So, at what age?

[Swamphunter]

At what age did you guys teach your children to shoot.. hypothetically of course for those of us who live in "democratically controlled and scared of their own shadows" state like NY? Hypothetically if I was to teach my children to shoot anything other than a BB or Pellet gun, I would start them with a .22 cal plinking rifle and then also work them with my .22 Ruger handgun around age 10-11. Blade has been using a BB gun for years now, with all the appropriate safety equipment AND continual and constant adult supervision. Not like the way I was taught almost 4 decades ago when the only instruction was a good once over of the safety features and stern dont shoot anything you shouldn't. I feel proper parental instruction at an age where children are still willing to listen is more important than waiting until they are to old and/or willing to listen.. you know.. the teenage years.. :cool2:He sits SOOOO intently and listens and more importantly ASKS questions... Also, through visual and virtual target practice, he can hypothetically and consistantly keep 9 out of 10 rounds in a small circle about the size of a softball at 10 yards. I replicated this pic below to try and demonstrate what I mean... :shifty: Ignore the larger holes, they were there previously from an earlier trip to the range

legal disclaimer - All of my firearms are secured in a room constructed in my basement entirely for the purpose of firearm storage and reloading of ammunition... all firearms are also properly secured with an approved trigger lock, and stored locked seperately from my locked ammunition... the pieces of the puzzle CAN NOT be put together without my knowledge... thank you

[wtnhunt]

Think it depends alot on the kid Ken. A parent should be able to see when their kid is ready to start learning. My kids so far all have learned pretty early.

Christina was shooting I think around age 6 or 7, sitting in my lap. She started asking questions about guns going way back to an early age. She was shooting low recoiling rifles at age 7. She was shooting my muzzleloader at age 8 with downcharged loads. She killed her first deer with a .243 at age 9. Now at 15 I would trust her enough to let her sit in a ground blind or box blind to hunt by herself here on our property.

Nicole, our second daughter was shooting a .22 at around age 6, she has shot my .223, but nothing bigger. Nicole does not have the interest in hunting that Christina has, but she does like to shoot and the kids like to compete on targets with a .22. Our youngest daughter Allison has shown an interest in shooting and hunting, but she is only 5. Think she will probably get to shoot a .22 on the 4th weather permitting, and of course she will be sitting in my lap and under my instruction.

[clrj3514]

I'm 18 & I shot 22s when I was 4 or 5 years old, with adult supervision of course. I started shooting a 20ga at 6 & killed my first deer when I was 8. A lot of it has to with the kid like William said. Being around guns my whole life my daddy trusted me a lot.

[redkneck]

It really does depend on the age. My girls started shooting at 6 and took their first deer at 8 with a 20gage and laser sight I rigged up (I wanted to make sure they made a good shot, and they were'nt ready for a scoped gun). I haven't had trigger locks on guns in years, I trust my kids with my life (and thiers) around guns. They are not however, ready to go out on their own, like I was at thier age (they are 11 now). I killed my first deer at ten, hunting alone with a 30-30, and I do not think my dad was irresponsible for letting me do it, kids just are ready at different ages.

[Rhino]

Ken I agree with William, it depends on how responsible the child is more so than the age. My son's 24 now and if I recall correctly, he was 6 when I taught him to shoot a .22. I also bought him a very low poundage kids compound bow (10# pull) to teach him the ins and outs of archery. Of course it wasn't a hunting rig at all, just something to get him started off in the right direction. I think he was 9 when I got him his 1st bowhunting rig and he started bowhunting with me that fall from ground blinds.

[Ethan Givan]

I grew up around guns and was well educated about them at a very young age. Dad was letting me shoot an air rifle by the time I was 4, and plinking with a .22 soon after. Until I was 13 or so I always had adult supervision, and safety was always drilled into my brain.

Even now as an adult, when I hunt with other guys my age, I can tell they dont have as strong a background in firearm safety as I do. Most of these guys were not exposed to guns until much later in life than I. Because of this, I think its very important to start teaching and exposing kids to guns as early as possible.

[Swamphunter]

Blade is very mature for his age and has been shooting since he was 6... very good, and very accurate. Very safe gun handling also. In NYS however he cant legally possess a firearm until age 12. An age I feel is a detriment to him listening with open ears and wanting to know. He is much more willing to listen and learn when younger. He cant legally hunt with a firearm for small game until age 14

[abrown]

That's a good question, I have an 18 month old daughter, and I'll be faced with that question soon. I think a good way, would be allow them to carry a toy gun, while hunting, then SLOWLY upgrade as they show responsible gun safety. 1. Never point a weapon at anything you don't intent to shoot, always treat a weapon as if it was loaded, keep your finger straight and off the trigger until your ready to shoot, know your target and what lies beyond. I'm sure I left 1 out, but that was our basic weapon safety rules we went over EVERY TIME we went to a range in the military, EVERY TIME! That would be my recommendation, or what I'm planning on. So we'll see!

