I know this is going to be up to each individual parent but I was hopeing to find out when other respondsible parents got there kids into the sport. I've got two young boys and can't wait to take them shooting.
2007-04-27 06:40:46 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
I shot my first .22 at the age of six. My dad, grandad, uncles and older brothers would hunt, so gun safety was instilled in me as soon as I could walk. I had my own bb gun at 8 and my own .22 at 11 (family can't agree on the exact year).
I was not just given a gun. I earned it.
My dad was always making us work and learn for anything. When I was 10, I would go on hunts with them, but not with a gun. I was there to learn. Dad and grandpa would spend time working with me after the hunt was over. We also had egg shoots....glue some string to eggs and hang from a branch...great family fun.
I also had the rules of gun safety memorized and could recite them on command, often to entertian people my dad knew!
By 12, my cousin and I were out in the woods on our own hunting squirrel.
I congratulate you on your desire to train your kids right and do stuff with them. They are lucky to have a dad like you.
Teaching kids safety, how to shoot and how to respect but not be afraid of guns is one of my favorite things to do. I keep several single shot .22 rifles just for training newbies.
Don't forget the girls, either. Truth is, girls make better shooters than boys because they have more patience and listen to instructions!
2007-04-27 08:52:09 · answer #1 · answered by DJ 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As they will be under adult instruction and supervision until they are old enough to be trusted to go shooting on their own, I believe it is more a matter of stature and physical strength. If they are grown enough with the physical strength to properly control the weapon, to aim and hold it on target without tiring between shots, this is more important than age.
As soon as they have achieved proper growth and strength, go for it.
One of my most endearing childhood memories was when my paternal grandfather, "Pappy", and my Dad gave me my first shooting lesson at age 5, with an antique Remington Mod. 10 'rolling block' Boy's Rifle, which STILL hangs in my rifle rack TODAY!
2007-04-27 07:16:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Of course this depends on how your child is maturing, but by seven I believe they are ready for a rimfire rifle or at least a bb gun. I believe that one of the best gun safety things a parent can do is teach their child all there is to know about the weapons in the house. This will allow them to respect the firearms for what they are and not to play with them.
2007-04-27 07:26:02 · answer #3 · answered by Art I 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Make sure that they are mature enough to understand that safety comes first in using a firearm. Each child will be different. I started my child off with a pellet gun at age 6 and now at age 12 she can handle a rifle or shotgun. Start them out small and work your way up. Don't let them start with something that can scare them.
2007-04-27 06:57:38 · answer #4 · answered by TTM 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As soon as they can run fast enough to make it fair!
Yes, I'm kidding.
There's no set age. It depends on size and mostly maturity. Start off with low-powered bb guns and watch how responsibly they handle it. Then go with a .22 rifle, it doesn't kick or sound really loud, but they still get to shoot a REAL gun.
Where to go from there is how big a gun their size and condition will let them handle safely.
2007-04-27 06:48:03 · answer #5 · answered by pater47 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As soon as they are old enough to understand that what they are holding in their hand can be a dangerous weapon...I started hunting and shooting at 12...I thought it was great to shoot a rifle...pure adrenalin rush...I have my son shooting now and he is 7 and he loves it...
2007-04-27 08:51:54 · answer #6 · answered by grizzz442 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I got my first pellet gun at the tender age of 12, back in 1985. I was shooting competitively with 4-H and Boy Scouts since that age.
I have NEVER killed or shot at another living thing. I believe if you kill it, you eat it. I don't like crow or squirrel.
The real measure of maturity is having the sense to not kill another one of God's creatures, simply because "you can". I really hate that mentality and some people carry that mentality with them their whole lives.
I also believe it is a very weak person who needs a gun for "self defense". I couldn't live such a life of fear that I need to carry a gun to feel safe. It will get me thumbs down, but if you need a gun to feel "like a man" you ain't! Besides, real men prefer the feeling of their fists busting a lip open. A puzzy runs out of the bar to his pick-up to get a gun when he gets into a fight. If you live in a place where you believe you will be a victim of crime, move to a better place, a gun isn't the solution!
Sadly gun nuts and paranoid pansies have given gun ownership a bad name. I own 5 guns. I shoot several times a week competitively and I'm good at it. Teach them right so that we can continue to enjoy guns for legitimate reasons.
2007-04-27 08:13:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
My Dad took me upto the local indoor club and had the owner give me 1/2 hour "lessons" when I was good for the week on Sunday afternoons. When I was 12.
2007-04-27 07:02:00 · answer #8 · answered by ohgerr 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tim Duncan started playing as a freshman in high school
2016-05-20 15:13:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started my oldest son at age 5. He absolutely loved it.
I plan on taking him hunting when he is 9, and he can't wait.
2007-04-27 11:12:57 · answer #10 · answered by collin_sutt 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