[Urriah]

I grew up under the 12/14 age rules. I started tagging along to deer camp at 5, was helping butcher our chickens and ducks by 6, passed the written hunter safety exam at 7. There's no reason I should have had to wait to 12 or 14 to hunt.
I've been exposing my kids to a lot, both under 7 years old. They know where 'fishin nuggets', duck and deer meat all come from and have watched me pluck/skin/filet countless critters at this point. They really enjoy going duck hunting (mostly boat rides and snacks) and really like ice fishing (again, snacks). I'm in no rush to have them shoot and kill something, however, because I know they don't fully understand what killing an animal means. But as soon as they are ready, I'd like to be the one to decide to, not an arbitrary age set by the state.

 

[Forest Meister]

This opinion may not be at all popular with parents who believe their kids are ready to carry a loaded firearms in the field, be they 6 or 16, but maybe it would be beneficial if dad would take a step back, remove the proud parent hat for a little while, and try to look at things from arms length. What am I getting at? Sometimes parents overlook or rationalize recurring safety protocols because they are so focused on having their son or daughter become a hunter that they are fail to pick up on things that might be as plain as the nose on your face to an ''outsider".

A co-owner in our camp decided his son was ready to hunt deer, he passed hunter safety with flying colors and dad had been taking him out for birds and squirrels for at least three years. Not sure how his firearm handling was around dad, I was not there, but around camp and if walking to or from blinds with him on the same 2-track he tended to wave the muzzle around like a flag or carry the rifle with the muzzle facing the other hunter. He would also regularly load and unload his gun with the muzzle facing a vehicle, camp or an outbuilding. If we drew it to his attention he stopped what he was doing...until the next time. He was a nice kid but he just did not seem to have the maturity to be left to his own devices with a dangerous weapon, but dad was sure he was ready. Dad made it abundantly clear that the issue(s) any of us had with the way his son was handling a deadly weapon were being blown out of proportion and that we were picking on him.

One evening when I came in quite early and was sitting on the sofa taking off my boots the young person walked into camp with what turned out to be a loaded gun. Then, with the muzzle not six feet away and pointed squarely at my upper chest, proceeded to begin rapping the shells out of his bolt action rifle! If memory serves me I dove for the floor. I am not necessary proud of my wording but to this day believe the gist of the earful he received was justified. He obviously felt otherwise and tried to recruit the two other guys who came into camp several minutes later to his way of thinking (while I was packing things in the back of my pickup). As I found out later they both said he was lucky, they felt they would have been "asked" to leave if they had unloaded a gun while pointing it at someone else. His dad was not there that day but when one of the other guys gave him the facts of the matter, which is son confirmed, he seemed to dismiss the extremely unsafe behavior as not being all that serious.

Bottom line: Dad was dismissive (or blind) to what three others saw as extremely unacceptable behavior and since he was, it seems unlikely the youngster is going to clean up his act any time soon.. FM

 

[syonker]

The custom for my 3 daughters was they complete a hunter’s safety class & be 14 years old.

It’s been a hoot being with them in the deer blind hunting whether they are using an Xbow or shotgun.

Youngest daughter at 14 with her 1st deer sporting traditional 1st blood face paint.

 

[U.P.Grouse Chaser]

I started taking both my Son and Daughter with me at the age of 10. My daughter loved the outdoors, my son not so much. Both took Hunter Safety at age 12. . My son lost interest and never pursued the outdoors. My daughter on the other hand couldn't get enough of the outdoors. She took her 1st buck at age 14 and hasn't looked back. We have shared countless adventures brookie fishing, ice fishing , grouse and deer hunting.. She wants to try her hand at bowhunting this year. She has had her bow for a year and a half now and has conspired with her mother to get me back into the sport of bowhunting . They got me a bow for Christmas. I haven't touched a bow since 1994. How things have change.

 

[old graybeard]

I started taking both my Son and Daughter with me at the age of 10. My daughter loved the outdoors, my son not so much. Both took Hunter Safety at age 12. . My son lost interest and never pursued the outdoors. My daughter on the other hand couldn't get enough of the outdoors. She took her 1st buck at age 14 and hasn't looked back. We have shared countless adventures brookie fishing, ice fishing , grouse and deer hunting.. She wants to try her hand at bowhunting this year. She has had her bow for a year and a half now and has conspired with her mother to get me back into the sport of bowhunting . They got me a bow for Christmas. I haven't touched a bow since 1994. How things have change.

