Author Topic: What Age? (Read 1175 times)

Levergun 94 · « **on:** October 24, 2006, 04:01:47 PM »

What age do you think children should be introduced to firearms, and shooting? On a one on one practice?
I learned at 5, to shoot the .22 L.R., and 20 guage shotguns.
My oldest is 7, and he knows about Daddys firearms. They all do, all three of them.
When I still had a few I would take them out, and show the kids, and have them 'help' me clean them ect. I didn't get to take my oldest out at five like I had hoped, but I am still wondering if he is old enough.
At what age do you think a child should be introduced to shooting, and hunting? As in the actuall SHOOTING of arms at the range, or an appropriate place?

Tim

pills · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2006, 04:14:31 PM »

I dont know that there is an exact age for all. I have a nephew that @ 9 I wouldnt think of while another @ 6 that I would. Just depends on the kiddos.

Sourdough · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2006, 06:03:00 PM »

It depends on the child. My wife and I teach shooting classes for kids. The cutoff for the club where we teach is 10. Some of the kids at ten are still not mature enough to take the course. Yet our son was shooting at the age of five. He shot grouse, then helped clean them, cook them, and eat them. He shot his first Moose at the age of eight. Again he helped clean it, cut and wrap it, cook it, and eat it. He shot his first Black Bear at the age of eleven, and a Grizzly at twelve.

But today he is seventeen, and I can't get him to go into the woods with me for nothing. Hockey, weight lifting, and girls, mostly hockey.

WmRoy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2006, 08:11:22 PM »

Quote from: Sourdough on October 24, 2006, 06:03:00 PM

It depends on the child. My wife and I teach shooting classes for kids. The cutoff for the club where we teach is 10. Some of the kids at ten are still not mature enough to take the course. Yet our son was shooting at the age of five. He shot grouse, then helped clean them, cook them, and eat them. He shot his first Moose at the age of eight. Again he helped clean it, cut and wrap it, cook it, and eat it. He shot his first Black Bear at the age of eleven, and a Grizzly at twelve.

But today he is seventeen, and I can't get him to go into the woods with me for nothing. Hockey, weight lifting, and girls, mostly hockey.

Isn't that all against the law................. 5? 8? Actually hunting? Hope no GF&P folks from your state are on here................

WylieKy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2006, 02:40:08 AM »

My daughter is 3 and has been on several short hunts with me, and has been scouting with me. She can track better than her mother! She has a bow I shoot with her, and a pellet rifle. I think the noise of a gun would startle her at this point. She has also been present and helped me clean and cut up downed deer. She asked a lot of questions and I gave a lot of answers and it didn't bother her at all. IMHO, if you wait until the PETA instructors...I mean public school teachers (with a few exceptions) to teach them about shooting and hunting, it may be too late. I keep the hunts short, pick her up when she wants to be picked up, and pack it up when I can tell she is beginning to lose interest. I do not think I will down a deer with her for a few more years, but she gets the woods time and that is invaluable. Same process when we are shooting her bow or pellet rifle.

WylieKy

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2006, 03:23:03 AM »

My kids started shooting at 8 with a BB gun, then a .22 at 9, and a 20 gauge shotgun at 11. That seemed about right because they were open to the fun of it and had enough smarts to take the safety lessons seriously.

Heavy C · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2006, 05:38:58 AM »

I believe it varies by child. I introduced my daughter to shooting 22's at age 8. I have a nephew that is 8 right now and is not that good at taking instruction - lacks some maturity. My father introduced my brothers and I around 6 or 7. Everyone is different.

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2006, 04:38:37 AM »

TM7:

That's a very good point. I hadn't thought of the age at which that will occur with my kids. I kinda thought about it recently when contemplating whether my son could hunt in a different deer stand from me this year. I decided we'd still hunt from the same stand.

Levergun 94 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2006, 02:48:21 PM »

I just started thinking about it again, after realising that I am really close to finally getting a rifle again.
Was looking at the firearms at Wallyworld a week or so ago with my kids, and saw that little H&R/NEF .22 l.r./.410 combo, and thought how perfect that would be for teaching them! They would have their 'own' rifle/shotgun that they would be 'resposible for' (WITH APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION/SAFETY

). I would have liked to get my oldest started sooner, but it seems like it came out allright. He's now REALLY interested in Cowboy stuff (just like Dad

), and now with hunting, so I figure it's about time.

Tim

ironglow · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2006, 04:21:37 PM »

I started my sons at about 5..grandsons about the same. Now my grandaughter, the youngest..at 7, has had her present from grandpa (a Rossi matched pair .22/.410) for about 2 years..and my son and I take her shooting regularly.

No toy guns for any of them as kids..toy guns teach bad habits..

RaySendero · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2006, 05:11:14 PM »

I started my son with a 22LR plinking at the range at age 5, shotgun shooting skeet at 9, pistol target practice at 13, hunting supervised with me at 10 and deer hunting by himself on the stand at 14.

