Age to dove hunt?

[mr. buck]

Did a search and couldn't find much, but want ya'lls thoughts on what age a kiddo needs to be before actually hunting with a single shot .410. My six year old been bird dogging since he was 3, but still is careless enough with the barrel, even on his bb gun, that he will remain in bird dog only role this year. I realize its a case by case basis, but what does the green screen thinks the approximate age most children are ready? Thanks in advance for your responses.

[Williams4298]

I would say around 8ish. Just depends on the kid really. I think I started carrying my own gun when I was around 7

[bowhntrmatt]

I would say case by case using safety as the determining factor. I think 7-9 is pretty normal.

[Playa]

My personal opinion is that they need to wait until they can handle a 20ga. A .410 is an expert gun, it is not a kids gun because its low recoil. It simply doesent send enough pellets downrange for most kids to shoot birds on the wing.

I think you want a good experience for kids with success, and I think a .410 robs that.

Just my personal philosophy.

[LuBowhunter]

He's old enough when you think he's ready.

[Williams4298]

Killed plenty of birds with a 410 as a kid. Every young hunter should have a 410.

[jusamb82]

My son started at 6 with a 410

[Artos]

Just remember when he hunts on his own that he will still need to be hunting right next to you until he has his hunter safety...that means if he shoots a bird, he needs to leave his gun to retrieve or you accompany. He cannot be separated from you with his gun or can appear he is hunting on his own.

I've seen citations given on this.

[DRT]

My personal opinion is that they need to wait until they can handle a 20ga. A .410 is an expert gun, it is not a kids gun because its low recoil. It simply doesent send enough pellets downrange for most kids to shoot birds on the wing.

I think you want a good experience for kids with success, and I think a .410 robs that.

Just my personal philosophy.

The right semi auto 20 loaded with a single shot will have less recoil than a .410 and more pellets. 8 or so seems to be where me and my friends got ours started however I liked to keep my close to me and away from the others until he got it worked out. No one likes being swept by a barrel and I like it less when my friends kid does it to me while he's busy enjoying himself and not keeping a close enough eye on his kid.

[dustoffer]

The right semi auto 20 loaded with a single shot will have less recoil than a .410 and more pellets. 8 or so seems to be where me and my friends got ours started however I liked to keep my close to me and away from the others until he got it worked out. No one likes being swept by a barrel and I like it less when my friends kid does it to me while he's busy enjoying himself and not keeping a close enough eye on his kid.

Only thing about the SA is its increased weight--might be too much for a youngster.

[wow]

I'm waiting on the one who started at 5 with a double barrel 12.
The best answer is when you feel they are ready

[cattlelackranch]

He's old enough when you think he's ready.

This here.

My father made me carry an unloaded gun with him until I could prove to be safe with it and not sweep anyone with the muzzle end.

It took about a season and a half. I recall I was probably 7 or 8 when I got my game bag and shells. It left an impression how much safety was important.

[HoustonHunter94]

This here.

My father made me carry an unloaded gun with him until I could prove to be safe with it and not sweep anyone with the muzzle end.

It took about a season and a half. I recall I was probably 7 or 8 when I got my game bag and shells. It left an impression how much safety was important.

I like that idea. Earn the right by proving you can be safe.


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[agtex42]

I like this suggestion ^^

My son is 6 and he probably won't be carrying a gun in the field for a few more years, more due to his size than anything else. We bought him a nerf gun last year, and from day one it's been treated just like a real firearm. I sat him down and explained the four rules about weapons safety and told him that he only gets to use his gun if he followed the rules. If he broke a rule we talked about all of them and then the gun went into the safe until the next day. "Finger straight and off the trigger until you're ready to fire" took a while (among others), but it's really neat to see him walking around with muzzle awareness and a straight trigger finger these days; particularly when he point out to me that one of his friends/cousins is not following the rules!

At the end of the day only you can decide when "old enough" is, I do know that when that day comes for my boy I'll probably be taking him out by ourselves and he'll be the only one toting a shotgun for a few hunts until I'm comfortable with my attention being somewhere besides on him.

[Playa]

This here.

My father made me carry an unloaded gun with him until I could prove to be safe with it and not sweep anyone with the muzzle end.

It took about a season and a half. I recall I was probably 7 or 8 when I got my game bag and shells. It left an impression how much safety was important.

Sold on this idea. That is brilliant. Going to make my son carry a youth Win 20