Thread: How Old Were You When....

If she's interested, I'd say give it a try. Maybe separate trips would be better, but giving your girls the same skills as your boys is a good thing I think. Even if they decide not to use them.

yeah ... i'm leaning that way too

You left out 1 option - never...

I am into guns heavily, but I've never been hunting. I was set to go on 1 trip as a teen, but the guy got sick and cancelled. As I got older, I never developed an interest in hunting. Not my thing.

Take them both but on seperate trips initialy.

I started my grandson and granddaughter hunting squirrels at 8 yrs. It was some of the most enjoyable time of my life and they liked it too. She drifted off to girl things eventualy and he progressed to Elk and Deer.

Girls sometimes make good hunters, if they aren't sissies. I know a couple of petite, pretty young ladies who shot deer this year. They withstood the cold and the boredom for as long as it took to put some meat in the freezer, and didn't let a little bit of blood bother them.

Boys are a little bit easier, because they seem to be natural born killers at about 8 or 9 years old. My two grandsons killed three deer between them, this past season. The oldest, who was 9, shot his second ever, this year, and it was the best deer taken off of our hunting lease. All three were one shot kills with .243 and .223 rifles.

Nice photo!

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

You left out 1 option - never...

I am into guns heavily, but I've never been hunting. I was set to go on 1 trip as a teen, but the guy got sick and cancelled. As I got older, I never developed an interest in hunting. Not my thing.

Good point - I just thought anyone who didn't hunt wouldn't be in the "hunter's corner"

Originally Posted by Tacoma

Good point - I just thought anyone who didn't hunt wouldn't be in the "hunter's corner"

Haha, I didn't notice where it was - I just clicked on "new posts" - sorry

I was in the 12-14 range when I first went. Didn't actually hunt until some time later after completing hunters safety in the 15-17 age group. Good memories of hunts and time with family and grandparents now departed. I hunt yearly now when I can. I think it is a valuable life skill that teaches some intangible things such as the value of hard work, patience, dicipline, appreciation for life at home were food comes from the fridge and the store, etc. Plus it is alot of fun for those who appreciate a little adventure. May not end up being your kids cup of tea as it's not for everyone but it couldnt hurt to expose them to it and find out. If they are interested and you are willing I can't think of a reason not to do it. Good skill and experience for boys and girls.

Id certainly offer it to both, if your daughter declines just let her know that if she is ever interested to just speak up. I have hunted since I was old enough for a bb gun (probably about 6 yrs). My grandfather taught me and I believe it is the foundation for what has become a great relationship between us over the years. He taught me safety and responsibility when dealing with firearms, wildlife, and nature and it is something that I will be proud to pass down to my children in a few years.

Ship was right, it isn't for everyone. This is why I think just offering it to both would be the best scenario for your kids.

Hope you have fun

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

You left out 1 option - never...

+1. Always kind of wanted to, but since leaving the part of my family that goes hunting in my past I haven't gotten into it

When I was 30 my then employer took some of us out in his 60 foot Hatteras (with an airconditioned flybridge) to go shark "hunting". I thought "hunting" was a misnomer; "fishing" sounded more reasonable.

Nasty work.

Chum is, how can I express this? Odififerous, perhaps? (It stinks so bad that you want to puke.)

I caught a 8 footer. It did not impress me as much as the fact that my boss was driving a $1,000,000.00 boat and could not afford me a raise that year.

Grandfather was a gun smith... Took me hunting easily by 11 with a single barrel shotgun, first time unloaded but carried a bullet with me if we saw something, next time not.

Shot a gun alittle before that I think with some friends of my Dads who had some sweet shit, .44 Mag, .50 DE, and a Smith and Wesson 5609.. Vivid memory of that day

We never went on hunting trips, we lived in the woods so it was a way of life. Everyone knew how to shoot and hunt. My first "trip" was probably when they turned me loose with the 22 rifle at 12 years old and my job was to kill anything that was destroying the garden (big, big garden), which was mostly marmots.

10, scattergun, quail.

started going with my dad before i can remember. first deer at age 7, by age 13 i had killed 13 deer.... havnt killed anything sence then. its amazing how changing circumstances can screw a hunter.

Originally Posted by swampcrawler

started going with my dad before i can remember. first deer at age 7, by age 13 i had killed 13 deer.... havnt killed anything sence then. its amazing how changing circumstances can screw a hunter.

You probably should elucidate. Some of us will just assume that you've been incarcerated ever since you were 13--probably for failing to capitalize "I" in posts.

As an aside, in 1965 Idlewild Airport was re-named Kennedy International Airport. In 1995 I needed to get to the airport and I called for a cab. The driver said, "Where too?" and I replied, "Idlewild."

He said, "You've been out of town for a while, huh?" (30 years by his calculation).

And I replied, "Yeah. I'd rather not talk about it." (30 years, probably in prison he thought, probably for murder, and he's riding in my cab! Yikes!!!)

He said not another word for the rest of the trip. (And all I said was, "Idlewild")

I am very lucky.My son is now 21 but was hunting whitetail with me at 16.My daughter is 15 and started hunting with me this year since NY let 15 year olds hunt with adults at 15.My son has always liked hunting but nothing like my daughter.My best friend and myself have been shooting and hunting for years,ever since we where old enough too.We both reload for rifles so we always have the competition to see who can shoot tighter groups.So both kids have been around it there whole elives.Two summers ago my daughter wanted to shoot one day and loved it.So the next weekend i was out buying here a purple grained Ruger 10/22.She wanted some glass on it and all i had available on the shelf was a 3X9 Tasco so we put it on.The gun shoots awesome and she cant get enough of it.Well this year she took her hunters safety course and out we went to get a shotgun,Rem 870 express 20 gauge.It was the best hunting season of my life.Both kids with me almost every time i went out.My daughter especially,no way i was going out with out her.It was a warm year here and we never did get a whitetail but it didnt matter.We seen a few but just haveing her with me is all i needed.I thought she would get discouraged after not seeing many or getting a shot at one but she understood and kept plugging on.

If you have kids that are interested go for it.It is the best time you can spend with them.Doesnt matter on the kill,its just the quality time you can never replace.Be carefull though.My daughter is now into handgun shooting and has taken great fondness in my Sig Sauer P229,she loves shooting it and is good.So i believe when shes 21 and gets a permit the Sig will be hers,and i dont care,they can take them all as long as they let me shoot once in a while,lol.

7or8(cant remember exactly) shooting squirrels w/ a 16ga single shot shotgun.

I was 7 years old and my grandpa shot a nice 8 point first day in the woods. Been hooked ever since.

Honestly can't remember, but for my 12th. birthday, my dad gave me a Pre '64 Model 70 Winchester 220 swift with the 26 in. S.S. barrel. I've shot hundreds of groundhogs, a few foxes a few deer and lots of paper Xs over the last 40 years. I think I'm gonna have it buried with me! (I have no children)