Post by: argie1891 on November 15, 2017, 02:58:40 AM
My son shoots my AR right now. 223 doesn't have a lot of recoil with them. He shot a deer this year during the youth season, 64gr soft point. It's nice to shorten the stock up for him. Next yr though I'll prob bump him up to my 300blk for a little more knock down.
For a single shot option, my niece has a CVA Hunter which is a break action. Think they make it in 223 243 and possibly 308. The 223 would be about right with a 4 yr old. Hers is a 243, which would be a bit much still. They are very budget friendly too, check out Academy, even comes with a scope.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 15, 2017, 05:17:41 AM
Post by: Curly on November 15, 2017, 05:42:43 AM
Now, letting a 4 yr old shoot deer........does seem a little bit young. :dunno:
Post by: pianoman9701 on November 15, 2017, 06:01:31 AM
Post by: YoungFowler on November 15, 2017, 06:07:53 AM
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
Post by: jackelope on November 15, 2017, 06:20:35 AM
And i have no idea why a 4 year old is shooting deer.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: 92xj on November 15, 2017, 06:30:24 AM
Post by: bhawley76 on November 15, 2017, 07:42:47 AM
Post by: MADMAX on November 15, 2017, 07:57:00 AM
Post by: N7XW on November 15, 2017, 08:12:04 AM
Post by: Holg3107 on November 15, 2017, 09:00:48 AM
Post by: boneaddict on November 15, 2017, 09:03:11 AM
Post by: bobcat on November 15, 2017, 09:25:49 AM
IMO way too dang young.
:yeah:
Post by: quadrafire on November 15, 2017, 09:27:15 AM
That would make more sense to me
Post by: runamuk on November 15, 2017, 09:56:57 AM
I shot my first deer at 5 years old in South Carolina sitting in a stand with my father shooting a lever action 32 special. I went hunting with my dad at age 3 and would sit at the base of his ladder stand while he was in the ladder for the morning and evening hunts, every weekend of the season. Based off that texted post above we know absolutely nothing about the location, situation or education of the kid and adult supervising him on a hunt. No information given to judge. Some kids have it in them young to hunt, shoot and kill, others don't.Everything he just said. The rest of the US is not the same as here snd,we do not have any information. Basically jumping to judgement is exactly how anti gunners would spin that text.
Post by: lokidog on November 15, 2017, 10:06:03 AM
I don't see a 4 year old with a gun being a safe or smart idea :twocents:
My son knew the main gun safety rules at 4, he had to treat his toy gun like a real one. Having said that, 4 seems pretty young but if the adult is right next to them helping out, and its legal, whatever....
Post by: b23 on November 15, 2017, 10:07:10 AM
At 4 years old Nerf or at most a good old Red Rider BB gun.
I've known a few adults that this would be good advice for as well. :-\
Post by: Badhabit on November 15, 2017, 10:07:43 AM
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on November 15, 2017, 10:28:19 AM
I know there are a lot of adults that own guns that probably do not meet the standards I just listed, but 4 is way to young.
Post by: lokidog on November 15, 2017, 10:32:12 AM
A BB gun under supervision is the most I would trust them with. If you cannot read, write, form complete coherent sentences, etc, you should not be shooting a gun or hunting.
I know there are a lot of adults that own guns that probably do not meet the standards I just listed, but 4 is way to young.
My son was reading better than the majority of my wife's 5th graders at age 4.... ;) Too young? :chuckle: My biggest concern would be muzzle control for a gun too heavy for the kid. However, with all of the different gun cradles these days, as long as an adult is there to supervise, I don't have any issues.
Post by: pianoman9701 on November 15, 2017, 10:36:32 AM
Post by: Stein on November 15, 2017, 11:18:08 AM
From a safety perspective, I am 100% sure I could make it work safely and effectively at virtually any age. For me, a single rifle and a single deer would be much easier to manage than a shotgun in a duck blind where they are coming in all the time from every angle and other hunters and dogs also in the mix.
From a hunter's ed perspective, I think it would be a pretty remarkable kid that was able to legitimately complete the WA course at 4. Again, not impossible and I have no idea what other state's courses look like.
So, at the end of the day I would leave it up to the responsible parent to make the call.
