minimum age for sitting with dad

[fishuhalik]

my son is 4 and is absolutely obsessed with deer hunting. he really wants me to take him out this year, but my wife doesnt think its a good idea. obviously i wouldnt expect him to make it more than an hour, but we have a stand thats right on the driveway and we see deer every night. whats some of your guys that have had kids opinions?

[LightningBG]

I dont have any kids, but if I did, I'd take them out. Just make sure they are dressed warm and have ear protection if you take a shot with a gun (muffs IMO, not plugs)

[Getanet]

I don't have any kids either, so probably not the best person to give advice. But if you're just talking about sitting in a stand at the end of the driveway and watching deer and teaching him about hunting that's one thing.

If you're talking about possibly shooting a deer, you might want to hold off on that. He may think the process of shooting and field dressing a deer is really cool - or it could totally freak him out.

I know when I was younger I thought deer hunting was really cool. But mainly because it was some mysterious thing I couldn't do yet, and my dad was the camp cook and always had tons of candy bars for the lunches.

I'm not sure I was ready to see a deer get shot or gutted. Could be the makings of some nightmares.

[Coach1310]

My son is 5 and this year will be his 3rd year coming out with me. We have yet to see a deer, but it hasn't been because of him. The only time he wants to go in is when it is getting dark, but otherwise he sits there like a champ.... if he wants to be out there, take him out.... the biggest thing with me is being safer than safe. If you are on private ground and you know all of what is around you, that is much easier... ear protection is a great tip.... my son hasn't had to use his yet. This year his little brother gets to come with as well..... so we'll see how it goes with 2!!!

[fishuhalik]

i dont think hell have a problem with dressing a deer, hes seen us process several deer and he thought it was awesome, along with countless fish and birds. im just really hoping the wife goes along with it. i think itd be a really good experience for him to tell his antihunting teacher......

[SledNeck]

I took my kid when he was 4, on the warmer days

[eyecrosser2000]

Halik,

Have had my two girls out both since they were two...first trips were behind grandpa's house on a log with grunt calls and plenty of snacks. My oldest is now 13 and has no interest in hunting, but the other (who is 11) just finished hunter's safety and has decided to give up soccer and make hunting her fall sport. We have set stands and she has been shooting her gun at cardboard deer targets. Two kids raised in the same environment with two totally different results. Love 'em both and glad to have a huntin' partner.

[tunrevir]

Yep, I say take him along if he wants to go. My daughter started sitting with her grandpa and I at 6 and got to hunt with us last year and actually shoot. She took three does last year off our property in Wisc. She and I hunted the early youth season this year and she decided to pass on four smaller bucks as she has her sights set on a large buck for her first antlered deer. She just turned 11 and hunting is at the top of her fall list of things to do. My 8 yo son is starting to get the itch to get out with us now as well so he'll probably go sit on stand with his grandpa or myself this year. It is really fun having the family in deercamp, now if I could just get my wife interested in sitting on stand we'd have all the bases covered

Tunrevir~

[Ebiz]

I'd take him for sure, get him now before Disney does

[pushbutton]

tell mom i said its ok ....but remember to tell yourself you wont be able to hunt much and this is more about you two spending time together than it is a hunting trip. i have jr, with me always(4 also) and this year his attention span has really turned from just wanting to do what dad does...... to things that he wants to do.....cool things like throwing rocks, hitting tree with sticks, go exploring ect.......go out have fun with him during the day and let him know that if he gets to do all theses fun things he will have to sit quietly with you in the stand in the evening. also pack plenty of "stand treats" good luck!

[96trigger]

My son is 3, I've taken him squirrel hunting and he really likes it, he keeps asking when we can go again. I don't think I could take him deer hunting, loud noises scare him easily right now. If it wasn't for that, I would. Every kid is different. If you think they are ready and you won't scar them for life by doing it, go ahead. You have to know your kids and what will scare them and what won't, what they are ready for and what they aren't. I know that my child is probably behind other kids in terms of hunting, yet probably ahead of others. Use your gut instinct. If you are asking on here, it sounds like maybe you are not sure, if you are not sure, don't do it. And if you do, keep it low pressure and have absolutely NO expectations.

