

At birth (if you really think about it):D :)

[BackStrap]

I was six when I shot my first rabbit by myself with a scoped .22. My dad would walk around until he found a rabbit sitting...then he would get my sister and I and let us shoot them. Sometimes we walked around with him but we had much less success on those trips (for obvious reason).

[Steve]

Somewhere around the age of 25, so it's not always true that if todays very young don't start hunting at a young age that we have lost them permanently.

[tony_1]

I started at age 9, sitting w/ my dad in the deer blind and being the "dog" rabbit hunting. Then when I was legal 12 and 14 respectively I started carrying a gun.

Very true Steve, it is easier to get them started early though.

[deepwoods]

I started "sittin'" with my dad and grandpa when I was about 6. They never shot a deer with me. I don't think I was exactly stealth-like. I rifle hunted when I was 14 and started bow hunting when I was 18 and haven't stopped yet. Got my first deer with a gun at 15 and a bow at 19.
I did chase tweeties with my red rider when I was young. Does that count?

[Rupestris]

So far I hold the record.

I was re-introduced to fishing and camping by my brother-in-law during my mid 20's. From there the interest in outdoor activities has snowballed.

My first time hunting was April of this year for Turkey in Kentucky and here in Michigan in May at the ripe old age of 33. My first deer season will be this November at 34 years-old. I'll probably try my hand at small game as well.

I've made it a point to get my children into the sport(s) at much younger ages than I started. My daughter was casting soft plastics/tubes for crappie and bluegil at age 8 and shooting her brothers Daisy bb gun on occasion. My son has beaten his old man by taking a turkey first. His first year out, with my Uncle as a guide, he took an 18lb turkey with a 5" beard. He's 14 and can't wait 'til November.

Rupe

[Airoh]

I'll be taking a couple first timers this year. My daughters boyfriend will be taking hunters safety and will rifle hunt with us.
Also a friend that is 56 will be in the woods to deer hunt.
Although I failed to do so last year I get at least one new person to spend some time in the woods everynyear.
Pretty late starts for both of them. Better late than never!

[timj]

I was eighteen.
Had to wait untill I was old enough to do it on my own, in that no one in my family hunted.

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy-

Started when I returned to MI; first season was '96, at the tender age of 46.

Sorry, Rupe.......:(

[kroppe]

I grew up in Alpena, the neighbor's father was big into grouse and woodcock; I remember him cleaning birds to this day. But I never got into it.

At age 33 I took up small game, which meant mostly squirrels and the occasional rabbit. The next year at age 34 I took my first deer. Last year I took up archery deer. This year at 36 I hope not to repeat last year's deer skunk!

[buck37]

I used to always go with my dad hunting when I was very young. I shot my first squirel at 8 years old. Shot my first deer at 13 years old with a bow. Shot my first deer with a gun at 14 years old. I have taken a deer every year since I shot the first in 1978. I now let my son go hunting with me, and he will be hunting on his own in the near future. I can't wait.

[Bushwhacker]

Started with the Daisy around the farm controlling sparrows, then with Dad and the .22 after squirrels around 10, if I remember right. So, as I turn 60 in a couple weeks, I guess that gives me a half century of hunting.
Bushwhacker

[1wildchild]

I started hunting four years ago. I started with archery, then I bought a 12 gauge for pheasant. I got my first deer rifle for mother's day two years ago. I still haven't got my first deer, but every day I spend in the woods is a thrill!!!

I got my first pheasant at the MS pheasant hunt this past January.

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

My mom has pic's of me holding up a buck killed by my uncle when I was 4.

I really don't remeber my first hunting trips or fishing trips.

The first clear memory of hunting I have was when my dad and my late Uncle left me behing one year when they went up north to gun hunt. I was 5.

My mom said it was too dangerouse.

I threw a fit for that whole week:) . When my dad came home I remember her saying that he could never go w/o me again:D

I never missed another hunting trip.

Funny my dad and I were up north last year talking with all my buddies about this subject of when we started hunting.

My dad said I could shoot a gun before I could ride a bike:D

[jstfish48162]

i was around 7, and still hold the record,in my family, for rabbits jumped out of the same briar thicket.....6....."we" bagged all of them. i was skinning rabbits and squirrels when i was 5 - 6, and then allowed to join the crew.

my father and grandfather never deer hunted...just small game and fishing. my uncles started me deer hunting when i was around 12 or so.......didn't kill my first deer until i was 22!!!!!! what a long wait.

my favorite memory of hunting is the last time i hunted with my grandfather.....we killed 2 rabbits, a squirrel and a nice ring-neck pheasant.....we had them for dinner together that night.

after dinner, i went to bed for sunday school, and that night my grandfather had a massive stroke that paralyzed his entire left side for the remainder of his great life with us. he will always be my hero and my inspiration for being a sportsman in the wild and on the water.

[Evan]

Can remember being out in the woods w/ dad for rifle season when I was small (3-4 years old) Dad worked 2nd shift so he and I would go out in the mornings....I remember he had a bow, but, I don't think he ever took me out w/ that.....unfortantly, he passed away when I was 8. Mom gave up rifle hunting after Dad was gone and I was left w/ no one to teach me.....Went a few times in high school w/ a buddy though.

Never gave up the fishing though, even when mom would say, put that pole down you're gonna get hurt!!!! I still love to fish, my oldest has inherited that love and we spend time doing that as often as we can.

Evan

[bowhunter4life]

I was only 4 the first time i ever sat in a stand with my dad. I guess you wouldn't actually call this hunting but I was out in the woods with him them. I guess if your asking when i actually started to carry a gun or bow in the woods then the answere would be when i was twelve.

[Keith Sage]

I started at 13 shot my first deer at 15 and gutted it all by myself.
I did mostly small game, coons, porkies, squrrils and a lot of pats.

[Pinefarm]

In a duck blind, my dad sat me on his lap and let me shoot a drake mallard that landed in the decoys. He and his buddies brought an extra .410 along for the event. I was 4 years old. The mounted duck still looks great on the wall, despite it's age. After that, I was unstoppable.

[Old Hunter]

Started hunting 63 years ago at the ripe age of 10 and still enjoy being in the field for rabbits, pheasants, deer in both archery and gun, also still waterfowl hunting. Oh yes I also turkey hunt in the spring.:) :) :)

[treestand6]

I started actual hunting at 7yrs old. I'm now 57yrs old! I was in deer camp at the age of 5!

[DBDalton]

Hey Treebob...you found us.....

[treestand6]

D.B. I have posted here before! Like in May or so! In the Turkey Section--

[Deershutzen]

You should put in categories 5 and under, 6-10, 11-15. I have a picture of my dad and I when I was 5 years old. Camo'd up and face painted. I was hunting, just not killing.