How old is old enough?

RabidRattleSnake1

Active Member
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When did you guys start your little guys hunting? Talking antelope, javlina and deer. My guy is really wanting to hunt, but I know he is too little still. Heck I ask him what he wants to hunt and he tells me chiken.....

I am thinking I might get him a nice pellet gun and start him off with pigeons and other vermon.
 
We started our kids and now Grandkids at 4 yrs old going out with us on evening hunts. We let them start with a pellet gun at 7yrs old and plenty of supervision. Definately need to make sure they handle every gun safely and teach them the right way to handle firearms,bows etc.

They will get tired so you need somebody that can stay at camp and let them sleep in etc. One just can't take a little one on a long hunt and stay out all day for several days because most kids get board and want to play. You don't want to ruin your hunt and theirs. Take some toys for around camp and make it a fun hunt and trip for them to enjoy the quality time with you.

Each child is different, some are more responcible and others are sometimes not ready to handle a real gun yet. Know your child ...

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Good, wise words from trophyhunter, IMO! ;) They are all different.

I have three teens. All of them started hunting deer, elk, and javelina at 10 years old (minimum legal age here in AZ.....). Each of them had already spent LOTS of time with pellet guns, shotguns, .22s, and eventually larger bores starting at a VERY young age (around 4ish....)! :)

S.
 
Ya, I have my little guy tearing it up with his Red Rider for now. Like I said his big goal is to go "chicken" hunting what ever that is....

I will probalby take him out this year turkey hunting, and for sure on a dove hunt or two. If I by some chace draw an antelope tag I will take him on that in that it isn's all that hard and there will be plenty of other people there to baby sit if necessary.
 
Snake:
Enjoy him and grab every minute with him you can in the outdoors.

They grow up so quickly. You will someday look back and say WOW how did all the time pass so quickly, graduation. they will be am adult :)

Lasting memories for sure :)

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I have one girl and two boys all under ten. take him every chance you get even if it seems to tough for him we buried one of my sons baseball teammates last week due to a 4 wheeler accident you just never know how long you have with them
 
Sorry to hear about your son's friend. He will be in our prayers tonight.

We all need to hug our loved ones every day.

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I was 3 1/2 my first deer hunt. Like a previous poster said we hunted in a big family group(DWR DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS LIKE?) Had older grandpa and uncles that didn't mind hanging around the second day when i was tired out. Haven't missed a deer hunt in 36 years because of that good first experience.

Started my son at 4, did a lot of road hunting and "sitting on point", but so what, I have killed a lot of deer, "wasting" one year was worth it. At 5 he started following me through the forest, I am 6'5, so I really had to be aware of his 3 steps to my one and leave a lot of time for "glassing". We carry walkie talkies, and he got a real kick out of listening to us talk back and forth. Again we still hunt together as a group of family and friends, most of whom I have been with for my 36yrs of hunting, and we all enjoy "breaking" a new hunter so he has had a ball.

Last season, he was 7 was his first elk hunt. Told him he could come no matter what, and we really lucked out with the weather, first elk hunt we haven't been near 0 with a foot or more snow on the ground. That littl guy stayed right on my azz up hill through the thick stuff for 3 days until I had to take him off to go back to school(apparently they frown on missing a week for the muzzleloader, then the next week for elk). Of course the next morning while he was at school the first meadow I hit has a 5 point in it, but thats hunting I guess!

We hunted waterfowl 30-40 days last season, he missed only one. He is a dengenerate like his dad now, wears too much camo, talks about guns all the time, etc, etc.

He got a Browing BPS 12 guage his first b-day(mom got it for years of service), still never shot just waiting for him. He has a crossman pellet gun, last year he got a 10/22 breakdown, and somehow he has decided to "take over" my .17 hmr(I didn't even know it was up for takeover).

I was an older dad(33) when he was born, in some things that sucks, he's 7 and dad is pushing 40 so energy wise he loses out some, but because of that he gets a lot more patient, experienced hunting partner. I think that is the biggest key, you have to be willing to not get to the spot, not kill that deer, not be quiet for a while, but its WELL WORTH it in the end.
Now I have 2 yr old twins that will soon be "ruining" my hunts, and I can't wait to have 3 facepainted kids out in the swamp!!!


