A year or two ago my state removed the minimum age requirement to get a hunting permit. The kid only needs to pass hunters safety to prove they are old enough to hunt.

That said, we put my 10 year old through the program. He still has 2 more classes to attend and the written final test. We signed him up for the early shooting range test, just in the off chance he didnt pass, he could get 1 more chance on the remaining week. Turns out he didnt need it.

He wasnt the highest scorer by any means (there were a few adults taking the class shooting scoped .22's) but he scored well enough for the instructor to pass him. I let him shoot my Browning "takedown" .22 which while being a light gun, was a little hard for him to hold steady in standing position. He shot good kneeling and prone though.

The final written test is pretty easy I hear, but my boy has been studying hard anyway for it. Hopefully its clear sailing from here on out and he gets his permit for the upcoming Dove Hunt. He will get to shoot my old .410, one my dad gave me years back. Over the next year I'll get him shooting a scoped deer rifle (.243) and maybe we can go out of state for a deer next year (Utah you do have to be at least 12 to hunt big game, but some other states only require a hunters safety card).

Pretty cool stuff, I'm excited for him!


-DallanC

great stuff Dallan Im proud that you are getting him out there and doing it.keep up the good work and those teenage years SHOULD be easier(well thats what Im hopeing will happen )

Good stuff Dallan!
You ought to be proud!
I am sure under your tutelage he would then improve even more!.

Excellent Dallan, went through the same in the middle 90's with my boy's and yup, when your kid passes the hunters safety course, I as well as you are proud of the kids. The best part is passing down the old Stevens .410 shotgun from Grandpa, to my Dad and finally to my Son. Congrats to you and your Son Dallan.

Right On Dallan. Some of my best childhood memories are hunting with my father . Enjoy it my friend you have some great times ahead of you

Way to go, Dallan and son!

Pass on a well done from me Dallan, and give the young fella a pat on the back...he deserves it, especially doing the course/tests with adults. Would be a bit intimidating for him.

As Joe said mate...you have some great times ahead of you...teaching the young fella, and just generally being out there and having him with you.

Cheers, Vince

My goodness how time flies!
Dallan, it seems like only last month that you and the Mrs. were announcing the birth of a bouncing baby boy. It's been ten years now? I know you are proud of him and with a dad like you looking over the young lad's shoulder he will do just fine.

My daughter is 10 and although here in Oregon a person has to be 12 to take the hunters safety course I was able to get her involved in the mentor program here. It doesn't cost anything and it allows her to shoot anything I have a tag for with my gun. This deer season I am stepping down to the ol 30-30 so that she can shoot my buck for me. Its good to see another proud father out there with the same agenda as it were lol. Thats great Dallan.
The great thing about getting my daughter into the mentor program is that she gets a preference point for each year she does the mentor program. She is able to do it until she is 13 so she will get 4 preference points by the time she gets ready to do her hunters safety course and then she can use the preference points for a good draw tag. I Think I am going to put her in for a good elk hunt draw but I may have her put them towards a mule deer hunt or something a little more exotic. I am not sure yet, besides i want to be sure she will still want to hunt by then. She seems to be more into fishing but I am hoping that once she gets her first blood that will all change lol.
Anyway thats great for you Dallan and I hope the boy passes his test with no issues and tell that boy of your congrats, it sounds like he is off to a great start to quite a few wonderful memories.
My boy is only 4 but he is already ready to hunt and he loves helping me reload (just so you understand he controls nothing but sizing the brass and seating the bullets) He still enjoys helping though. He tells me he is going to kill a deer this year which gives me quite a chuckle.

I have been involved in hunter education since 1980. I form about 400 new hunters every year. My biggest pleasure is to run into a young person (13 or 14 years old) and to have him or her say ‘ Do you remember me sir?’ and most of the time I don’t remember them so they say’ You gave me the hunter education course last year’ and than with a big grin on his or her face will says ’I hunted last fall with my dad and I harvested a nice ten points’. That to me is the best reward that I could receive for teaching hunter education. And I say to myself here is another kid who will be so busy with the outdoors, fishing, hunting and trapping that he will never touch drugs.

Good for you and your son!! I wonder if my state, Missouri , has such a program. I know my daughters would like to take it.

He completed the remainder of his "class work", Friday is the final written test. We went over half of a practice test yesterday and was getting 99% of the questions correct, he should pass the written in fine shape.

Sadly I found a really nice condition Browning Takedown .22LR w/ scope for sale locally in an online classified ad for $350. I didnt immediately call on it and when I came back later to check on it it was sold. It would have been a perfect upcoming birthday present (he is a southpaw like me so the browning's with the bottom eject are prefect). Ah well, there will be more for sale.


-DallanC

Great for your son Dallan, you, will come across many more deals that you will connect on.

Good job your son did! I remember going through the washington hunters safety course when I was 15. I was pretty proud of myself for getting the 100% on the written test. I never used my card because dad wasn't a hunter but My brother and I started hunting after we were 18.
Paul

SWEET! I hope to get back inot that role(instructor) again! It is awesome to see those youngun's having a good time and almost crying if they get called on something just a bit outside the limits. HAHAHA!! Then to see them pass everything with flying colors is great stuff!!! Good deal to ya! Get him something really nice and he will treasure it forever!