Whats a good age to start kids

[orff77]

I have a three year old son and was wondering at what age should I take him hunting with me.I started when I was ten but think I was ready sooner.

[Hardcorehunter]

I have a three year old as well. I'm thinking five is a good age to be introduced. I guess every kid would be a little different.

[orff77]

I was thinking 5 or6 I only hope I can wait that long

[somdmusician]

orff77 said:

I have a three year old son and was wondering at what age should I take him hunting with me.I started when I was ten but think I was ready sooner.

Yeah I agree, tag them along when they reach an age where they can somewhat pay attention and be able to "learn" , or I should say "retain", the information they are receiving (5-6 years old) My father started taking me along on simple tree rat hunting trips when I was 6 years old, and I have to admit, that most of my learned memories in the field always come back from about that time of age, seems I've not learned much else in the past 30 years, but, the early age is where the learning sticks.

I personally would not allow a young buck to have much "hands-on" until at least 10 years old. The reason I say that is, some youngsters are too rambunctious for what's going on and may not be able to handle the responsibility of a loaded firearm.

Be sure they go into the field with an ethical and responsible adult as well, adults love to show-off for kids and it goes without saying, but, they have to be taught at the earliest ages that guns are not toys, kids learn things when adults assume they are no paying attention, and if an adult is seen treating a gun like a toy... I think you get the point. I know far too many adults who never grew up, may not ever.

However, regardless of age, if you're gonna start it, you better stick with it, and on a regular basis, not just a "just on the weekends" thing. Incorporate the learning throughout the week. If the kid keeps a spark in interest, then fuel the flame.

[reed]

I would say even 3 is old enough to take them on a walk through the woods regularly. Just pretend to hunt. Get them used to the outdoors and interested in it. My 2 1/2 year old loves running around in the woods because it is so much different than being in a yard or house. My son is 9 and I am just really starting to get him going on it, but he has been shooting since he was about 4 or 5. I would sit him on my lap with a .22 and let him look through the scope and shoot tin cans. I just wish I had taken him more over the last couple years and I know I can't change that.

[davep]

Each kid is different. Some can sit still, others can't. You need to tailor your program to each specific child.

And keep it FUN.Nothing will turn them off faster than boredom. We used to start out with the INTENTION of hunting, then wind up "exploring" or climbing dirt mounds,progging around in old foundations, catching bugs, just tossing rocks,etc

We started taking them along hiking, scouting,fishing,whatever, before they could walk, so it comes natural to them later.

Started them with BB guns at 3 or 4, again, depending on the child. Some started with 22s at 5, others later. Again, keep it fun. Punching paper gets old quick, so we do that for a while to work on form,sight alignment,etc, then end up shooting ballons, clay birds, cans,spinners,etc: interactive/reactive stuff. Always stop before THEY get bored.Leave them wanting more.

As far as fishing, we started them with a cheap Zebco with a casting weight. Once they get the mechanics of it down, make a game of it. Set out buckets, rings,hoola-hoops: whatever you have, and work on casting accuracy. Prizes optional.

Bows the same.Informal and fun.When they are older, there are more structured programs out there to take advantage of. (I've got a couple in a Junior rifle clinic they love)

Train them to use ALL their senses while out hiking, scouting, just goofing around. I used to give them a quarter for each fresh rub or scrape they found. $5 for a shed. Makes them REAL attentive.) Yesterday, we went to hunt up a Christmas tree, and walked into a tiny 1/4 patch of weeds and pines that was plain tore up! We got our tree, I found a new spot, and got rid of that pocket full of change that was bothering me!

Take them to a creek, field, or pond edge and let them see a bunch of tracks and figure out what made them. Get a cheap field guide to tracks or hit the library. Heck, even take a digital pic, and key it out later. You can even make cheap/easy casts of tracks, and collect them.

Let them get down and SMELL a fresh scrape. Explain them, and licking branches, the different consistencies of droppings,etc Kids are naturally curious about nature, and eat this stuff up! We've often come back to the house after shooting a deer, to gather up the kids and "look" for it. (After we KNOW it's down and dead) They LOVE tracking. Then they get to help field dressing (free anatomy lesson) and dragging.Then they are involved in butchering as well. They actually FIGHT over cranking the grinder when we make sausage!

As far as actual hunting, I differ from most. I let them tag along, mostly after squirrels from 4 or 5 on, but wait until they are older to start themselves. Now I KNOW that plenty of 8 YOs have taken deer on up, but I really don't think that they are emotionally mature enough for it.
I think 8 or 9 is the LOWEST limit for squirrels, and most kids, a little later. Ours will hunt squirrels until 12 or so, before moving on to deer/turkeys. Heck, I spent most of my time as a kid chasing squirrels, but again, deer season was only 6 days back them!

