Hunting age

All my kids were taught firing and handling 22 rifles and experienced the joy of shooting cans of water to show damage
 
I’m concentrating on fostering a love and appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife, if she also wants to fish and hunt that will be a bonus but I really am keen on having her and our new one on the way love just being outside and enjoying birds, bugs, plants, fish, animals, lakes, beaches etc...If you have a broad foundation, any excuse to be out there will be sufficient for them,

Patrick
 
"Take me hunting dad, my wedding day is sooner than you think"

My son started at 5 with a 22 pellet gun. Got to be a good shot with it, "11 grackles today dad". He stalked a crow... and nailed it through the eyeballs at 45yds.
Next was .22RF, then 20g SG, and now at 20, everything in the safe. He has several of his own guns in my safe also. It is a heritage sport, wonderful to pass along, and it is great to be able to hunt together.
 
My kids were still in booster seats when they started tagging along. We'd walk around, looking, calling, and checking stuff out. Most often being too noisy asking questions or shouting about tracks, rubs or poop to see anything but squirrels, but a walk in the woods can be quite peaceful. They learned as they grew. From gophers to rabbits to chickens to deer and moose, they've done it all.

My oldest daughter is now 18. She has her hunter safety, PAL and loves to shoot, but hates early mornings and cold weather. We go for gophers. She owns a .22 that was once mine.

Her younger sister is now 16, has hunter safety and minors permit and will go hunting or shooting at the drop of a hat. Any species, any time. She owns 2 .22's, one from me and one she purchased. She is saving up for her own rifle, since she is a lefty. We also go to the handgun range.

My son is now 9. He hates that he has to wait a couple more years for hunter ed. He has a .22 from me and one from his grandfather, as well as a model 1894 saddle ring carbine, also from Gramps. He shoots often, gophers and whatnot. Magpies with his air rifle etc. I load reduced recoil loads for the 30-30 so he can enjoy it without being kicked around. He has had some range time now too and is currently saving up for "his own" handgun. He also enjoys helping me reload. (with strict supervision) He realizes that shooting isn't just the noisy part, and can be expensive as well.

If they have interest, you'll know.

Brad

If the
 
I had my son in a backpack carrier with ear muffs on when he was 7 months old. I got him a savage rascal when he was 3, but he couldn’t really hold it on his own till he was 6. He was with me when I shot a moose when he was a year and a half old. He’s been coming along his whole life. But as mentioned it’s hard to keep them interested, it’s getting harder for me as he gets older. He’s nine now, he can start legally hunting in the fall of 2020, hopefully that helps keep his interest up.
Pretty much the same. I remember always being out with dad. Out with the wife when 7 months pregnant, had the boy in the pack the next year. Naps, snacks and changing diapers was just the dad thing to do.
 
Dad had me out at the range when I was 2 shooting a Smith and Wesson.22 pistol. He basically held it and I hauled on the trigger with my whole hand. Mum has a picture in a photo album somewhere.
First hunting trip when I was 8. We walked, saw a track, which I can still picture perfectly the scenario, and ate sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper. I remember a lot of details of that day, almost 25 years later. I got a .22 Cooey for my birthday that year, and a single shot 12 gauge for Christmas when I was 12. I was hunting deer with it "solo" the next year.

I had to buy my own BB gun. I think I was 12 or 13 when I bought it.
 
Started my daughter immediately. No reason not to. Get kid sized eye and ear protection with a blaze orange vest. Good to go.

Actual shooting is a bit trickier and depends on the kid. My daughter was shooting subsonic 22 loads at 5 I believe. She would sit on my lap with the rifle under my control.
 
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