[Surface Tension]

I started taking my son deer hunting when he was 6. Sitting in a buddy stand mornings and evening I'd keep it to a few hours at a time. Of coarse dress them for it. I went further and had a sleeping bag for him.

Lots of snacks and hot chocolate. They are going to fidget, the camo blind I picked up for the stand helped there. Get some old carpet to put on the floor, something thats been outside so home scent is gone.

Talking well he did pretty good at whispering.

A small son and dad in a stand with nothing but time = lots of talking. Coarse you'll tell him and teach him about hunting. Then there are the millions of questions he'll ask. Most of which are hard to explain or have no answer.

Be sure to explain when deer do show up that he stays still and quite.

"Dad!, Deer!, Deer!, I see deer, shoot it." It only happened once though. LOL.

If your son or daughter has a BB gun have them bring it along.

When they get cold its time to go home or go for a walk to warm up.

Best memories of deer hunting was with my son along side me.

Jr is 14 now, has had his own deer rifle and hunted for some time. We'll be sitting in the same stand together again this year. Snacks, hot chocolate, and talking will happen.

[Odonata]

Take him, I have taken my daughter since she was 4 and she loved it. I didn't expect her to hike into the bush, but she enjoyed a few stands and ground blinds. Bring treats! Wasn't all day, but she loves it. She really liked gutting the deer too. Mini anatomy lesson! He'll love it.

[bogwalker]

Time spent with dad is always a blessing. Wish I would have had more time with mine.

[Bear55]

I say take him, my dad started taking me at 5 and I plan on bringing my son whenever he is ready, probably 4. He is only 2.5 now and we have already done a lot of deer and bear hunting but that usually consists of a truck ride in the woods and a few short walks with the bow so he knows we are hunting.

If he is 4 and pumped up to go I say you have to take him, mom will understand when you come home and see how much fun you had.

[FLnick87]

TAKE HIM! Dad started me at that age and i still remember it almost 20 years later. Dress him for it, afternoon is usually warmer, and maybe dont take him out until the last 1.5 hours. Bring some snacks he doesn't know you brought and maybe atreat he usually doesn't get. Teach him how to use a grunt or can call. All those things were little things I remember keeping my interest for another 5-10 minutes just enough to keep still during prime time. The only problem will be ever getting to hunt by yourself again

[alex1]

My son is 11 and this will be his 5th year sitting with me, like others have said don't expect to much and you'll have a blast! i was trying to gt my son into gun safety so he could hunt this year with me but we didn't have one close while we weren't so busy this summer. Next year he'll be holding the gun while dad looks on proudly. He asks after each deer season if he get's to do everything again next year, like the drive the pickup in the field to go get a deer, hold the leg while I'm dressing it out. Once they're hooked you'll have a hunting partner for life

[walleye365]

you should take him. As for the wife she will get over it.

[Wensel]

Fish u, what a great question, my son is now 11 and he's hunted with me since he was 4

Those early years are hard on you, but remeber you are out for them, food,fun and chat is what he or she will remember.

I'll never forget when my boy was 4 he dropped his apple from the stand and looked at me with a big alligator tear coming down his face. I laughed and said 5 second rule go get it...hehehe

I was one lucky guy last year and got to watch him bag a buck: this was by far my best hunt ever.

Hook-em early and you'll have a buddy forever!!!!

[Meat-Run]

I'm taking my 6yo for the first time this year but only if weather is permitting but only in the evenings. My only concern for any child that young is the extreme bang when the rifle goes off, just not sure how he'll react, it could scare the living heck out of him.

Might take him to the range so he really hears the true sound of a .270 so he knows what to expect.

mr

[jerkin'm]

I took my 4 year old last year...needless to say I created a monster..a good monster...he hunted rifle season, muzzleloader season, spring turkey season, fall turkey season this year....make sure you have lots of special treats and lots of answers to the zillion questions they will ask. I gave him the choice to shoot whatever he wanted and when this buck came in with another smaller buck, the "shoot him daddy" was repeated three times (very loudly)before I could get it done. Appropriate dress and food/beverage is mandatory. He has lasted over 3 hours every time we stand hunt. Do it for sure and you will never regret it.

