So my son just turned 13 and has been hunting along side me for several years. For the last couple of years he has been with me on almost every hunt, with few exceptions. We hunt primarily out of double ladder stands so he is pretty proficient with climbing a ladder and locking in with his safety harness. I have faith that he fully understands gun safety, as well. I also have faith that he has a full understanding of what we classify as a "shooter". This kid couldn't be more prepared to take that step and hunt by himself. With all of this said, why am I so nervous about setting him free to hunt a stand alone? To be honest, it scares the hell out of me. Am I being ridiculous?

To the dads on this site, how old were your kids when you first put them in a stand alone?

I would probably be the wrong one to ask. My first alone hunts and both my son's were much younger than that.

Let my daughter hunt alone starting about 12, only on family land though.

It depends on the maturity of the kid.

I'm a dad, and the bold text you wrote above is the litmus test for my kids. I don't put an age/number on it; every kid is different. I was hunting by myself when I was like 9 or 10 y.o. Just depends on the maturity level of the kid, ya know.

Agree .it depends on the maturity of your son. I was 12 I think when they lt me sit by myself. Mostly in a hayloft though.

I think I was either 8 or 9 when I was hunting by myself. It all depends on the kid.

It depends on the kid and the training. My eldest daughter started sitting alone at the age of 11. My youngest daughter was much older than that.

If it scares the hell out of you don't do it yet. Or set him in a stand where y'all are apart but can see each other to start. I let my son hunt on his own about that same age. Also if he is asking to sit alone that will tell you he is ready .02

If you trust him you are being ridiculous. I was 9 myself.

I was 15. Before that we sat together for a couple years.He never said anything but I know he was watching to see if I was safe.

If you feel like he is mature enough i say try it. Do like another member suggested hunt close to him and see how he does

I was 8 when I started hunting by myself, not sitting by myself with my Dad a few hundred yards away. I mean, I was the only one in the woods hunting.

I started my son around 10 or 11 by himself. He would climb and I would move about 50 75 yards away so I could see him and "hunt" too. In reality I was watching him to make sure he was safe with his gun(not point at every thing in sight) and being there if he needed anything. It is/was worth it to me to help give him confidence. A little time up front is worth it to me. Over time I moved farther and father away and by the end of the season I was "own my own" as my son said.

Mine are not old enough yet.

at 8-9 Dad probably walked me to my stand and made sure I got up in there fine, etc. but then walked on and came back at dark or lunch, etc. and I got down. And I think I was supposed to stay in the tree until he got back even if I shot.

That worked well. Something similar to that shouldn't worry you.

I was small game hunting by myself at that point though. Me and the dog.

for some reason I thought you had to be at least 12 and have completed the hunter safety course? My daughter is 13 and has completed the course but she likes sitting with me so that's what we do.
I hunted by myself when I was 7 or 8.

Depends on the kid. My son was 11 when I started letting him sit alone in a shooting house. He was 14 when I allowed him to hunt loc-on's by himself.

I let my son sit alone when he was 11. He sat in shooting houses and hunted with a shotgun. After he turned 13 he lost interest, so I didn't force it on him. Now he is 24 and wants to start back. I told him once he completes hunter safety course he could go with me. He feels he shouldn't have to take the course since he has served in the Marines. I told him the law was the law. It's up to him.

When the child is trustworthy enough operate a vehicle on his own, I would let him hunt on his own.

I was about 12-13 when I sat "alone". That equated to me sitting on one side of a ridge watching a hollow while dad sat on the other side watching the opposite hollow. He probably wasn't more that 30-40 yards from me.