"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"
 
For my three kids (all teens now....).

BB guns at 3 years old. .22s at around 6-7 years old. Hunter Safety at 9 years old. .20 gauge after birds rabbits at 9-10. .308 & .243 at the range at 8-10 years old. BIG GAME HUNTING (javelina, deer, elk, etc...) at 10 years old (minimum age here in AZ....)!

S.

:)
 
I took my 3 year old scouting for "Ampalopes" a few weeks ago very rewarding. I was jsut me the 3 y/o and his older brother 12. He had fun but I wont take him hunting unless mom goes. The 12 year old I start taking with me when he was 6, took him dove hunting he got bored and went to the truck and feel asleep.
 
My son is 5. Thanks to Nm for youth mentor program I bought his first hunting license and bear tag this year. We will be treeing a bear for him to kill with the crossbow here in a couple weeks. Can't wait
 
My experience echoes Stanleys, except for:

I still have a 10 year old and the others started hunting Big Game at 12 (legal age here in Utah).

I will add that they each carried a BB gun or a toy gun when in the field at a very young age (3-4). I think this is an easy and safe way to teach them good gun handling skills without putting everyone at risk.

I have been hunting with more than one kid, and even some adults that scared me to death, and almost literally :)

I would tell you that if he wants to go chicken hunting then take him chicken hunting. What is a Grouse or a Pheasant if it's not just a wild chicken?

Best of luck and enjoy every second with him while in the outdoors cause it does go by way to fast!


"The problem with quotes on Internet Forums is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln
 
Zach killed his first buck at 8 years old and has not looked back.

It really comes down to how much time you can spend with them in the field and working with firearms. He was going on hunts with me at 5 yrs old.





 
our boys have been coming with us hunting since they start walking...they LOVE outdoors...fishing, camping and hunting!!

now my boys are 9 and 10..killed first antelope last year when they are 8 and 9..going again next month...for antelope and hope to bring elk home this year...

they have been killing a lot of rabbits, doves, grouses and varmits and they shoot youth 7mm08, .243 and 20 gauge..

just spend time with your kids in the field and teach...

vini
 
My girls have been hiking, shooting, fishing, ect since they were old enough to walk. I have always included them in everything I do. When my kids were young I actually took about three years off my own actives to teach them. It was hard leaving my own poles and bows home and just watching them but it has paid off now when I watch them succeed in the things I loved doing. Spend as much time as you can with them because they grow up fast.

As for shooting it is never too young to introduce them as long as you have a handle on what ever they are doing and they are doing it in a safe manner

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who farted?
 
Like said above I think every kid is different. Just try not to push them and burn them out or give them a negative experience in the beginning. Always quit while they are still having a good time, they will want to go again for sure then next time.

I started hunting grouse on my own when I was 8 with a bolt action .410. I had to stay in a 1 by 4 mile section so my parents knew where I was at.
I would NOT trust my kids at 8 years old with a gun like that though. I grew up handling guns non-stop living out in the country. My girls have unfourtenately have grown up in the city. They shoot but no where near as often as I did...

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"


Let me guess, you drive a 1 ton with oak trees for smoke stacks, 12" lift kit and 40" tires to pull a single place lawn mower trailer?
 
I just got back from NM. Took my 5 year old son to kill his first animal. He took a nice antelope buck.
 
Quick update, and YEAH IM BRAGGING. My 8 year old went 48/50 on the hunters safety test. Which of course meant that I had to honor my word and we went and picked up that 20 gauge. It is now getting "serious". I have been put on "notice" that there won't be anymore ducks laughing at us as i pull the trigger and that I better shoot fast. Pretty sure the muzzloader will become the grouse hunt.

