The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - First Hunting Rifle for Young Deer Hunter

MeekAndMild · February 3, 2005, 02:15 PM

I voded 5-7 only because there wasn't a 3-4 answer listed. Early childhood hunting shouldn't involve the child having to carry a gun; just going along and watching the deer and getting used to the idea should be enough. (I believe small children should be trained to fear and respect the noise of a gun before they can walk, just as they should be taught to swim before they're out of diapers, then the process of training them to actually use guns should be drawn out until they're about 10-12, about the same age they should be working on their Boy Scout marksmanship and swimming merit badges.)

Once a child gets to be 5-6 they should be able to participate some in actually helping squirrel hunting (by standing on the other side of the tree to scare the squirrels out), but their deer hunting should be mostly learning to watch, listen and stay still until they can actually see a deer harvested. Then they will start to learn to help prepare it as food.

They should continue to go with their parent but not actually shoot until they are old enough to be able to take serious marksmanship training...10-12.

Think of it as a stepwise progression and not an either-or proposition.

February 3, 2005, 02:15 PM	#8
MeekAndMild Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2001 Posts: 4,988	I voded 5-7 only because there wasn't a 3-4 answer listed. Early childhood hunting shouldn't involve the child having to carry a gun; just going along and watching the deer and getting used to the idea should be enough. (I believe small children should be trained to fear and respect the noise of a gun before they can walk, just as they should be taught to swim before they're out of diapers, then the process of training them to actually use guns should be drawn out until they're about 10-12, about the same age they should be working on their Boy Scout marksmanship and swimming merit badges.) Once a child gets to be 5-6 they should be able to participate some in actually helping squirrel hunting (by standing on the other side of the tree to scare the squirrels out), but their deer hunting should be mostly learning to watch, listen and stay still until they can actually see a deer harvested. Then they will start to learn to help prepare it as food. They should continue to go with their parent but not actually shoot until they are old enough to be able to take serious marksmanship training...10-12. Think of it as a stepwise progression and not an either-or proposition. __________________ In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL.