What age to take kids bowhunting

[six]

I see Colorado's age limit is 12 years old to hunt elk. I'm looking for some incite as my son will be turning 12 in 2016. Yes I'm starting my planning a little early. What age did you start taking kids and actually let them be the shooter. Oh and it would be the first week of archery before school starts.

[under H2O hunter]

I started taking my son Elk hunting with me when he was 8 years old. At the time I was hunting the last rifle season which was very cold and snowy. I wanted my son to see how hard elk hunting weather can get. I was fortunate to have my father around and when my son got tired of sitting or cold my dad would take him to camp and warm him up and let him shoot the .22 at cans. Each year after that I made him stay longer with me and we started to hunt earlier season and I started to show him various ways of hunting elk such as spot and stalk, calling, and so on. When he turned twelve and could carry his own rifle he was ready. He got put to a serious test when a 350 class bull was standing broadside at 586 yards. Unfortunately he missed but thats hunting and he learned many valuable lessons. My son is now 15 and has killed 3 elk (1 bow kill, 2 rifle kills) As a father I can tell you that none of my elk kills matter more then seeing my son punch his tag.

Here are some suggestions for anyone who has kids that are interested in elk hunting. 1. Make your kids the priority not the elk. 2. The little time your kids miss from school going with you will teach them more then what they will learn in school. So bring em for the entire hunt. 3. Start em out young with the packing and preparing as well as the clean up. 4. Don't get upset when they make mistakes or do things that spook the game. Rather take it as an oppertunity to teach em. Kids love repeating mistakes so stay calm. 5. Pushing your kids is limits is fine as long as you don't push em past their breaking point. 6. Kids have a hard time sitting for long period of times so think about changing areas or even seasons to accommodate their style of hunting. Talk with them about what their interests are and allow them to form the game plan for the day or the stalk. You may be surprised how much they already know. 7. I think one of the most important things you can teach your kids is how to survive if you the two of you get separated. Make them start a fire and build a shelter.

My proudest moments ever as a hunter:

[brohymn2]

Awesome pictures

[under H2O hunter]

Thank you, I am very proud of him.

[Gselkhunter]

Keaton was in a goose pit at 4 months old. Carried him on my back bird hunting until he was 4yrs old. Watched me kill an elk when he was 5. He started hunting when he passed his hunter safety course at 9. The kid is a hunting/fishing machine. His brother Benjamin isn't. At 11 doesn't have his hunter safety card and doesn't care. He did spend a day out elk hunting with me last fall and had a good time.
The reason I write this is the kids that want to go are easy. The ones that don't if you push them too hard will shut down and make your time a field very hard.

[Kevrod3]

H20 awesome ideas! I'm a flat lander, but I know how much it means to me to take my 9 year old hunting, he has shot 5 deer in three years of hunting here in Ohio. We are really blessed to be able to allow our kids at any age to hunt as long as they are with a licensed adult. My son asked me if he could head west with me this year to hunt? I had to break the news to him that he will have to wait until he is 12. He gave me the most perplexed look I told him I'd love to take him, and I assured him he would be following my boot prints soon enough out west. To be honest I may... this hard to say, but I may not head west this year just to spend more time and money hunting around home with him and my soon to be 6 year old. Anyone can hunt with Crossbow here in Ohio. So the way I see it the more my boys keep practicing and shooting I'm sure I could get them on deer pretty easily. When the time comes I may start my oldest son off with a pronghorn hunt when he is 12. I think it would be a great way for him to experience a road trip out west as well as seeing lots of animals, and having a great chance as harvesting and animal (which would be icing on the cake!)

I have a buddy at work that is totally against kids hunting unless the pretty much score 100% on the hunter safety test. I couldn't DISagree more with him! We have an apprenticeship license that anyone can buy for 3 years to try out hunting before taking the HST. Its a great way to get kids and women in the hunting woods before making them know everything! If those kids aren't in it 100% they would be overwhelmed with having to know some things like the difference between a lever action, bolt action, semi auto, single, double, traditional double actions etc. Teaching them the woods and safety IMO is easier with a hands on approach. I do still think they need to take the HST, but I think Ohio is one of the more kid friendly states

I plan on using the next 12-18 years I have with my 3 kids to pursue anything they want in the woods. My days of hunting have went from 50-70 days in the woods to about 10-15 days for myself that's including 9 days in the mtns. (it would be less if the wife would let my son take off more school! ) I agree that my kids will learn 10 times more about life, survival, nature, biology and science with me than in any class room!

[Lefty]

[quote,,,,]I have a buddy at work that is totally against kids hunting unless the pretty much score 100% on the hunter safety test.,,,[/quote]
I just don't understand guys like that.
My dad took me on the trapline and hunting from the beginning. I took my daughters on hunts before their first birthday.
A fellow I hunted geese with for a while was really upset that I took my daughters. We hunted a dozen times before I found out he had a teenage son
Just plain selfish. He told us hunting is " My time"

[six]

Step one complete. Upgrading the lil brave to a Mission Craze.

[under H2O hunter]

kevrod, Best of luck with what ever you decide. I would like to say I understand however I never had to leave my son at home to chase western game. I am sure that tugs at the heart strings.

Six, Congrats on getting him a bow that he will grow into and use for years. I can tell you that once they start chasing elk their tastes get more expensive. My son was using a Parker when he shot his first elk and immediately after getting home started asking for all the same gear I have. I figured he earned it so from then on out if I got something he had to have the same things. I created a monster. My son at 15 now shoots a Mathews Z7 loaded out. Sitka camo, Tenzing packs. Forget arm and a leg. Supplying your kids gear plus your own will end up costing you way more.. My friends call me "BOB" cause thats what happens if I get tossed in a pool if you get what I mean.