Today was the first day my boy (6) bullied me into shooting the .243Win. He is accomplished with the .22 rimfire and of course airgun.

Earlier this year I told him that he must first shoot a dove with the air rifle, then a francolin with the .22 and then a Gueni with the .22 before we can even talk about Impala and warthog. Well....as things go, he did all three with the air rifle, the Gueni a fantastic shot to the head at about 20 yards, and as the English say, Bobs your uncle.

So after thoroughly impressing us on the range this afternoon, he just walked up to me and said he is ready. Now this is a dillema. I always said he should at least be 10 before he takes a step to an Impala or Warthog. I shrugged him off and told him we will see. As it goes, I had to shoot some Jackal tonight and he tagged along as ussual.

Just as we started rounding off a un productive night of Jackal hunting, we came across a big Impala ram with a broken horn that I badly wanted taken out. I do not know what came over me, maybe it was that sad little face when he was shrugged off? But the boy stepped up to it when I asked him if he wanted to take the shot, and without hesitation nailed this huge bodied ram.

I know it is at night with a spotlight, but I do not care one bit. It was legal (where we are) and he killed the animal at about 80 yards with a perfect heart lung shot. At least we have a bit of Christmas biltong now!

Just wanted to share with you lot!

Will post picture later.

WOW Charl;

What a great father:son memory you made!!!

Congratulations to a proud PAPA and congratulations and good shooting to your son!

Best regards, D. Nelson

Charl, that's great. Like father, like son. On second thought, I wish him better luck than THAT!!! :-)

Excellent Charl! Congrats to the young man and life-long hunter!

Great story. How about some photos of the boy flying in the clouds?

Post a pic of you, your son and the impala.

Thanks for bringing another great hunter to our midst. Congratulations.

Congrats to the two hunters!

Congratulations!

Next time I will know who to get to shoot my Impala! LOL.

Good on you both!

Heaven help him, he'll never be the same. Congratulations on your new hunting partner. Like father like son.

Charl, congratulations on starting your son off right. I don't think there is any 'right' age. My own son was killing lots of birds with a 20 gauge when he was 9, and he's never looked back. He'll soon be 25, and is looking at buying a .375 and planning a buffalo hunt a year or two out.

I also seem to recall that Nassos Roussos son, Jason, shot his first lion at 10 years old, and look at where he is today, so it's definitely not too early for your son.

We'd love to see some pictures of you and your son with his impala. And remember, if you don't have any pictures he can always shoot another to get us some proud hunter photos!

Thank you very much my friends! I cannot get my photobucket account to upload pictures. Will try again a little bit later! It realy is a very proud day for me, and you will see the pictures....they do speak a thousand words!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Charl, that's great. Like father, like son. On second thought, I wish him better luck than THAT!!! :-)

Biebs.....there will be a campfire in the not to distant future....and I shall remember all these little remarks.....

Dear Charl

You will remember this the rest of your days.

We are not as lucky is Aus but I took my boy at 10 year old to NZ with me.
After 3 trips for red stag I finaly got one.

Can on his 2nd day shot one. He had never used a centre fire before.
In front of people, new rifle, different part of the world, large game that he new cost money.

Used a 260 rem and shot the stag from hill to hill 180mtrs. it was also bigger than mine.
What can I say.

My daughter is now 11 and been on 2 african safaris and taken 8 game animals in 8 shots.
Yes girls can shoot.

I think of this at least once a week and will go with me to the grave.

Maybe we need to arrange an under 14's hunt.

Regards Mark

Congrats ou maat. Great stuff.

Very well done Charl! You have converted a boy into a man!

Jy's 'n goed pa, infinito.

Congrats to Father and Son, Thats what its all about....

Thank you every one. I cannot stress how strongly I feel now that this is an experience one should share with the youngsters. A good friend of mine from the States said to me around the campfire that he only found out of his fathers wish to hunt a Cape Buffalo on his death bed (cancer).

I had the good fortune of a dad taking me all over Southern Africa from a very young age to hunt and fish with him. He could have been a rich man these days if he did not spend his time and money on these Safari's, but as he tells me so often, he's so much richer in experiences that money cannot buy!

We all should try and pass this onto our children, if at all possible.

Well done to all the fathters and mothers already doing it, if they can!

Way to go Charl I agree... I've invested all my hunt time/money to include my son...Congrats to the both of you

Proud of you & for you.
That's a memory that will be kept forever.

Charl,

Congratulations! I cannot begin to comprehend the pride you must feel in your son. The training, discipline, and respect for game you have instilled all came together in a clean, humane first kill. As others have said, this is a father-son memory you two will share forever.

Outstanding! It is always wonderful to bring a new hunter into the fold. It sounds like he is interested to hunt. Enjoy the time you have with him, he will always cherish these times as he looks back in later years!