how old to hunt???

[ntrider]

i can't remember how old i was when my dad started taking me hunting...if i had to guess it was 7ish??? but who knows...that was almost 35 yrs ago...anyway, at what age would people consider taking one out in the woods with a bb gun just learning how to handle a gun etc...my daughter is 6 1/2 and keeps talking about when she get older and gets to go deer hunting...i believe 10 is the minimum for that but as far as small game and not even that, just going into the woods to let her learn gun safety etc...my thought is 8-9??? or is that too young???

[lindy rig]

My co-worker just started his boy at 8. Basically what you are saying, just gun intro ect. I think my dad took me on my first "hunt" at age 9 but I was just carrying a BB gun and was just happy to be part of the experience. Got a single shot 20 gauge a year or two later.

[ntrider]

yeah, not really "hunting" but going in the woods with a bb gun and learning how to carry/safety etc...

[tracker x-2]

Its kinda more so a personal question as to if you feel she is ready or how she acts when you bring game home. I would try to lite the fire in her as soon as posible if she is willing to go now take her a few times just to get her feet wet. When i was young i learned how to handle a gun at a very young age and i recall running around my dads barn and hiding in roundball feeders and sniping sparrows

[tunrevir]

I already asked this question and there is quite a bit of feedback on the thread, "Thoughts on taking a 10-11 y.o. out hunting this fall." My daughter got the chance to hunt this fall during a youth hunt in Wisc and took a really nice doe. She is 10 y.o. She has been asking and sitting on stand with her grandfather and I for the last three years. In that time, we have worked with her and instilled muzzle safety when carrying a gun(wooden), know the target and what you are shooting at and what lies beyond and has demonstrated the ability to hit what she is shooting at out to 50 yards consistently in a 3" target. Alot of prep went into her first hunt where she could shoot and alot of prep went into the hunt prior to her being able to hunt. There are alot of good ideas about what to do and or bring with a young hunter in the stand in the afforementioned thread. Bottom line is that only you as a parent will know when the time is right and if your young hunter can handle the chance to shoot. My daughter and I will be taking gun safety together when she is eligable. My 7 y.o. son wants to hunt now and is showing interest and will be sitting on stand with me this fall and following the same mentoring and gun safety that my 10 y.o. followed prior to her first hunt. Make the experience afield enjoyable, warm and something they would like to do again with YOU! This can go a long ways towards establishing a lasting relationship with your child! The rest will take care of itself. How old is only up to you as a parent to what your child can handle, and what the law allows. Mentoring them early will go a long way in life as to what is safe handling of a gun, when it is safe to be around a gun, ect. Talk to them at a young age, show them at a young age and they will carry that with them when they are older IMHO. Be safe, show safety is the most important thing and enjoy your time afield!

Tunrevir~

[Grayfox]

I believe that when your child begins to show interest and can safely handle a firearm then it's time to start introducing them to the thrill of the hunt. Every child is going to be different. My daughter is the oldest and started at 12 and has gone out gun deer and turkey hunting a few times and had fun but I know she has other things she'd rather be doing. Maybe the new boyfriend will have better luck than I did. My wife never hunted either until I came along. My oldest boy started as well at age 12 and took a good buck with his bow but he just doesn't have the patience to sit and frankly just doesn't enjoy sitting out in the woods taking everything in. My youngest has been tagging along with me since he was 4 years old and went on a kansas turkey hunt with me. He enjoys just being outdoors and he and I have made a lot of memories together that I hope he'll cherish the rest of his life. He bought his first gun at age 9 and has bought two others since and can handle a firearm as safe as I've ever seen and couldn't be prouder of his ethics and concern for safety. He started hunting at age 9 in Minnesota for coyotes and started deer hunting in Missouri when he was 10 for deer and hasn't looked back. Teach her to be safe and respect the animals she's trying to harvest and I'm sure she'll be fine.

Rob

[GatorBait]

Well, I started my son at 4 with his own bb gun under my own supervision at all times. I've taught him the basic safety of the gun, muzzle location, and proper carrying. I am impressed with how he caught on and his ability to handle it when we are out plinking at targets. As long as the parents are not stupid and take the time to teach their kids what they learned in hunter safety, I don't have any problems with it. As for hunting, I'm fine with 10yr old limit here in Wisconsin. Many states are much younger, they are the future of our sport, it should be a gene they are born with.

[bak2MN]

My son had a bb gun in his hands at age six and he is better at safely handleing the gun then I have seen some adults. You will know when your kids are ready and at a young age it is up to you to teach them right and wrong.

[jbell1981]

I started taking my oldest son with then he was 4. He got a bb gun when he was 6 and got his own 20ga single shot this year (he is now 8). I took him out duck this year and he shot at some ducks with strict guidlines about when and where he could shoot. I don't think any age is to young to bring them out for the adventure. You just have to decide when they are ready to move forward with the bb gun or shot gun because every kid is different.

There are a few pictures of some of our adventures here

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4695&id=100000127225235&l=b63490ed37

I tried to post a small video to, but it didn't work.

[USPENAMC]

my son went out with me dove hunting when he was 3 he is now 6 and is going deer hunting with me (not himself) this weekend. He carries a fake toy rifle. I teach him to handle it as a real weapon. He is very interested in doing the calling too. he uses the duck/goose calls and has already put bids on rattling, grunting and using the doe can. Of course I bought him a sleeping bag some nice sorel boots and taking lots of snacks and clothes for him to be warm. I will hunt out of a ground blind on high ground so he is away from the elements his first time out. I am trying to make him as comfortable as possible and make his time a nice one. We also will have grandpa up in a two man ladder stand where we will let him sit for a while or as long as he can stand it and teach him how to properly wear a safety harness and all. I think I am more excited to see how much he enjoys his time out. Man if he were to rattle/grunt/ call a buck what an experience it would be.

[coonchaser]

I agree with all mentioned above, I hunt alot more than most, and alot of dog hunting, i took my older son a ton and burned him out, he hates and it now and won't go, my younger son likes to go but not a ton, they both were shooting sq's at very young ages with .22 i think they both started at around 6 or 7ish i'd say both of them have shot more sq's and coons than most grown men, but neither of them will hunt much as older adults i doubt just because they never caught the fire lol

[Dilly]

The earlier you can start bringing them along the better, they will pick up on so much more and will be a better and safer hunter than if you wait until they are 12 and take firearm safety and then start hunting. I started taking my son along bowhunting and muzzleloader hunting when he was 4, I bought one of the camo pop up blinds just to take him along, it worked great, he took many naps in that blind while out for the afternoon hunt, the only thing I was ever worried about was a deer hearing him snore if it got real close to the blind.