Age to bring son on a hunt?

[zach14]

In my opinion take them as early as possible. Sure you have to sacrifice some hunting here and there, but its worth it. They will learn to share your passion. I had my 3 yo with me last year when i shot my elk. He still talks about it a year later.

 

[CoyotieKiller]

I'm taking my son (7) for mulies over labor day weekend. Going to hike in about 2 miles set up camp, and do a lot of glassing and spot n stock. With the coin I have to drop in order to hunt elk out of state, it'll probably be a couple more years until I take him with for elk. beaver hunting when he was 5.

 

[waitforit]

Its a done deal. I bought a leftover type 6 tag and its a go - time to start studying maps for glassing spots and planning on avoiding the crowds.. I'm not worried at all about the outcome, I'm fortunate to have other opportunities this fall for antelope and elk in December.

 

[gerrits]

Wondering the same thing. My oldest will be 4 in December and I think he might be ready for a little blacktail hunt this season.

 

[Highestrider]

One thing I didn’t mention is that when I started taking my young ones out I seriously adjusted my expectations regarding hike distance and hunt/sit times. We primarily ambush hunt (Michigan whitetails) so I started with targeting a 30 minute sit time the first half dozen or so hunts. Over the last couple years we built up to a two hour sit time. I also encountered multiple things that cut our time short relevant to cold hands or feet, needing restroom break, wanting breakfast etc. I think it’s worth the sacrifice of woods-time to make sure a good experience is had, and that they look forward to doing it again.

Also, we have probably gone squirrel hunting just as much as deer hunting. Lots of good habits developed while gettin on some squirrels.

 

[Highestrider]

My hunting buddies and I also started an annual retreat to our hunting camp called “Dad Camp” - which is a long weekend, in the spring typically early May. The intent is to bring all our kids to camp and get them familiar with the location/etc during the off season, and during mild temps/weather. The hope was that the kids will gain experience and confidence and subsequently want to come to deer camp. Especially the young girls.

We have being doing this for 5 years. We typically have from 12 to 16 kids at camp. It’s a ball, kids have a blast, and we have had kids attend our deer camp during hunting season the last 3 years as a result.

Here is a pick of the kids this past spring...youngest is 3 years old, oldest was 12.

 

[TX_Diver]

I hunted antelope with a guy that had his wife and 8 month old with him in NM this year. His wife hung out in the truck with the AC and baby, drove around and glassed, had a roadside picnic, etc. and when he killed one they drove up and hung out while we butchered it. Have some great pics of his whole family (including the dog) with the goat. Was pretty cool.

My daughter is 1 and I'd love to taker her on an antelope hunt in a few years as soon as I think she'd enjoy it! Also, youth tags will be about the only way I'll ever get close to a bighorn sheep so hopefully she likes hunting