Second bit of news, there was a promise made at the house that if we didn't have anymore "accidents" the 3yr old could come hunting. We have been accident free for a month, so last night we started pulling out the handmedown camo pants and shirts to see what I was gonna need. You think the Robertsons look rediculous out with the face paint, wait till you see the Jorgensens. We tried for nearly 8 yrs to get the first of the clowns, now I will have two with me everywhere(my other 3yrd old twin has informed me that she will be going shopping with here mom and to get pink toes when we go hunting). Oh well I guess I went 2 for 3 on hunting buddies. In short, I don't think there is such a thing as to early.

We taught my kids and nephews how to make "traps" so when we do take a break to glass they are diggin little holes and covering them with grass so the deer fall in the the hole and are trapped. They love it, sorry to you guys that hunt the manti, you may end up in a trap!


"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"
 
Funny how times change. Time marches on....our Grandson started out at 4 yrs old going out and as he grew older ....longer hunts ...he has seen and learned a lot through his young years. This year he is 12 and finally can hunt our state. Cali .

Took him out archery Blacktail opening week. And again for a few days starting tomorrow. We spot a buck and now he tells me the best way to stalk it....kid is good....and a great shot both rifle and bow....now I just have to get him his first shot....priceless.

Again: funny how times change...our kids used to take cars, trucks , baseball mitts to camp to play. Now our Grandson take those 4x4 fast dirt spinning wheels remote controll cars or an IPad . Times have changed for sure.

I agree that all kids are different...some just love to hunt but eventually they all get tired. Our Grandson on a 5 day hunt will make it out in the dark AM maybe 3 mornings but by night fall he is wasted so I f he wants ...we let him sleep in with Grandma.... Get his pan cakes and home made apricot jelly. :) he has to have fun and enjoy the hunt and trip. As he gets older he will get stronger and make longer hunts...we hunt pretty hard but have to be carful of where we take him into because of terrain now he is getting to heavy to put on our shoulders and pack out on our backs. :)

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My boy went antelope hunting at 2.5 years old. My wife had a antelope tag and he loved it. He hiked along and put him on a pack that can hold a kid to carry him when he got tired.

Now at 3 I take him along to shoot does and scout.. The downside is he keeps me from hiking in further or when he sees an animal he yells it out but in the end I don't care cause he is having a blast and its about us spending time. So in the end he really isn't holding back cause we are loving it.

He helps hold the pellet gun to shoot rabbits and small game... Everyday I leave for work he ask what im going to kill today..

And when he was a baby just a couple months old he just stared at my mounts on the wall. Thinking he was scared we turned him away and he cried.... so turns out he loved them. Now we have 3 deer mounts in his room. He loves it. I love it.
 
Love the kid in the pack pic! I totally agree with what's been said. With all the time spent with organized sports, electronics, homework, etc...I take my kids any time they say they want to go. Sure, I don't end up hunting quite as hard, or late, or long, but I wouldn't change it. I had my first one graduate and go off to school this year, and I'm glad I got to spend the time we spent chasing muleys. My youngest is 9 now, and he has his first deer tag in New Mexico this year. Can't wait to get there.

As far as when to let them hunt, some state laws take care of that, but I think each kid is different. My youngest seems more ready than my oldest was, so he's starting a little earlier. The learn more than anything shooting pellet guns and plinking with .22s. As long as we emphasize from the get-go how important safety is, I think it sticks with them.

WH
 
RRS,

give our congrats to your son...love to see youths hunters going on a hunting trip!

good luck on youth elk tag...hope u find antelope tags..I saw CL...$500.00 for doe!!!..Gee..few years ago was only 100.00 -150.00

Vinihunt
 
I know a family that took their 4 year old hog hunting in Texas. The kid nailed a hog at about 50 yards with a .410 slug gun. The little guy smiled and yelled "I smoked him, Daddy!".

I'm a bit undecided on how young is too young, but my gut's telling me that 4 is a bit on the too young side. Maybe if Dad carries the gun, sets up the rifle for the shot and maintains control of the gun.

When they're that young, there's no reason why they can't go with the hunters and follow them around. They can start learning the other skills they will need to be a good hunter.

A pellet gun is a good way to learn marksmanship and safe gun handling practices.
 

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