Sorry for the long winded post, but this is something I really care about. Sure, it's going to cut into your hunting/fishing time, BUT it's what we need to do, to pass on our way of life and the things that are most important to us, to the next generation. And I think we'll raise better kids by getting them involved.

[BIG FOX]

I have taken my 5 yr old last year a few times. I have a great farm i can hunt that has some real nice barns that give them the chance to sit still and gives them a little freedom to move around a bit when they get impatient. I try and take them in the woods with me and make sure they get the chance to look at downed deer and let them touch it if they want to.

I love taking them fishing and both my 5 and 3 yr old love to do it.. my 3 yr old is always asking now if it is his turn to go with me when i am getting dressed for the hunt. i have to keep telling him next year but i love the fact ha asks everytime.. and the 5 yr old just wants to go though his patients are at a bit of a low right now.

I get really excited knowing they both want to shoot deer and that they will point to the one shoulder mount i have and say i want to get one bigger than yours daddy.. makes me laugh and i can't wait for that to happen.. most of all i look forward to them being able to drag the deer out of the woods for me like i had to for my dad.. it seems like i was getting screwed over now but back when i was a kid and my dad would point to the mule deer straight down the mountain and say "see that grey dot down there, YUP, go get it and i will meet you over there." freaking couldn't get down that mountain fast enough to feild dress it and drag that big boy out of there....
Can't wait to give them the new BB guns i got them for X mas, already took the 5 yr old (last year when he was 4) on a turkey shoot and let him blast the 12 gauge a couple times.. though he didn't win he was a big "man" and loved shooting daddy's big gun.. he was surprising good at it as well, though i held it up for him he shouldered it and pulled the trigger... i aksed him if it hurt and he said yeah, then i said you want to do it again and he said HECK YEAH,,, it was awesome... though i will get his aiming and accuracy built witht he BB gun and 22 long rifle, i think if he can get good with them i will let him start with a single shot 20 gauge next year.,, see if he can get the job done on a deer.,....

[duckbuster]

ive got a friend who coon hunts alot an he has brought them kids of his out at two . an they loved it even though i was a little worried . i belive that you shouldnt pressure them but always reasure them that hunting is awesome and a life long sport you can do . they will love it i have a 5year old step daughter and she wants to duck hunt so bad an thats because i talk about it so much an i think ive got her calling on the duck call pretty good . but the deer hunting i think she is still a few years away from wanting to do that took her out to retrive a deer i shot an she got stung by a bee . that kinda set her back . but either way she does like the woods she went out with the deer hunter and i last season to pick up two deer i shot .after a little help from the deer hunter we brought them back on the 4wheeler all she wanted to do was stay with the deer an help as much as she could to cut them up an get them in the freezer she even dated the wrapped meet .

[The Old HairyHead]

I started introducing my sons at 5. Everyone wants their sons to hunters, but don't push it to much.
Start with some with a lot of actions like early season duck hunting when its warm.

[orff77]

Thanks for all the great input guys.I think I will start by taking him scouting with me in august and maybe tree rat in september.I used to love tree rat hunting as a kid and still have the remington .22 that I first used.And I would love to see him kill his first with the same gun I got mine with.

[reed]

I have the .410 i shot my first squirrel with and hope my son gets a chance to shoot his with it also. I have two daughters and hope they take their first with it. Like old hairyhead said, don't push to much. My son is 9 and just got interested.

[deerman1966]

My daughter is 16 (what an age @$%%) she enjoys going with me and has no intrest in shooting anything. She say's she just enjoys sitting with me and watching how calm i am and our conversations.Those are some of the best trips afield all year for me. From her trips with me she understands the balance hunters and nature have together.

[tailchaser]

I started taking my son at 3yoa. I only took him goose hunting because he could move around. I never went the idea that I was going to get anything just wanted to work on calling and working birds. I got such a joy out watching him out there. I would start calling to birds and I can remember him saying I can't see them daddy and I would point in there direction. Nest thing I know he's outside of the blind peeking around the corner yelling there they are. That was some of the best times I had hunting. He also loved to get out in the decoys and play with them. Today he is 9 and really loves to go hunting. My daughter is 4yoa so now it's her turn.

[Jbird]

Thats cool I love it when I see other guys taking there kids out at an early age. My dad took me and my brother when we were young and we both now are ate up with hunting. My son is 5 and daughter 7 and I started both of them dove hunting in early september both when they were 4 and they both loved it. Tried my little boy in the goose pit last year and he got cold so I took him home I did'nt want him to have a bad experience the first time out. I hope when my son or daughter is that age they are right with me hunting and fishing. What a better hunting partner to have than your own kids.

[Jbird]

Here is a pic of my boy before he was three. All my huntin pics have him in there somewhere. They enjoy dove hunting the most; the weather is still nice, lots of action and they can move around alot and pic up the dead birds.