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Originally posted by JudgeG:


Having met the twins, I understand the above!

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My youngest has shot less than my oldest. Regardless, he has exhibited a similar love for the hunt. On one of his last trips to Africa, at the ripe old age of 12, he sat perfectly still and watched a lion walk up to the bait. The lion laid down in the grass and looked right at us. He waited about 20 minutes until it moved broadside and took it with a single shot. He didn't lose his mind and do something stupid. He was safe the entire time. This is also an experience he will never forget. He will remember it when I am long gone.

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Originally posted by fairgame:

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My youngest has shot less than my oldest. Regardless, he has exhibited a similar love for the hunt. On one of his last trips to Africa, at the ripe old age of 12, he sat perfectly still and watched a lion walk up to the bait. The lion laid down in the grass and looked right at us. He waited about 20 minutes until it moved broadside and took it with a single shot. He didn't lose his mind and do something stupid. He was safe the entire time. This is also an experience he will never forget. He will remember it when I am long gone.

Larry,

Sorry but I consider that a pot shot. Your child did not shoot a Lion but rather some target at the local fairground.

It was without doubt a wonderful experience for you both and I am fine with that.

The reason we call it dangerous game is that for the most the hunter is prepared to put his life on the line and I very much doubt that was a consideration when your boy pulled the trigger?

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Originally posted by fairgame:
Is it just me that has a problem with little kids taking pot shots at game?

I say pot shot as no way can it be described as is hunting as we know it. Surely very young children are not mature enough to understand the complexities of this blood sport and all that goes with it?

In your opinion at what age is generally a child considered mature and responsible enough to hunt and shoot game? Too often I have witnessed guns set up at live targets where the young do nothing more that press the trigger. Whilst I am all for the practice of shooting and firearm education surely there must be limits? Unilaterally (except countries such as Somalia) there are stringent regulations and age limits regarding the ownership and use of firearms and I presume this has something to do with maturity?

Some years back and when my son became thirteen I felt he was old enough to hunt and more importantly physically able and mentally prepared to follow up and dispatch a creature if need be. What was supposed to a pleasant and important experience for us both turned out to be a nightmare of considerable proportions. Without going into gory details the subsequent trauma upset my lad the extent that nowadays and some eight years later he has absolutely no interest in hunting and will only carry a rifle for protection. Subsequently I made the decision that my second oldest would only be introduced to hunting when he could hold down half a dozen liters of beer.

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Originally posted by surestrike:

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Originally posted by fairgame:

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My youngest has shot less than my oldest. Regardless, he has exhibited a similar love for the hunt. On one of his last trips to Africa, at the ripe old age of 12, he sat perfectly still and watched a lion walk up to the bait. The lion laid down in the grass and looked right at us. He waited about 20 minutes until it moved broadside and took it with a single shot. He didn't lose his mind and do something stupid. He was safe the entire time. This is also an experience he will never forget. He will remember it when I am long gone.

Larry,

Sorry but I consider that a pot shot. Your child did not shoot a Lion but rather some target at the local fairground.

It was without doubt a wonderful experience for you both and I am fine with that.

The reason we call it dangerous game is that for the most the hunter is prepared to put his life on the line and I very much doubt that was a consideration when your boy pulled the trigger?

Fairgame,

How is that anymore a potshot than any other lion taken from a blind?

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Sorry you cocked up your chance to teach your 13 year old how to enjoy hunting. But maybe it's because you were too caught up in the "complexities of the blood sport". What the heck is that? Hunting is simple, mate. We have to add rules to make it challenging. If you want a kid to love hunting, keep it simple and enjoyable. I don't mind working hard for my game but if the work is not gratifying, then what's the point? I'll just pick up chow at the grocery store like everybody else. I hunt for the fun of it and nothing else.
I learned my lesson many years ago when I berated a younger brother outside a duck blind because he "wasn't doing it right". In reality, he was just a young kid with a thousand questions and a desire to earn his brother's respect. I managed to quash his desire to hunt (and his desire for my respect) in one long tirade. Does he hunt now? Nope. My fault? Most likely.

Never again, mate. I learned.

Your son no longer hunts for one simple reason - he doesn't think it is enjoyable. It has nothing to do with age, physical ability, maturity, or how much beer he can drink ( Roll Eyes I've heard it all now). Sorry to say, but I think you are well on your way to losing another potential hunting partner. Re-vamp your thinking and learn to enjoy hunting yourself, too!

Tell kids to find their limits on their own, not from others.
Tell him he can do what he sets his mind to.
Tell him all of creation was made for him, his livelihood and his enjoyment.

Chances are, if you are having the time of your life, your son will be too.

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The problem with posts like this is that the author presumes a correlation between age and maturity without considering the vast differences between individuals – children or adults.

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Originally posted by KPete:

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Originally posted by fairgame:
Is it just me that has a problem with little kids taking pot shots at game? I say pot shot as no way can it be described as is hunting as we know it. Surely very young children are not mature enough to understand the complexities of this blood sport and all that goes with it?

The problem with posts like this is that the author presumes a correlation between age and maturity without considering the vast differences between individuals – children or adults. There are young kids that are very mature and quite capable of hunting, just as there are adults who are immature and dangerous around weapons of any type. You simply can't extrapolate abilities on the basis of age, let alone sex, race, or any other criteria that doesn't take into consideration the individual.

