young hunters

[belkaholic]

How old was your kid or you when they first hunted with a gun. My kids are 7 & 9 and are doing hunters ed this year. Also, what type of gun did they shoot and what did you do to it to get it to fit them? Shorten the stock  thanks for all and any info.

[jackmaster]

My son was  8 when he took Hunter ed but I didn't let him hunt deer till he was 10 he rifle is 30-06 featherlite savage, my daughter didn't start till she was 15, she shoots a 7mm-08 youth model, good luck its a blast with the kids, it brings back and makes so many memories...

[ckr]

My son got his license at 7.  He started out shooting a single shot 22 that I had cut down the barrel, thinned and shortened down the stock.  He moved on to a Rossi youth 410 which has been a grouse killing machine and he now shoots a Ruger American compact in 308 and a youth 870 20 ga. 
I started my kids at 5yr shooting with strong emphases on safety.  With that said, I still do not allow him to walk around with a round in the chamber for all of our safety.

When my son is out with me, all of my attension is on him and what he is doing.  Set them up for seccess rather then failure.  This year my focus is getting him on a turkey, so if anyone wants to give up their honey hole  just let me know. 

Best of luck to you and your kids

[idaho guy]

My son started hunting at 8. He shoots(now 11) a 257 roberts that I had montana rifleman make. (I was college roommates with the owner otherwise I would not have done it due to cost, (he assures me I got the best buddy deal). We bought a youth 20 gauge pump from my neighbor. I started him on deer,turkeys and ducks. When he was 8 he got his deer, turkey and some ducks. I would think your kids are ready to start hunting now depending on their mentality. I also have a daughter who is 8 turning 9 and she shoots her cricket 22 with me. I got both kids crickets when they were five and its a great starter gun. Anyways my daughter has not hunted at all yet she just has a different personality. I agree with just focusing on your kids when hunting. Make it all about their hunt its a lot more fun when they shoot something anyways. Great time too to preach all the safety aspects too.         

[turkeyfeather]

My oldest went thru hunters ed when he was 9 and hunted that year with a 20 g for turkeys and a   .243 for deer. Both mossberg youth models.

[lhrbull]

my daughter started shooting a 22-250 adult size at 12 years of age at 15 she went hunting for antelope with a 257 Roberts in a youth model at 19 she was shooting a 280 rem for caribou in Alaska still shoots the 280 she stands 5'4" still needs to get a deer college and all she doesn't get many hunting days a year

[buck man]

My oldest 2 daughters took it at 10 years of age and both shot bucks with a ruger m77 in 243.

My third daughter took it at 11 and was bound and determined to kill her first buck with a bow whitch she accomplished at age 13

My fourth, fifth, and sixth, daughters age 14, 11, and 9 are all going to take the course in aug. The 14 year old decided maybe she would give it a try. I may have lots of venison for the freezer this year. 

 My 7 year  boy really wants to go but he's not ready for the classes. Every child is different and you can't set a certain age requirement for the classes.

[jackmaster]

holy smokes buck man, thats a whole heard of children  your gonna need a couple freezers and an extra job just for tags and licenses  .... speaking about the focusing on the youth when your out huntn, i leave my rifle at home now, i love it, dont gotta pack that heavy arse ruger #1 single shot falling block, i walk with a walkn stick i made that has a v cut into the end of it so the kid or kids have a rest, wouldnt ya know it, i was out of position and my daughter had to make a free hand shot on her first deer, it was pretty awesome, my son ended up using my forearm for a rest, it was awesome as well, damn its gonna suck when the kids are old and want to hunt on their own  i am gonna have to start packn my heavy rifle again... nah, maybe i will buy a ROSSI sigle shot break action by then, it weighs like 6.25 pounds in the 7mm-08 

[ghosthunter]

My oldest 2 daughters took it at 10 years of age and both shot bucks with a ruger m77 in 243.