Awesome! My daughter and I have enjoyed so much time together enjoying the outdoors and hunting together. They are special times for sure. Enjoy and treasure it.

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[bucko12pt]

I grew up in the 12/14 year old era also. I started taking my kids with me when they were about 4, my son was 5 and sitting between my feet in a tree stand when I killed one of my nicest bucks with a bow. They couldn’t hunt before 12/14 either, so there was no reason to rush them. They started shooting 22’s at about 9 or10 and after they passed hunter safety, I bought them each a 5000 round case of 22LR and told them they could get a license when the ammo was gone. Believe me, they knew how to shoot, handle and clean a rifle by the time the ammo was gone.

It’s up to parents to know when their kids are ready for firearms. Personally, I’m not a proponent of kids 4-5 years old hunting, but that’s just me. Kids are all different, as are their parents.

As long as it’s done safely and the kid enjoys it, I’m good to go.

 

[Joe Archer]

My kids were born in 1986, 1990, and 1993. They all started bow hunting at 12, and with firearms at age 14; the legal ages back then.
Long before the actual hunts they would scout, track, and sit with me on hunts. They all started shooting bows at the age of around 5.
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[grapestomper]

My oldest son shot his first doe at age 6 with a muzzleloader. I helped him hold the gun to his shoulder with me behind.
He aimed and fired. Deer went right down.
My other son shot his first deer with a crossbow at age 8. All depends how how they feel about being out and if interested in shooting deer. Both boys are into hunting now and have shot several deer.

 

[Big Tuna]

I also had to do the 12 and 14 year old thing. Being raised out in the country on a farm I along with my younger brother lived outdoors shooting birds mice and barn rats with our bb guns. We later advanced to crossmen 760 pellet guns.
My dad had us out there years before we could hunt to teach us the lay of the land and how to hunt. I'm doing the same with my four young grandsons.

It's nice to read the above posts on how this youth hunting thing has all evolved. And who would of ever thought that this simple country boy would be asked to sit on the hunter recruitment and retention task force that took the huge step back in the early 2000s to lower those ages. I see since then it has been expanded to give younger kids the chance to hunt. And that is not a bad thing but safety should be the upmost importance when you make any kind on a change in hunting for everyone involved.
Don't mean to toot my horn but that seems so long ago when I was alot more full of piss and vinegar. I just always thought it was best to give my 2 cents worth to make sure Lansing was on the right path for our future and resource.

 

[sniper]

Started my 2 sons on small game around 9-10 and deer hunting by themselves around 12. From a young age they were always farting around with BB guns and bows. Never felt the need to push them to early. So far it’s worked out great. Their now in their early 20’s and both still hunt.


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[Bucman]

My boys tagged along for years before they actually had a weapon with them. My personal belief is if you have to carry the weapon and place it on a shooting device for them they are to young. Part of it is safe handling in the field not just the shooting. All my sons hunt just at different levels of seriousness now, from fanatics to laid back.

 

[throughtheice88]

I think every kid is an individual and needs to be treated as such. I also see a bit of a concerning trend where some parents feel they are doing their kids a disservice if they aren't letting them take a shot at a deer at 6 years old.

Let them grow, explore, learn, and mature a bit and when the time comes you will know they are ready. They can be involved with all things hunting without pulling the trigger.

My 10 year old showed me he was ready this past season, and on November 16th we had a hunt that myself and I hope he will never forget. 3 generations of love for the outdoors, and I hope many more generations to come.

 

[deagansdad1]

I think every kid is an individual and needs to be treated as such. I also see a bit of a concerning trend where some parents feel they are doing their kids a disservice if they aren't letting them take a shot at a deer at 6 years old.

Let them grow, explore, learn, and mature a bit and when the time comes you will know they are ready. They can be involved with all things hunting without pulling the trigger.

My 10 year old showed me he was ready this past season, and on November 16th we had a hunt that myself and I hope he will never forget. 3 generations of love for the outdoors, and I hope many more generations to come.
View attachment 819553

Don't get any better than that

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