What age to let your hunting buddy kill something?

[Morfitt09]

Just wondering what age you guys brought your kids with you hunting and let them pull the trigger on an animal for the first time?

[Smokinyotes]

12 after they had completed the hunters ed and had their own license and tags.

[elkhunter11]

Ground squirrels, crows etc. at around six, and game animals at twelve when legally licensed

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Ground squirrels, crows etc. at around six, and game animals at twelve when legally licensed

Yup

LC

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by Morfitt09

Just wondering what age you guys brought your kids with you hunting and let them pull the trigger on an animal for the first time?

I would wait until they asked and then put them into training.

[Slicktricker]

For big game not allowed till 12 and have training and win card and own tags. Filling someone else’s tag is poaching kid or not. Small game when they are ready and have training

[KWO]

Totally depends on the kid. I have one kid that was ready as soon as he held a gun. The other wasn't ready for big game until much older. No matter the age, look for keeping it a respectful and positive experience.

[300magman]

Originally Posted by KWO

Totally depends on the kid. I have one kid that was ready as soon as he held a gun. The other wasn't ready for big game until much older. No matter the age, look for keeping it a respectful and positive experience.

This, completely dependant on the kid. My 8 year old has been killing called in coyotes for a year and can't wait for this season, gophers and other small game since he was 4. He LOVES shooting though, and is better than most out to 250yds with his .223 and the only thing limiting his distance with a bow is ability to pull draw weights and his draw length that get him out further, but inside 15yds he rarely misses a gopher. The thing is, he was begging to go shooting and hunting from a very young age, and would shoot rifles and bows everyday if I would let him, lol.....kid has put easily 1000+ rnds from his 22 and 223 down range and we do shoot bows almost daily. So if it was legal, I would happily let him hunt big game after some practice with a 243, and will likely be getting him a whitetail and hog hunt to Texas for a Xmas gift where he can legally hunt. But this desire was driven entirely by him, and I have friends with kids of similar age that have interest but not the burning passion yet and I think pushing them would turn them off entirely. The kid will guide you, and you'll know when they're ready, but I firmly believe that forcing it before they're ready can be the difference between creating a passion and a distaste.

[58thecat]

Kill something, as soon as they were old enough to hold the old Cooey 22, gopher shooting is a blast.

[Big Red 250]

Story on the hunting BC site of a guy's 10 year old daughter just shot her second buck of the season.

[TBoe]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Yup



LC

Yup!


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[catnthehat]

I bothered my father continually from the day I could talk to take me out !
I went along at a very early age with him but did not pull the trigger on anything that I was not legally allied to .

I let my son decide and he did not decide to start hunting for years ,caution should be used when it comes to legalities for sure .
Cat

[Morfitt09]

He's still young so next year he will get his little rascal. Didn't plan on letting him shoot big game till he was legal of course. Can't wait to bring him gopher hunting. Just an excited father!

[walking buffalo]

The younger the better is best.

As determined by the kid, not the parent.

[Ranch11]

My boy shot his first gopher when he was 5. He’s 7 now.
We went through all safety courses. He’s very serious about it and is the safest guy I know that I shoot with. He was shooting clays this summer with his 410 and has moved up to a 20 now. He shoots a 22 mag and recently started shooting a 243. He’s hitting 6” clay targets consistently at 75 yards. He’ll go coyote hunting on our own property this fall til it’s too cold for him to go.

He also drives the chore truck while I feed cows out of the back. Kid is more mature than most 17 yr olds. He’s learning to drive the tractor right now as well. I figure why not let him learn instead of hold him back. Oh he carries a knife too. Only when he’s working on the ranch.
Better than wasting time on those damn video games and IPads.

[Morfitt09]

I can't stand how many kids sit for hours infront of video games these days. We don't have cable even because as a young family we just don't find enjoyment in sitting inside when we could be outside. He loses his mind if we try to stay inside on a rainy day even but wouldn't ask for it any different!

[sevenmil]

He never once said he wanted to break the the law. But he sure got jumped on.

[GregT]

I take my two oldest every chance I get. They are 3 &5 and love being out hunting. They have both been shooting spinning targets off the bench. It's slow and patience is tested but they love it. No doubt they'll be hunting when the can hold a licence. Be patient and keep them involved.




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[Deasoninc]

Originally Posted by Ranch11

My boy shot his first gopher when he was 5. He’s 7 now.
We went through all safety courses. He’s very serious about it and is the safest guy I know that I shoot with. He was shooting clays this summer with his 410 and has moved up to a 20 now. He shoots a 22 mag and recently started shooting a 243. He’s hitting 6” clay targets consistently at 75 yards. He’ll go coyote hunting on our own property this fall til it’s too cold for him to go.

He also drives the chore truck while I feed cows out of the back. Kid is more mature than most 17 yr olds. He’s learning to drive the tractor right now as well. I figure why not let him learn instead of hold him back. Oh he carries a knife too. Only when he’s working on the ranch.
Better than wasting time on those damn video games and IPads.

What are all these safety courses you speak of? If you could , a link to these would be appreciated. I would like to get my boys into some courses .
I take my boys target shooting quite often. The 10 yr old is doing pretty good. He has asked several times if he could hunt with a rifle. But I explain that he has to wait till hes 12. I am currently looking for a 243 for him to start practicing with . When I feel he is proficient with it we will start coyote shooting and move from there . My 6 year old is in the 22 short stage. He can take it or leave it. But..... he really wants to hunt . Ill take him out this fall and he can sit with me and learn some hunting techniques, same thing I already do with his brother.

[Don_Parsons]

Totally agree, letting them decide is part of the plan to.
Kinda like a join venture. Ha

Some parents that come to our Rocky Mountain House range have their youngers up to speed, they started them off early from reloading, building rifles, profiling them, plinking, some Varmint hunting, scouting, spotting, stocking, skinning, and everything associated with it along with lots of other skills to be out in natures grate out doors.
Some times they have to remind dad to practic his safe handling rules. LOL

You will know when the time is right, and sharing in this will be the greatest thrill of all.
The both of you get to plan this out as a team.

I come from the day when farmers could buy dynamite, and blow up beaver dams,,, I can see why this law changed. Ha. It sure was fun learning how to handle explosives as us kids learned how to set the 3 charge time delay run.

Don