In the case of my son Alex, who is seven and was recently featured in a hunt report on AR (and perhaps the motivation for Fairgame's post?), while I would have expected him to be ready for hunting at about 10-years of age or older, he nevertheless demonstrated not only the desire but the requisite skills and maturity to hunt with us in Namibia earlier this year. [To see that report and photos: http://forums.accuratereloadin...411043/m/8661000331]

I'll be the first to admit that seven seems very early to start a hunting career; but then, Alex seems to be like other kids who show a skill at a sport that typically attracts older children (e.g., racing karts, rock climbing). And from the posts we've seen in response to Fairgame's question, it would seem that Alex isn't the only youngster to excel at hunting.

But if that isn't enough to convince you, take a look at these photos and tell me if Alex appears 'traumatized' by his success. And far from being 'potshots', every one of his trophies was taken with a single shot – no back-up shots required – and from distances ranging from 140 to 205 yards.







My advice to parents is this: Expose your children to the concept of hunting early. If they show more than polite interest, explain the sometimes harsh fundamentals of hunting to them and, if appropriate, invite them to join you on a hunt. If after witnessing a hunt they push to you actually hunt themselves, then ease them into an opportunity all the while assessing their physical, emotional, and intellectual ability to hunt safely while under strict supervision. You might be surprised at what you see – I sure was.

As for dangerous game, that is an altogether different issue. Regardless of emotional maturity or hunting prowess, in the case of dangerous game I believe there needs to be a physical maturity that allows the hunter the ability to respond to potentially hazardous situations that are rarely encountered hunting plains game. For example, the hunter should be able to carry, shoulder, and fire off-hand accurately a heavy-recoil rifle in the event lives are endangered. And that physical maturity is not associated with any particular age; again, it is different with every individual.

As Moja and others have written, it is an extraordinary gift to have a child that genuinely shares your interest in hunting. The problem now is that Alex expects to join me on every hunt in the future - and he has sable and kudu on his wish list for next year! This could be an very expensive proposition.

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Ledvm - If the law in Texas allows kids to tote guns at the tender age of six then so be it. Here in Africa it is between 18 and 21 and most of us grew up occupying ourselves with other toys.

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Originally posted by fairgame:


Kim - I will have to disagree and I feel that your seven year old cannot make an informed decision devoid of emotional attachment to you, as a parent, and their need is often influenced by the need to please you.

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Originally posted by fairgame:
If the law in Texas allows kids to tote guns at the tender age of six then so be it. Here in Africa it is between 18 and 21 and most of us grew up occupying ourselves with other toys.

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I was expected to behave as a man long before I was 18.

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Speaking of which, toy guns will do more to hamper a child's safe shooting practices than any other item. If you want a child as a safe hunting partner, get rid of their toy guns and buy them a real one.

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Speaking of which, toy guns will do more to hamper a child's safe shooting practices than any other item. If you want a child as a safe hunting partner, get rid of their toy guns and buy them a real one.

Free 500grains

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Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Andrew - I can only assume Richard has yet to inform you of the 8 person safari I booked for 2011 in Luswishi?????? Actually only 6 of them are hunting, 2 of them are doing 18-day Leopard/Sitatunga/Sable. Both brothers, one will be 11 years old next year, the other will be 12!!!! Mom & dad are just observing. Which one you want, the 11 or 12 year old??????? Good luck my boy and remember, always keep the client calm.

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Originally posted by SGraves155:
When I was a young family man, I wanted my boys to get to hunt deer at an early age, but now that they are grown, I think that was not well reasoned, and I have changed my attitude---

Kids should just hunt squirrels, rabbits, and snapping turtles, etc., till they are big enough to field dress and get back to the house a deer or antelope of 100-150#--or at least load it on a truck or ATV. Also they should be able to track and to find their way back if lost. And be old enough that parents won't worry if they're two miles from the house, and alone.
Some hunting is so precious that only an adult who has worked and saved to afford it can really appreciate it fully. Dads can take the kids along, but the killing part on big game isn't something that should be bestowed upon children. It's something so precious that it should be EARNED. Just my opinion.

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Originally posted by shakari:
I guess there's also the issue of what is too much too soon.

A few years ago I met a group of hunters at Jo'burg airport who were flying back to the USA after their hunt.

When we got chatting, it turned out they'd been to a certain infamous canned hunting operation in SA and the youngest lad (at least) who was about 12 or 13 years old had shot all of the Big 5 on that 2 week trip.

To me, even setting aside the ethical issues of such a trip, he's taken all of the Big 5 at such a tender age and I have to wonder what he'll have to look forward to for the rest of his hunting life.

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Originally posted by fairgame:

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Originally posted by SGraves155:
When I was a young family man, I wanted my boys to get to hunt deer at an early age, but now that they are grown, I think that was not well reasoned, and I have changed my attitude---

Kids should just hunt squirrels, rabbits, and snapping turtles, etc., till they are big enough to field dress and get back to the house a deer or antelope of 100-150#--or at least load it on a truck or ATV. Also they should be able to track and to find their way back if lost. And be old enough that parents won't worry if they're two miles from the house, and alone.
Some hunting is so precious that only an adult who has worked and saved to afford it can really appreciate it fully. Dads can take the kids along, but the killing part on big game isn't something that should be bestowed upon children. It's something so precious that it should be EARNED. Just my opinion.

Steve,

That was sort of what I was getting at, however having read all who contributed to this post I think I am biased and my thinking was somewhat clouded by my past experience.

Acorns grow into big trees and what we are seeing here is an education, more so in the states, into hunting at a very tender age. This is the next generation of hunters and yes they should be encouraged.

Could I surmise that the somewhere around the age of ten is probably the time for a child to move on from shooting to hunting as we know it?

Thing is wild Africa is somewhat different and I cannot see one of my youngsters venturing into the bush by himself. Mum would not allow it for starters.

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As was pointed out in a previous reply I personally feel that a child that plays with toy guns has some maturing to do.