Post by: boneaddict on November 15, 2017, 12:52:10 PM
Post by: 2MANY on November 15, 2017, 01:34:57 PM
Kinda seems like their business.
Post by: jackelope on November 15, 2017, 01:39:04 PM
Post by: argie1891 on November 15, 2017, 02:11:13 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on November 15, 2017, 02:15:25 PM
I can't see a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle competently. I suppose you could teach or control the rest. The parent or bystander could handle the muzzle control aspect, target ID, and pretty much everything else. I just can't picture a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle as needed. I'm trying to picture my kid doing this at 4. She's pretty mature, responsible, pretty even keeled, etc but I can't see her being physically able to handle the actual shooting aspect of it at 4.
Have you seen some of the kid-sized ARs? I'm not saying buy a 4 year-old an AR and leave it with her. But again, with hand-on adult supervision, very young children can enjoy shooting in a responsible environment.
Post by: PastorJoel on November 15, 2017, 02:19:16 PM
I have a 4-year-old and he has been with me hunting, but he will not be hunting himself until he is probably 10-12.
Post by: JDHasty on November 15, 2017, 03:01:23 PM
I can't see a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle competently. I suppose you could teach or control the rest. The parent or bystander could handle the muzzle control aspect, target ID, and pretty much everything else. I just can't picture a 4 year old being able to aim the rifle as needed. I'm trying to picture my kid doing this at 4. She's pretty mature, responsible, pretty even keeled, etc but I can't see her being physically able to handle the actual shooting aspect of it at 4.
Have you seen some of the kid-sized ARs? I'm not saying buy a 4 year-old an AR and leave it with her. But again, with hand-on adult supervision, very young children can enjoy shooting in a responsible environment.
Bridget has had her Davey Cricket since she was born, but started going to the range with me and shooting it when she was about four.
She has co-opted one of my Contender frames and has a 23 inch 17 Hornet heavy barrel w/5-20 Nikon Monarch and a 21 inch tapered 7-30 Waters barrel w/3-9 Nitrex TR1 on it. She shoots chucks w/her 17 Hornet, we spot together and when she is ready to shoot she says: OK cock. And I reach over and cock the hammer for her.
We don't go to the range when any one else is likely to be there and when we go together and have her guns along I don't have any thing in mind except helping her. Our benches will set up 24 inches high so they fit kids.
She isn't ready yet to shoot her 7-30, she wants to shoot more at chucks this spring, but it is there for her when she is ready to start going after deer. She just turned 9.
Post by: tlbradford on November 15, 2017, 09:52:57 PM
Post by: jackelope on November 15, 2017, 10:01:00 PM
You can help All you want cocking the hammer, holding the rifle, supporting the kid, etc but you can’t aim for them. That’s what I can’t see a 4 year old being able to do. At least not enough to be sure that they will make a clean shot leading to an ethical kill on their own. They don’t even hardly know how to form complete sentences at that point.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: argie1891 on November 16, 2017, 02:18:49 AM
Post by: Pegasus on November 16, 2017, 05:41:42 AM
Post by: fishngamereaper on November 16, 2017, 06:08:03 AM
Post by: JDHasty on November 16, 2017, 08:29:17 AM
I took a 9 year old on his first successful hunting trip. He killed a buck at about 50 yards. He shot 3 times. Somehow the deer never moved.
You can help All you want cocking the hammer, holding the rifle, supporting the kid, etc but you can’t aim for them. That’s what I can’t see a 4 year old being able to do. At least not enough to be sure that they will make a clean shot leading to an ethical kill on their own. They don’t even hardly know how to form complete sentences at that point.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bridget has had her Hunter Ed card for a couple years. I have had her 7-30 barrel set up and ready for when she is ready to go deer hunting. She has been shooting chucks for since last spring w/her 17 Hornet barrel and does a very good job of putting the shot right where she wants it to go. She has a lot of patience for a kid her age, she waited out a chuck last year for ~45 minutes because she wants one taxidermied and had removed half the head from ones she hit in the noggin. I told her to just shoot the next big one right in the middle, but she thought that would make a mess for the taxi to clean so she waited out a heart shot.
She said she doesn't think she is ready for deer yet this year, and I told her: That is fine, we will do more chucks next year and if you are ready for deer next year your rifle is all ready for you. But you have to make up your mind by summer so you can practice with your gun set up for deer.
