What Age To Take Son on First Hunt?

[MannyMedeiros21]

I started taking my son with me when he was 2 on squirrel hunts. He is now four and has been on a predator hunt, multiple deer hunts, and a turkey hunt this spring. He loves it. I bought a couple of those see through tidewe blinds that he is able to see through while still being below the windows. He is just as ate up with fishing

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[lintond]

Take them early, but set your expectations for the hunt to be low. It’s more of a glorified hike. Make sure they are comfortable well fed and expect them to be hard to entertain quietly. Squirrel hunt would be a great starter.


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[Stubble_hunt]

I believe age is just a number, you have to catch them young so they can keep the legacy! My son started following me to hunt at age 6 and he shoots well now. He had his first kill at age 10 and now he's doing exploit. My one cent tho!

 

[Brandon N]

Took my 4 YO to the deer stand a couple times so far. Took him dove hunting for the first time this year....probably invest more time next year

 

[johnnycake]

My daughter was a 5month old premie that weighed 6lbs when she came along on her momma's bull elk hunt


And we never really slowed down since. Sure, the types of hunts and how rough/tough/hard we go is affected by bringing them along. But it is worth it!



It's been a number of years now, and my daughter is 12 and my son is 10. But they still enjoy coming out to varying degrees. Looking back at these kind of pics from hunts when they were very little is one of the greatest sources of joy for me right now.

 

[coiloil37]

I started my first kid at 2.5 because I didn’t know any better. The second and third kid started at 18 months. I was changing diapers on the trail and carrying them in backpacks. If I wasn’t hunting or fishing with my kids I wasn’t hunting or fishing. The whole point revolved around them being with me and I didn’t go without them.

Mine are 8, 10 and 12 now and all of them love being outdoors with me. Doesn’t matter what we are doing it’s cemented a shared bond that so far is unwavering. Had I waited until they were older I would have missed those years and memories and may have never gotten this fire in them started.

On a personal note, I got them started young because I didn’t have the chance with my father. He got MS when I was about 8 and spent 30+ years in a bed. What it taught me is you never know what’s going to happen. Don’t wait for the “then”’at the expense of the “now” (within reason). If the kids ready, adjust your expectations and get them out there with you. Assuming that’s important for you.

 

[missjordan]

We took our son to his first hunting camp at 5 months old, and every year since then but actual hunting was at 3.5. Last year at 4.5 was about the perfect age

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[Seth]

As many have said, just take him and set expectations accordingly. When I was in the Midwest and my kids were young, I kept an easy blind for my hunts with them. It was a short walk, a doe excited them, and if they got too bored or cold, we left. At 15 and 17, they both hunt on their own tags and still accompany me on some hunts. It is a lifestyle; engage them early and often!

 

[CMF]

I started bringing them in a blind at 3 or 4, my daughter was on the gun at 6 and 7 for a few hunts but didn't get her first deer til 8, sons 8 and 9 for their firts deer, 11 for elk.
I think bringing them in the field young and having them involved in scouting, skinning, etc is super important, but I'm not convinced that they need to be killing really young and sometimes wonder if it would be overall less stressful to let them get older and more experienced shooting, etc, before putting them on a gun.

 

[SloppyJ]

My oldest started going deer hunting with me at 5 and this year he has just turned 8. He took to shooting really well and can actually drive tacks with his .223. He has killed 5 deer so far. He got a .410 for his birthday this year and went dove hunting for the first time. He asked to go back the sunday after opening day and then both days next weekend too.

It's the best feeling when they're the ones asking to go hunt. Just know that your hunting is going to change but I wouldn't have it any other way now. Before, I wouldn't be caught dead in the ground blind, but now I have 3 setup so we can go in any condition.

 

[Stubble_hunt]

We took our son to his first hunting camp at 5 months old, and every year since then but actual hunting was at 3.5. Last year at 4.5 was about the perfect age

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Wow this is so encouraging, catching them young