What age did you start deer hunting? What age did you kill your first deer?
CJ (6) has been going with me and wants to shoot. We have been practicing with the AR15. I just ordered a Bog DeathGrip to help with his shooting and once proficient, we plan to swap out the 15 with a 10 and let him shoot a deer. I doubt he’d notice it too much when the deer goes down. He rocks the 15 like he owns it and would keep shooting if I didn’t limit him, lol. Wanting to keep that desire going. The fact that he’s 6 and has older brothers and dad (me) that live to hunt doesn’t hurt either. I have never forced any of my children into hunting or fishing, always told them that this is what daddy does and if you want to go then you are welcome to come along. Afraid I’ve created a monster with this one though. Every day he asks if he can shoot the “sniper rifle” lol.

Started at 12 because that the youngest legal age in NY. I’d say let him have at it if he’s exited about it!

20. Late starter.

I was allowed to make deer drives since 8 years old. Carry a BB Gun

I helped my dad Gut deer since 9 as dad had one Polio arm. ...But we had to wait to Shoot deer until age 12

Minnesota State law at that time.

7 or 8 first deer at 14

I was 12yo for both. Was 1972 and the next year was the start of the NRA’s hunter safety program. My dad had me take it even thought I would have been grand fathered in.

Was like 12 or 13, archery only deer, got first deer at 14 and a few after that during high school. I quit deer hunting though later in high school and just trapped and fished only for last 35 years.
Jim

I was 12. Not state law but dad's law. 14 for first deer. Small 6 point.

Killed my first in 1980 at 15 yo....wasn't a ton of deer around like there is now.

16 back then that was the legal age to deer hunt in NYS.

I think I was 45 or 46 when I killed my first deer and that was 20 years ago. No one in my family hunted or fished when I was growing up. Dad had duck hunted before getting married, but not after. We shot from an early age, BB guns and .22s. I shot on a high school rifle team and we won a national championship in our division. No lack of shooting, but no hunting or fishing and no one in the family to mentor us. Mom refused to even consider cooking wild game. Regardless, I watched "The American Sportsman with Curt Gowdy" as a kid and knew I wanted to be a hunter and never let go of that desire. I hiked and backpacked and developed outdoor skills that I shared with my kids when they were growing up, but we didn't hunt. I didn't really get a chance to pursue hunting until the kids were off to college. Then it took time and determination to boot strap my skills to the point where I could take deer every year. Now wild game is about the only red meat the wife and I eat. Eventually I went out west and took pronghorn, elk, and bear, but unfortunately my kids are not interested in learning what I have worked hard to learn and now want to share.

Does holding the spot light count?

Wow...a state law that dictates when you can hunt?

EdP, I read your post with admiration and sadness. My dad raised me the same I raised mine. I can’t imagine life in the outdoors without my boys. The two oldest (23&21) still have time for hunts with ole Dad.

Wolfie, spotlights definitely count down South, lol!

18 years old in 1977.

Grew up in an anti-gun household,
but my college buddy I rented
a house with got me started.

Got my first buck in 1979,
a nice wide nine point.

walleyed

Your family went anti-gun after the whooping they took in 1812?

9 or 10. I'll be 66 in March.

Started at 9 which at the time was the age limit in Oklahoma and killed my first one at 10. Since then Oklahoma has lowered the age restrictions I believe. I know my cousin has 3 sons that harvested thier first deer before 8 years old. All shot with a bolt action 223 with a shortened stock. I say if the boy loves to shoot the AR 15 and is proficient with it let him have at them! Use the 223 if your state permits. If he shoots it accurately it will be be deadly.

MN state law, I started deer hunting at 12. That season I missed a doe with five shots and told myself I would only shoot a buck for my first deer. I hunted eight more years before shooting a spike buck for my first deer at age 20. The very next day I shot an 11 point buck while party hunting. I'm not that picky anymore, a freezer trophy to me is a 1.5 year old doe!

Started deer hunting at age 15. Gun hunting. Went with my future brother-in-law. Got my first deer at 16... a doe taken with a 30-30 model 94 Winchester. Still have that gun, locked up in my safe. That was back in 1972 and 73. Since then many many deer have kept the freezer full, but the best part is having memories packed tenfold in my mind.

I couldnt hunt until I could shoulder, hold and aim a gun. So I was 13 killed my 1st deer at the age of 14. I'm like that with my son he is 8 can't shoulder and hold up a gun, he can't hunt. I did go buy him a 20gauge turkey season maybe different situation only smaller stock gun we have. I've been tempted to buy a field pod but I really want him to learn how to free hand before he starts using anchors and what not. I doubt we can wait until then, I'm sure a field pod is in his future.. right now he is more interested in trapping then deer hunting the 2 seasons start at the same time so we do more trapping anyways.