Heavy C · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2006, 05:41:33 PM »

Ironglow that is a great point about toy guns. It's one of the issues making it difficult to teach my nephew I mentioned in my earlier post.

akpls · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2006, 05:48:44 PM »

Quote from: WmRoy on October 24, 2006, 08:11:22 PM

Quote from: Sourdough on October 24, 2006, 06:03:00 PM
It depends on the child. My wife and I teach shooting classes for kids. The cutoff for the club where we teach is 10. Some of the kids at ten are still not mature enough to take the course. Yet our son was shooting at the age of five. He shot grouse, then helped clean them, cook them, and eat them. He shot his first Moose at the age of eight. Again he helped clean it, cut and wrap it, cook it, and eat it. He shot his first Black Bear at the age of eleven, and a Grizzly at twelve.

But today he is seventeen, and I can't get him to go into the woods with me for nothing. Hockey, weight lifting, and girls, mostly hockey.

Isn't that all against the law................. 5? 8? Actually hunting? Hope no GF&P folks from your state are on here................

It is not against the law in Alaska. Mine have been hunting with me since age 6. My 2 sons, now 10 & 12, have more knowledge of wildlife and the woods than some of the adults I hunted with as a kid back east.

ironglow · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2006, 08:24:41 AM »

Yes Ramos;

As I see it..toy guns just teach kids to aim a gun at someone and pull the trigger..
Then, when we try to teach them real gun safety, they have to "unlearn" all those bad habits...

...There can be a dangerous transition time there..

Brett · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2006, 10:13:58 AM »

I can see your point about toy guns. However, following that logic we shouldn't let our kids play with toy cars and trucks? The important thing is to emphasize the difference between make believe and the real deal and make sure they understand the dangers and possible consequences if they do not take the real thing seriously and use proper care at all times.

ironglow · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2006, 02:53:09 PM »

TM& & Brett;

Toy guns are not necessarily wrong, they can be taught to properly handle them using a toy gun as well..

no guns here · « **Reply #16 on:** October 30, 2006, 02:31:12 AM »

Yup, started my own kids much too late. Oldest were 10 when they started going to the range. Before that we were in Europe from ages 6-9 so we didn't have much chance. Now my oldest ,14, has her own Beretta 390 12 ga, and her own HR 20 ga slug gun. The other oldest is a much better shot and likes to shoot but has no interest in hunting. The boy, 13, just isn't trustworthy unless someone is standing on his toes to make sure he doesn't screw around. Youngest, 6, wants to shoot everything and wants to hunt everything. He has Africa planned out and wants to go bear hunting... At least I didn't lose them...

ngh

btr568 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 30, 2006, 05:09:52 AM »

it depends on the kid,some are ready for it some aren't.

WylieKy · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2006, 05:11:25 AM »

Quote from: ironglow on October 28, 2006, 08:24:41 AM

As I see it..toy guns just teach kids to aim a gun at someone and pull the trigger..
Then, when we try to teach them real gun safety, they have to "unlearn" all those bad habits...

...There can be a dangerous transition time there..

In my house growing up, and my house now, toy guns are treated just like real guns. If I ever see a toy gun being pointed at someone else, it goes in the trash, and a warm fanny follows. I firimly believe that a gun (toy or not) should not be pointed at anyone unless it is your intention to end them. There is a little slack for playing army, or pretend hunting, ect...but never point any toy gun at a real person. Imaginary Osama is ok, Mommy is not!!!

WylieKy

Heavy C · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2006, 12:40:31 PM »

Quote from: WylieKy on October 30, 2006, 05:11:25 AM

Quote from: ironglow on October 28, 2006, 08:24:41 AM
As I see it..toy guns just teach kids to aim a gun at someone and pull the trigger..
Then, when we try to teach them real gun safety, they have to "unlearn" all those bad habits...

...There can be a dangerous transition time there..

In my house growing up, and my house now, toy guns are treated just like real guns. If I ever see a toy gun being pointed at someone else, it goes in the trash, and a warm fanny follows. I firimly believe that a gun (toy or not) should not be pointed at anyone unless it is your intention to end them. There is a little slack for playing army, or pretend hunting, ect...but never point any toy gun at a real person. Imaginary Osama is ok, Mommy is not!!!

WylieKy

That's the way it was at my house when I was growing up too. Not all parents see the problem with letting their kids run around blasting each other with toy guns.

Levergun 94 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2006, 01:16:13 PM »

I remember playing Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, and all that. I just found a trend with my kids asking me why "So & So" on a Cowboy and Western shot "So & So".
It REALLY got me thinking how to explain those days, in comparison to today. Especially when Daddy used to carry a sidearm in one place we lived, and why I don't now ..... They thought because I could carry open in one place, it was ok here as well. Part of why I want them learning NOW, instead of their schools 'teaching' them about them later. Their school can barely teach them to write properly (Daddys job)! There is NO way I'll let the media, and school system teach them about moral pricipals, and firearms, and putting meat on the table.

Tim