Question about kids and hunting

[calicreole]

my sons 6th birthday is coming up, when i asked him what he wants for his birthday he said "HUNTING STUFF" I have taken him hunting with me several times as a tag along when bird hunting, he has a blast but wants to actually hunt. At what age did you guys with kids let your kids start hunting (not just tagging along but actually hunting). My dad let me start hunting squirrels and rabbits when i was about his age but it was a different time and we lived in a place where we could hunt in my backyard.
Any suggestions on what i can get him for his birthday? He requested a new boy (like daddies), a shotgun and a boat LOL i told him those things may be out of my budget (although the wife and i are thinking of getting him the mission craze for xmas)

 

[rvrrat]

Since he has an interest in guns and hunting, why not get him a BB gun and start teaching him the importance of gun safety. Being in Riverside, I'm sure you wouldn't have to go far to do some BB gun plinking. I had a BB gun when I was very young and started dove hunting when I was eight with a single shot 410. Of course it was all supervised by my father. Yea, we may not have the same freedom as the past, but it shouldn't take much effort to give your son the same experience. It is amazing what has been lost with the urban sprawl of SoCal. Growing up in what is now Rancho Cucamonga, I used to walk out of my back yard with my shotgun and jumpshoot ducks off of local ponds and then chase quail. The good old days I guess.

 

[calicreole]

I forgot to mention he does have a bb gun he has been shooting that for about 2 years at cans. and your right it is amazing how much has been lost, My grandfather used to have a small farm in fontana and would love to hunt rabbit in the rancho cucamonga area, he said it was the best tasting rabbit around.

 

[rvrrat]

Seems like your on the right track with your son then. I think I was seven when I went through the hunter safety course. Since I had gone through it in the 70's, there was no record of it in "the system" and couldn't hunt in many other states so I went through Rahauge's program a couple years ago. There were a bunch of guys with their kids there. Might be a good experience for your son and another way to network to find out the possiblities for your son. Just an idea.

 

[calicreole]

excellent idea thank you

 

[THE LAB GUY]

My daughter just turned 10 and she is going to go and get her hunter saftey course taken care of real soon.

 

[bowhunter104]

I am in the same boat as you with my son; he is turning seven in March. I take him with me as a tag a long, but now he wants to hunt. I was thinking of trying him out on some online hunter safety practice tests first to see if he can actually understand the information before signing him up for a class.

 

[Marty]

9 & 10. And not before hunter safety.

 

[Plain ol' Steve]

It seems to me that 6 year old boys are easily distracted. But he is your six year old boy and you are in the best position to judge. Knowing no more about your son than what you have posted, I would only start allowing him to handle a gun when you are in position to be in complete control, such as standing behind him while he alone is hunting dove from a stationary position. I also like the idea that he first pass the hunter safety course. That class is a snooze fest, and if he can stay focused enough to pass the test than that tells me something. Either way, best of luck to you both and if your unsure, than its not time.