We let ours have fun, making the time as enjoyable as possible is what it is about. If the want to shoot, fine if they want to run through the pasture like wild Indians scaring everything within in miles that is also okay.

When I'm with my kids (ages 7 and 10) I give them priority in shooting "good" deer (bucks)

I have many friends who shoot the bucks themselves and only let their kids shoot doe or spikes.

Am I the only one who lets the kids shoot something first?

I should clarify my 7 year old has not shot a deer yet, but when she is willing and ready I well let her. My 10 year old took her first deer this year, a nice little 8 pointer.

When I'm with my kids (ages 7 and 10) I give them priority in shooting "good" deer (bucks)

I have many friends who shoot the bucks themselves and only let their kids shoot doe or spikes.

Am I the only one who lets the kids shoot something first?

What does mature have to do with conservation?

I'd be interested in knowing how many 'kid-first' people here let their 16 yr-old drive a nicer car/truck than they do.

My 16 yr old is dang sure driving a nicer truck than I did in high school. I had the ugliest rusted up smashed up truck in school, frame bent in the middle, leaked water everywhere & smoked worse than the mosquito man. Smashed door glass, busted windshield, leaked oil everywhere and was a roach incubator. I could never get a date. Now, back to deer.

The question was:
Does he drive a nicer pickup than you do NOW? If so, you have done him a grwat disservice in my opinion. Kids need to earn what they get in every aspect of life. My kids build fence and buck hay to "earn" their hunting privileges. Too many people now consider "privileges" to be "rights".

The question was:
Does he drive a nicer pickup than you do NOW? If so, you have done him a grwat disservice in my opinion. Kids need to earn what they get in every aspect of life. My kids build fence and buck hay to "earn" their hunting privileges. Too many people now consider "privileges" to be "rights".

my boys are only three years old, so they aren't ready. I take my wife hunting though, when its her turn to hunt....she's in the shooting chair come what may. and likewise when I'm in the shooting chair.

that's how my dad did it with my brother and myself. our first deer were does. but by our second or third season...he still sat with us a while, but when it was our turn to hunt we did the shooting....buck/doe/big small. and the reverse when it was his turn. until we eventually started sitting on our own.

If your worried that your child might get a bigger deer than you, you are not much of a dad in my opinion. Let thim get the biggest thing that they can and enjoy the memories for a lifetime.

I'd be interested in knowing how many 'kid-first' people here let their 16 yr-old drive a nicer car/truck than they do.

I intend for my children to know I love them for far more reasons than what deer I let them shoot.

I intend for my children to know I love them for far more reasons than what deer I let them shoot.

Because of the way our lease is set up, I'm the lease member and my son (and wife too)hunt as guests. But, because of proximity to the lease my son and wife actually do more work filling feeders and setting blinds, etc then some of the other lease members. So we rotate each year on who is gunning for the trophy buck, who gets the management buck and who is on doe patrol. This has worked well for my son because I've used it as an opportunity to teach him about the work that goes into it all and he knows he'll get a chance on some deer every year and a good buck every few. It has also given him an opportunity to learn more about judging deer and how to become a more skilled hunter as he works on does and management bucks. He knows it isn't always about the biggest buck (but sometimes it is!) and it is mostly about fun and spending time outdoors.

ETA - Grades also figure into the mix. bad grades = no hunting. Straight A's maybe I'll let him shot the better buck or take him offshore fishing.

He won't drive a better truck then me. He'll get the hand-me-down Nissan with over 200k on it. Why? because he earned the privilege of driving that truck by helping me put new head gaskets on it.