[elkoholic]

While there is no correct answer to this question as maturity of the child may just be the ultimate deciding factor, I do think that letting the parent(s) decide is not always the best choice. As parents, we like to think that our children are more mature, intelligent, or whatever, but we are subjective in our view of our own children. In the end one must remember that your child is just that, a child.

[Rhino]

I do think that letting the parent(s) decide is not always the best choice.

I agree that's true for some parents.

As parents, we like to think that our children are more mature, intelligent, or whatever, but we are subjective in our view of our own children. In the end one must remember that your child is just that, a child.

Actually I was harder on my son. Same way my father was with me. By the time he was in his early teens, I trusted him more with a weapon than some adults I know. I've seen adults being very careless with weapons. Some needing help figuring out how to zero their rifles. The list of careless things I've seen some adults do is long. I've even seen 2...yes 2 shoot laser bore sighters out the end of the dummies guns. Fortunetly, no damage and no injury, except their pride. I wonder how some of these guys ever passed a hunter ed course!

In NYS however he cant legally possess a firearm until age 12. An age I feel is a detriment to him listening with open ears and wanting to know. He is much more willing to listen and learn when younger. He cant legally hunt with a firearm for small game until age 14

IMHO that's way too restrictive and very much a limiting factor for hunter recruitment up there. By the time they reach that age there are lots of other things on a teenagers mind besides learning the ropes for hunting. Heck...they're not far from being legal to get a drivers license!

[Ravin R10 man]

I taught Ashley to shoot a bow at age 3 or 4

.22 calibur about age 9

rifle at age 12

shotgun about age 16

[Adjam5]

I have 3 sons(19,17,15 now) and all were brought up around guns, outdoors and dead animals. I taught them from early on about respect of guns and weapons. They had to ask permission to enter my gun/reloading room when I was in there. It was locked when I wasn't there. I bought them pellet guns, small recurves and sling shots. I'd say about 5 years old was the age I put a .22 Cricket single shot in the hands of my oldest boy Joe and a dirt bike under his legs. Hmmm...14 years ago( wow I'm gettin old ). I made the mystery of the guns/knives non existent. Anytime they asked about one, I took the time to satisfy their curiosity. They now all have their own rifles and shotguns. For the exception of my oldest son, I control the use and possession of all firearms in this house. They did nothing without strict supervision.

But I agree completely about how NYS stifles the ability of youth in the state to progress in the outdoors at younger ages. Kids are blank canvas' while they are young and the teaching penetrates a bit deeper.

I am sure you are quite careful and responsible with your children Ken. I am also quite confidant that Blade will grow up to be a fine young man under your tutelage and example.

5 Years old was the age I taught my first son to shoot.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Long guns around 6 or 7. Handguns around 10.

[buckee]

I got my pellet gun when I was 8 years old, but Dad let me shoot the semi-auto 22 at an earlier age under his supervision.

[RangerClay]

Think it depends alot on the kid Ken. A parent should be able to see when their kid is ready to start learning. My kids so far all have learned pretty early.

There is my answer.

My daughter was much more mature at 7 than my son ever dreams of. Abi will be 10 in October and I'm going to get her started in cowboy action shooting next year. I plan (hopefully) to be at the Clayton gun show to buy her a .22 revolver and a SxS shotgun. My son is a little goofball and someday (I pray) he will come around and be more mature.

[stevebeilgard]

i can't remember a time when i wasn't shooting. i started our kids, and grandkids, shooting a bb gun at 3-4. 22 rifle by 6 for kaeden, and bigger guns as he requested shooting them.

kaeden was 8 months old when he got a 410 for christmas. randean was a bit irqued... lol

[lil hunter]

I got a bb gun when I was 6. It was a Daisy Redryder. I still have it somewhere back home. Around the age of 8 dad had me shooting his old .22 rifle, then I got my first shotgun, a youth 870 20 gauge, at the age of 9. It was pretty rough shooting that gun with deer slugs at that age, but field loads and lighter shells were no problem. It's been a slow progression past that. I traded in that old shotgun for a regular sized 870 Wingmaster when I was 12. It's still my favorite gun. I hardly ever shot any pistols or centerfire rifles until about the time I graduated high school and started buying my own.