Kids and country sports

[Zak33]

Hi people

Many of you know I do like a shot and a fish here and there and my lad (nearly 8) loves to come stalking squirrels with me, and shooting pigeon to. But his friends who show interest.. have parents like you guys... and I want to see the full gamut of potential answers first! Zak Jr would LOVE to invite one of his mates shooting.

But what I wanted to know what, in honest terms, with NO flaming.. what age you parents would be happy to see your kids go shooting? If at all.

Even if YOU have no interest in it yourself, as a sport or essential act,... if they came home from school and said "my friends dad said we can go shooting if you allow it".. what would your feelings be?

Lets assume you know the parent, trust the parent ... what's your feeling?

[g8ina]

Based purely on my own three kids, now aged 35, 30 and 30, I would say any of them would have had my OK at about age 15.

[peterb]

I think it would depend on how well I knew the parent, and on the maturity of the children involved. If I knew the parents well and therefore trusted them, I'd be OK. Nif I didn't know them or their child very well, I'd be a bit more cautious and ask a few questions first, based mainly on safety, supervision and animal welfare (for example if it wasn't a clean kill).

[shakerist]

Im not a parent . But, my parents, my mum in particular was very very protective of me when I was younger, but she would have let me gone shooting provided she knows and trusts the parent. But its dependent on the maturity of the child, my mum used to give me driving lessons in an empty car park when I was 10. But they put my brother in drivers seat when he was 14 .... and he hasn't been in the drivers seat since (he is 16 now).

[Ttaskmaster]

In the Army and Air Cadet units, children as young as 13 are taught to use air weapons and .22 rimfire. IIRC, they have to be older to handle 5.56 and up.
If you can demonstrate that you are knowledgable, responsible and can maintain full control of safety throughout the shoot, then I'd be happy with that.

Possibly if you yourself approach the parents with the idea first and then allow Zak Jr to invite once the parents are happy?

[fuddam]

Depends a bit on the kids. If I know them, and consider them responsible and respectful, I'd go as low as 10. I have 3 boys, so just thinking about them doing such. My youngest is 10, and he's more of a handful than the older 2, which is why I'm saying 10. Learning to respect weapons and use them responsibly is a good thing, IMHO.

On a farm in the country, would have been happy to let my oldest do that earlier.

[jimborae]

Depends on what is being used to shoot. 12 bore shotguns? .22 rifles? LMG or GPMG? Uzi, AK47?

Being serious though I was taught to shoot from the age of 13, via the cadets at school and I think this was an appropriate age. As I got older I fired more potent weapons.

[satrow]

I think the first step, regardless of age, should be a visit to a working farm/smallholding where they can witness something like a chicken being slaughtered and prepared for the table, with a discussion about killing for food compared to killing for fun. Only then, provided the discussion was calm and unbiased, should a parent consider whether his/her child is ready and mature enough for a hunting trip.

[Zak33]

I think the first step, regardless of age, should be a visit to a working farm/smallholding where they can witness something like a chicken being slaughtered and prepared for the table, with a discussion about killing for food compared to killing for fun. Only then, provided the discussion was calm and unbiased, should a parent consider whether his/her child is ready and mature enough for a hunting trip.

thats an excellent reply. I'll consider that... good point

im glad youve all considered it acceptable with whatever conditions... its why i asked

So.. do people consider fishingh more... acceptable first .. before shooting?

[sammyc]

I think the first step, regardless of age, should be a visit to a working farm/smallholding where they can witness something like a chicken being slaughtered and prepared for the table, with a discussion about killing for food compared to killing for fun. Only then, provided the discussion was calm and unbiased, should a parent consider whether his/her child is ready and mature enough for a hunting trip.

This, absolutely. Good suggestion.
[As may be known] I'm against killing on either count, and especially for 'sport', but something like this would be a lot better than nothing given that most people don't give that much thought even to meat production etc, or go into details with their kids as to what's on their plate.