My third daughter took it at 11 and was bound and determined to kill her first buck with a bow whitch she accomplished at age 13

My fourth, fifth, and sixth, daughters age 14, 11, and 9 are all going to take the course in aug. The 14 year old decided maybe she would give it a try. I may have lots of venison for the freezer this year. 

 My 7 year  boy really wants to go but he's not ready for the classes. Every child is different and you can't set a certain age requirement for the classes.

You do know where those kids come from don't you???

Man that's a Hunter Ed class

[lostbackpacker]

my son was 7, almost 8 when he passed hunters ed.  he carried a rossi single shot .243 for a number of years.  now he is 15 and carries my old 30-.06 that I have had for 20 years. 

[huntnphool]

My daughter was 10 when she first started carrying her own gun, my son turned 10 last week and is in the hunters ed process right now, he will go this year as well.

[SFD2015]

My son is 5 and I have been having this conversation with my hunting buddy's and family as well. I didn't grow up in a Hunting family, so I want to make sure that I pass this on to my son. He loves to go fishing (he always gets excited about the trout pond at the Sportsman show) and last year I would take him out on some nearby lakes for some trout fishing and great daddy/son time. He loves going to Sportco and Cabelas and all the sporting shows, so I think I am starting his addiction off early.

That being said, he is cut from a little different cloth that I am/was at his age. So I decided that this year I would take him out into the woods (no gun) and he can be my spotter for a day or 2. Just to see how he does. He has been around dead deer, but I want to make sure that he is emotionally stable enough before he sees me shoot one in real life. He is jacked about his Hunter Orange Vest and hat though.

I got him a little Mosberg .22 that he will eventually start plinking with (in the mean time I get to use it  ) and I still have my original Red Ryder BB Gun that I am going to let him try out this year when we go camping.

For me, I think knowing where you kid is at emotionally and mentally is a huge determining factor of when to introduce them into hunting. I don't plan on letting him take Hunters Ed or carry anything larger than a BB gun until he is 10 (his birthday is in September, so his first hunting season will be when he is 11). I may bump that up depending on how he matures.

I think that starting them off with fishing has been a great introduction into being a sportsman. Sure, i may only have his attention for 2 hours in a 12 foot aluminum row boat, but I have to tell ya, it's AWESOME! He loves to go out fishing with me (in fact he out catches me every time. Something that he likes to remind me of). Ultimately, each kid is different, and each one will be ready when they are.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

My kids been shooting longbows and recurves since they could point them in the right direction, but the desire to hunt did not sink in until my oldest (now 11) asked to take the course.
She will be hunting Turkey with a 20 gauge, and deer and elk with a Muzzle loader this year.
When I finally got my daughter an open seat at a class, my 7 year old asked to come along..
she probably wont hunt for a few years.. might get her a .22, but she is pretty small..
Now my 4 year old son... I been reading the book from the course to him as a bedtime story, a chapter at a time..
Hunting season will never be the same...

[Stump]

He passed hunter ed at 9 and bagged his first deer at 12. Get them started early with those points.

[buck man]

My oldest 2 daughters took it at 10 years of age and both shot bucks with a ruger m77 in 243.

My third daughter took it at 11 and was bound and determined to kill her first buck with a bow whitch she accomplished at age 13

My fourth, fifth, and sixth, daughters age 14, 11, and 9 are all going to take the course in aug. The 14 year old decided maybe she would give it a try. I may have lots of venison for the freezer this year. 

 My 7 year  boy really wants to go but he's not ready for the classes. Every child is different and you can't set a certain age requirement for the classes.

You do know where those kids come from don't you???

Man that's a Hunter Ed class

 

Yes I know I am a glutton for punishment!! I would pit my girls however against any boy or man I know when it comes to pure gut renching stamina and will. They've killed several elk, bears and bucks, both with bows and rifles. Many of which were packed out on theirs and my backs. We've packed the horses 18 mikes in one way many times also. They are real troopers. Love telling my kids stories.