She shoots off a Harris S-25 pivoting bipod unless she is shooting off the benches, then she uses a S-BR. She is solid on chucks out to at least 150.
Post by: Special T on November 16, 2017, 01:12:21 PM
I have to laugh. I got pulled over one day because my daughter was in the front seat of my truck hunkered down reading her book. I was in trouble because she wasn’t in a car seat or in the back seat. (Age thing)She got out to move to the back. She was bigger than the officer was. He was embarrassed but those are the rules. I obviously hate how the government gets involved in everything raising our kids, but I could almost justify it for this. I guess it’s like saying you aren’t old enough to drink, but you are old enough to go to war.Well said
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
Post by: yorketransport on November 16, 2017, 08:19:00 PM
It's worth mentioning though that my kids are currently 13 and 15 and neither of them hunts. Every kid matures differently and right now neither of mine is ready to kill a big game animal. They're certainly capable of making the shot though.
Post by: PastorJoel on November 16, 2017, 08:35:39 PM
My rules where simple for my kid, you hunt when you can do everything yourself. Hold the gun, shoot the gun, load the gun, carry it all day, carry all your own gear.....etc.....this was his first year, he's 12. Seems pretty straight forward.
I like this. I think I will do the same.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 17, 2017, 05:49:05 AM
Post by: Curly on November 17, 2017, 07:47:11 AM
http://www.300blktalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=128&t=101338&sid=fcc06ecbe24f1b3c6fa896fd5a08e064
Post by: Magnum_Willys on November 17, 2017, 08:45:11 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on November 28, 2017, 07:27:03 PM
Every kid is different and every parent is different. It can be done, don't know if it should be done but I only know how to parent my kids. If you're being safe and not endangering the kid or those around do what you think is best raising your own kids.
Post by: Dan-o on November 28, 2017, 08:29:43 PM
They packed bb guns for some hunts before that.
My basic rule at the time was show me you can safely pack your bb gun, and we'll move up to big game weapon.
It worked well for us.
Even then, I didn't pack a weapon on some of those first hunts....... I had enough on my hands just making sure my sons were safe and hunting safely at that age.
Post by: Thehowler on November 28, 2017, 09:50:02 PM
Post by: lokidog on November 29, 2017, 05:02:57 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on November 29, 2017, 05:09:30 PM
I made a wooden rifle for my son when he was two. He had to follow all of the gun safety rules with it. If they can pay attention to the rules when "playing" by themselves, they will probably be ready to be immediately supervised with a real firearm.
And there we have it. My kid was not ready at two for even a toy gun yet here is another kid who was. It's all a case by case basis determined by the parent. Parents make bad decisions sometimes sure but I'll trust a parent until they prove me wrong before I'll trust a blanket statement applying to every kid.
Post by: lokidog on November 29, 2017, 08:51:06 PM
I made a wooden rifle for my son when he was two. He had to follow all of the gun safety rules with it. If they can pay attention to the rules when "playing" by themselves, they will probably be ready to be immediately supervised with a real firearm.
And there we have it. My kid was not ready at two for even a toy gun yet here is another kid who was. It's all a case by case basis determined by the parent. Parents make bad decisions sometimes sure but I'll trust a parent until they prove me wrong before I'll trust a blanket statement applying to every kid.
I agree completely, my brother, at 52 still shouldn't be allowed to have a gun....
BTW, my son was making everything into a gun so I figured it was time to teach him the rules. They also included not touching real guns. That was why I made a wooden one, all of the toy guns were, IMO, too similar to real guns for a two year old to differentiate.
We had some raccoon issues with our chickens and had an unloaded shotgun by the door. About six months after getting his wooden gun, I happened to see him walk over toward it and was curious what he would do. He did not know I was watching from the balcony as he stepped next to it, looked it up and down, started to reach for it and then yanked his hand back when he remembered what he had been taught.
Post by: KFhunter on November 29, 2017, 08:53:49 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.cabelas.com%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fcabelas%2Fs7_615030_renderset_07%3Fwid%3D300%26amp%3Bhei%3D230%26amp%3Bop_sharpen%3D1&hash=3671cfe16c5a51edf116f625db6c9fde0b2be045)
Post by: lokidog on November 29, 2017, 09:05:56 PM
It is still in his room at age 14. :)