What age do the kids start carrying packs?

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My elder, boy, is 10 this year and just shy of 70 pounds I'd say. I was contemplating getting him a backpack for our western Kansas deer hunting this fall. To be honest I'm not sure what he'd carry in it. Maybe a water, some snacks, and he could stuff his puffy in there when he doesn't need it. That's probably the maximum, unless he kills something, then I'd for sure put the backstraps in there so he could feel like he packed it out himself. But I'm a little concerned it'd just be another thing and slow him down. We tend to cover about 8 miles a day walking the prairies and our thicker prairie grasses can make for slow youth walking. I expect anything I'd buy would be in that 3 to 4 pounds range. Seems weird to plus up 4 pounds of gear to carry <10 pounds of gear. He could always sling a game bag over his shoulder should we get lucky. Thoughts?
 

gburk

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For our boys, as soon as they were old enough to come along, they would carry a pack. We had an old Gregory kids pack that was small and lightweight.
Like you said, some water, snacks, wet wipes, a lighter, just the essentials and nothing heavy (or fragile!!)
 
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Marbles

WK Donkey
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My daughter started carrying a small pack with water, snacks, and a few items she wanted to bring at 5. Half the time it ends up in my pack, but it makes her happy.

As soon as she is big enough to fit something with a frame I plan to start working it in.

I think it depends on the kid. I would rather introduce it on hikes, because then it doesn't matter as much if it ends up strapped to my pack.
 
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Let him be useful and work. Carry is own stuff at a minimum. His bino's, knife, snacks, water, headlamp, rain/cold gear.
Teach him the privilage of hunting comes with responsiblities too.
Teach him "that's not heavy" by letting him try your pack.
Soon enough he'll be carrying your gear for you so you can keep up.
 
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Dos Perros
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Soon enough he'll be carrying your gear for you so you can keep up.

That's a good way to look at it.

This kid just seems to have no sense of urgency. We have done lots of hiking, almost none of it him carrying anything, and he's always lagging behind. The only time he was really on my hip was after we stepped over a fresh pile of grizzly bear shit.

Edited to add: I do think he's strong, and tough, he's just always distracted by what's between points A and B, and not too focused on getting to point B.
 

eric1115

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Marshfly

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Literally looking at these this morning for my 9yo. He will be 10 next month and ready for his first big game hunt with a tag in his pocket.

 

Glendon Mullins

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I just bought my kids this pack at Dunham's sporting goods for 24 bucks on sale


Obviously not designed to carry heavy meatloads etc. but they can throw their bino's, knife, snacks, water, headlamp, and such in it, and might still have some room to put a backstrap or two in it to ease the weight on old dad for our upcoming trip

On our eastern whitetail hunts this pack should work just fine as well
 

Glendon Mullins

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One if the highlights of my oldest son's first deer was a front quarter in his own backpack. He was 10 and this was just the right thing for him. Jacket, food, water, etc during the hunt and just right for a front quarter. .
View attachment 777394

I haven't weighed it, but it's not a hindrance and it's now on its third ten year old first year hunter
View attachment 777391



I really like that pack, will save this for later as an upgrade to the cheap pack i just bought my kids, thanks!
 

j3h8

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Bakersfield, CA
Your child should be given the task of responsibility from an early age. Let them start by carrying their clothing, fire starter, and maybe a water bottle or two. Or any light weight gear you think they can handle. My kids are all full grown mouths (teenagers and up). They were always tasked with their own gear management within reason. They were also allowed to "play with fire" and given an opportunity to start the camp fire if we had one. That was always the highlight of their day for sure. That and certainly the special meals they enjoyed (freeze dried meals, not sure why they loved them so much). Allowing your children to do task and be given responsibility builds confidence and self sufficiency. Even allowing them to do dangerous task safely, i.e. starting a fire or whittling a stick, is a huge confidence builder and will serve them for eons to come.

Children also travel at their own pace, trust me my boy has ventured off trail many times following "cool stuff" like mountain lion tracks 🤦. Probably should have leashed his wandering ass many times 😂. He was always in front of us which slowed us considerably but he now has the confidence to hike, setup camp and be on his own in the woods for several hours if I'm lagging behind or have done my own venturing.
 
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