Never Hunted Before, But Want to Take My Son

Grab a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, buy a license, and start out squirrel hunting like 90% of current hunters did when they started out. Louisiana has some great public Wildlife Management Areas all over the state.

What are you looking to hunt when your son gets older?

This. The WMA's across the state are awesome. Tons of hunting opportunities for different kinds of animals.

Nothing like eating your best days kill knowing exactly where it came from and how it was killed

Way to go dad

Squirrel hunting for sure

Don’t forget to get your hunters education course.

All good responses above, but don’t put the cart ahead of the horse.
Sounds like you might be really green to hunting and possibly guns in general. If that’s the case, start with a .22 rifle (cheap and so is the ammo). Work on gun safety first, then out how to shoot and handle a gun where it’s second nature. Go to the woods, set up some cans and practice. Shooting targets can be a lot of fun. Your son will love it!
Once you’re comfortable with the .22, step it up to 410 shot gun, maybe a 20 gauge, and shoot targets. Then go to moving targets such as clays, traps. Find the local range if you have nowhere to go. Once you get proficient, then you’re ready to hunt game in the woods.
Squirrels are a good choice and so are pigs, which you can hunt year round. You’d be doing Mother Nature justice by helping to remove invasive pigs. Slowly transition into deer, turkey, dove, etc.

If you’re already proficient with firearms, then ignore my post altogether and get in the woods.

MOST important thing is to teach your son about gun safety.

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Grab a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, buy a license, and start out squirrel hunting like 90% of current hunters did when they started out.

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All of that if fine & dandy, but before you take your 5yo hunting with a shotgun & live rounds, make SURE you know how to operate it, and to point it in a safe direction. Also, if you are in a certain age group, you may need a hunter safety class, you should really take it even if not required. And last, but certainly not least, please make sure what you intend to hunt is in season…

Very good advice in this thread. I would add one more point. Finding a mentor to assist you would speed up your learning 10 fold. Gun safety is the most importance aspect. Try to find someone you know to get you started if possible.

I agree with all of the above guys. Good for you wanting to get the kid outside. Alot of my favorite memories as a kid were chasing squirrels in the hardwoods with my dad and our dogs.

If you have never hunted or shot- you need to go and take a hunter safety course. Unless you're like 60plus years old you have to have hunter safety cert now.

Next step- yes buy a cheap 22 and a shotgun- if hunting squirrels 20g is fine. And shoot cans, targets, skeet whatever until you're comfortable with shooting and safety.

Next step- teach the kid safety as well. I have drilled it into all 3 of mine since they were toddlers- stuff like do not ever touch a gun without an adult, do not ever point at somebody, don't attempt to mess with it, etc.

Good luck! Have fun.

If you're willing to shoot it you should eat it out of respect for the animal! Otherwise just stick to targets.