Hunting with my son for first year?????

[MUSKY18]

So this is my sons first year of rifle hunting with us. I am going to bring both my ladder stands up for us to sit in. Question being.....how close to him do I have to legally be? Obviously I plan to be close enough to him that we can communicate and after scouting spots today, it looks like our stand will be about 20 yards or so apart. Is this too far? I should say he is 13 and been through hunter safety, not the 10-12 year apprentice license. I just don't want to take the chance of a CO checking us and saying that I am sitting too far away from him. How do you guys that hunt with your kids setup?

[96trigger]

Pretty sure at 13 he can be all by himself in the stand as long as you are also hunting nearby. The regs say he must be accompanied by an adult. This is in contrast to the regs for someone under 12 where it says they must be accompanied by an adult and under "direct supervision" of an adult. To me, that means 12 and under should be within arms length where as 13 you just need to be in the field with them.

[trumy]

Way back when I was that age my dads stand was a couple hundred yards away that being said all that really matters is what distance you and your son are comfortable with above all be save and have fun together

[cavalierowner]

When my grandson was starting deer hunting, I asked exactly that question a couple years ago of DNR in St. Paul. The DNR guy said that as long as we could see each other and hear each other yell, we were good.

[Cheetah]

I think both stands leaning against the same tree would be good for his first rifle hunt. If your son has no experience rifle hunting yet, I think it would be safest this way so you can ensure he takes a safe shot. This also would let you whisper to him instead of having to talk loudly if you are 20yd apart in different trees. If a deer is close, you want don't want it to hear you talking.

[harvey lee]

+1