[bogwalker]

A picture is worth a thousand words. You have been blessed.

[RIPN LIPS]

As long as he or she is willing to go I believe it is your duty to bring them.

[Abndoc]

This will be my 7 yr olds second opener. He sits all day with me...my advice. Treats, treats, treats. Hot chocolate. HANDWARMERS. and most importantly their own binos and grunt call. Bowhunting, we tapped each others foot when we see something, which to turns into a big game, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I send my son to school every Friday before Rifle opener, only to pick him up 5 mins later and ask if he's ready to go to deer camp. His eyes and smile light up the room. He thinks its pretty special as he is walking out of the classroom with his friends looking on, saying good luck. Chest sticking out proud. Take your kids, if you don't have any take a niece, nephew..neighbor kid..you will have a great experience hunting with a kid. Tons and Tons of smiles!!

[NWBuck]

Do it!!! Here's a picture of my son's first trip to the blind with me when he was 4. We were out filling late season muzzleloader doe tags...

Now, several years later, I very much enjoy watching him fill doe tags

[mnbuckhunter]

Depends on the boy! I have 3 boys. One of my boys, who just turned 6, I could have taken out when he was 2 he loves it so much. My oldest is different. He's 7 and I think he's just getting ready.

Be safe in the stand! Kids are unpredictable for sure...........

[fishuhalik]

Well, I finally talked the mrs. into letting him go! I'm gonna take him out to the range to show him how loud a 25-06 is before we head to the stand, like someone else stated that's my only concern. Other than that, I'll make sure to bring plenty of candy/treats/hot chocolate, and I'll make sure to pack something for him too. Thanks for all the responses guys, hopefully i have some awesome pictures to post up on here from our hunt!

[deerminator]

I agree. It depends on the individual kid. Regardless of the kid and the weapon, I'd be sure of your shot before you take it. I am going to take my son bowhunting next year and if I take a shot with him along, it will be a close, clear, no brainer to make sure it's a quick, clean, ethical kill. No sense in having him watch a deer run off gut shot or thrashing around "baaaing" while I have to take another shot or two. And even then, if you think it's a no brainer, there's no telling what can go wrong to make it a bad situation. Bottom line, I'm going to do everything possible to try and make sure his first impression is positive - that we're hunting and killing deer, not maimimng them. I say this as someone who's shot and not recovered a deer twice in my 7 years of hunting and it made me sick to my stomach both times. I don't want that to be my son's first experience. Good luck and great that you're getting kids into hunting!!!

[fishuhalik]

Just an update. We did end up going out and he did awesome! Lasted 3 hours, which is about 2 hours longer than I thought. Obviously he wasn't as quiet as I would have liked, but he whispered the whole time (literally, the entire time. he doesn't stop talking!) without talking out loud, until we saw a deer then he let out a pretty loud "DAD, A DEER! SHOOT IT!!!!!" It was a little fawn, barely out of its spots so we let her go, but boy was he excited!!! And yes, plenty of treats were enjoyed by all. All-in-all it was a great time, and I can't wait as he grows older and is able to enjoy that stuff with the gun in his hands.

[brassman]

Just an update. We did end up going out and he did awesome! Lasted 3 hours, which is about 2 hours longer than I thought. Obviously he wasn't as quiet as I would have liked, but he whispered the whole time (literally, the entire time. he doesn't stop talking!) without talking out loud, until we saw a deer then he let out a pretty loud "DAD, A DEER! SHOOT IT!!!!!" It was a little fawn, barely out of its spots so we let her go, but boy was he excited!!! And yes, plenty of treats were enjoyed by all. All-in-all it was a great time, and I can't wait as he grows older and is able to enjoy that stuff with the gun in his hands.

This sounds like the first time I was in the stand with my father, save the deer. I would not stop talking! I might have been a little older too.