Youth Shotgun Hunting Questions

[leadaddict]

My oldest child will be 9 this year. He's always been familiar with my going out shooting and hunting and has gone with me to do both at various times. Last summer was the first time he really showed a great interest in doing some shooting or hunting himself though. Needless to say I was very pleased!!! I never pushed him into it, I figured he'd let me know when he was ready. Well, he's ready.

He's been shooing a single shot .22 rifle a lot. He's also shot my Mark III pistol a little and is a great shot with his airsoft 1911. (I've had him treat it like a real gun to build his confidence with pistol handling and safety.) He has great concentration and shoots very well.

My questions are about deer hunting though. I know he'd want to hunt his own deer. He's never been with me when I've actually shot one yet though. He has helped skin a few of them though.

First, in a shotgun state like Iowa, what's the best gun for him? I know there's some youth sized 20GA out there, mostly single shot. But if it is light enough for him to handle it's going to kick like a mule while shooting a slug! Would a light muzzleloader be a better option? He's not experienced any real recoil yet.

Secondly, I've thought about making him wait another year and put in some more time in the field with me while I shoot one to learn more before he actually shoots his own. I want him to earn it. Not just have him pull the trigger and me do all the work. How much do you have a 9 or 10 year old do? Do you have them gut their own deer? He also might be better able to handle the larger gun and recoil better in another year.

This is my biggest complaint with states like Iowa that don't allow centerfire. My options are limited as to what gun to get him started on for deer.

I didn't grow up hunting, but started in my early 20's (now in my late 20's). Any advice or experiences you have to share would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Greg

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Take a good look at this option. Youth sized muzzle loader. You can load it down to begin with for reduced recoil and slowly build up the load to an acceptable deer load. http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details.cfm?id=128&category=7&toggle=rm&breadcrumbseries=YM

As far as question number 2, my dad, as well as I with my kids, made me do the whole thing when I shot my first deer. The only thing he helped with was dragging it out of the ravine up to the horse. He guided me through the field dressing paying close attention but never once picked up a knife. He also guided me skinning and processing. I did the exact same with my kids. Even the oldest daughter. As far as myself, and most kids I have worked with, they tend to learn better that way verses watching you do it.

 

[osprey176]

When my oldest son was 8,I took him hunting with an old Remington 11-48 in 20 gauge.I picked it up for a good price with a short barrel.I had the barrel threaded for choke tubes,and with my son helping,cut off 4 inches from the stock in one inch increments.This way I was able to add length back to the stock as he grew.I added an inexpensive red dot scope,and we sighted in with slugs.He learned to shoot quite well with this combination,and shot his first two deer with it at age 8.The heavier gun helped reduce the recoil,and we kept the bench sessions fairly short so he didn't develop a flinch.

 

[leadaddict]

Thank you both. I like the idea of a muzzleloader because I can load it down or up as needed. I've been watching for an inexpensive 20GA for a while. I may just have to see what opportunities come up!

 

[T.R.]

I started out with a full choke single shot in 20 gauge. Missed many rabbits with it. The barrel was cut down by 4 inches and bead re-mounted. After that, I missed very little. It brought much luck for me. I could shoot slugs pretty good too, out to about 40 yards with my "sawed off" shotgun.

TR

 

[Rembrandt]

I've had the honor of introducing "family member" youngsters to hunting and training hundreds as a Hunter Education Instructor. The biggest problem with heavy recoil is it has a tendency to promote flinching, which will eventually go away....but could hang with the kids for years. I'm convinced more game is missed because of flinching and is a real challenge.

Have done this technique with at least ten kids under the age of 10....so far we have a 100% success rate of filling their tag with one shot.

(1st) Practice with .22's and nothing larger so that the basics of sight alignment and safe gun handling is learned. The youngster should be able to master the .22 and hit the target 90% of the time before moving to the next step.

(2nd) Practice dry firing with a shotgun to get sight alignment and familiar with loading and safety. Use dummy rounds for the loading. Have them use different positions, heavy clothing and gloves to simulate the actual hunt. Go over the anatomy of the deer and where it needs to be targeted.

(3rd) Go hunting.....but don't let them squeeze off a shot until the actual moment they shoot the animal. They may be startled at first but the thrill of getting their first deer will soon over shadow that.

Took both my 9 year old twin grand daughters out this year for their first using the method described above.....each got their deer with one shot. They now laugh about the recoil and the trick grandpa pulled on them.

We use the youth model pump 20 gauge with red dot optics. These youth models are much smaller for the short armed youngsters and fit them much better. Blackpowder rifle would also be a good choice.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I'd let him work up to deer, as it's one thing to skin the animal, it's a lot different to gut and dress the animal. (imho). Why not let him take rabbit and squirrel with a .22 or .410, and let him learn the cleaning and the skinning? He'll learn that he can provide enough of them tasty little critters to make a meal for the family (for a kid that's a huge thing), so he gains personal pride and responsibility. After a while he will want to try for something bigger, so let him try the 20 gauge at the range with a recoil pad and a padded vest. He should know from the small game that he has to shoot accurate, and if he can handle a youth 20 gauge, and aim it and properly place the shot..., great, and if not, he only has to wait a year or so, and try again. If you have let him work up to "hunting" perhaps he can "work up" to deer.

I did lots of hunting as a kid, but never did deer until I was an adult. Now I do muzzleloader exclusively, and it is a good option for some kids. It will teach them to make sure the first shot counts, and they can be very accurate, and recoil could be much less than a shotgun..., depending on the shape of the ML's stock.

LD

 

[smokey262]

I started my 10 year old son on a youth model 20ga pump with a red dot sight turkey hunting. The gun cannot be too heavy for them to hold properly. Think about proper shooting form too, as those habits are also hard to break. Bad form (aka technique) leads to misses, and misses discourage the kids quickly.