Thread: Hunting with ya kid

I started with the air rifle but it was a disaster and she was only going to hate it.
I then remembered that my grandfather had left me an old little daisy red ryder(i think they're called).
They're a tiny little thing and hopeless to shoot.... but they're small. I made a few targets on the lawn and taught her the basics about the dangerous end etc.
Then she would shoot the target and just be stoked to hit the box. After a few goes at that she and I would pretend stalk the target with me suggesting what the animal was. Before long she's doing it and telling me, "its a massive stag dad". We didn't do it much as I didn't want it to be boring.

I then took her on a family trip into the Kaimanawas where she could see me with a deer or two but mostly just to have fun(make sure it's summer). we had swims and trout fishing. Lolly hunts around the river and hut. Caught a few trout. Generally just making the time away from town unforgettable.

Then back home I asked if she'd like to come goat hunting. Made it relatively easy and knocked a couple over(one each trip, no bomb ups and no tricky shots/woundys). Made sure we cooked them and don't force her to eat too much. Just let it be as positive as poss.
We make jerky in the dehydrator nice and sweet so she loves that as a snack.
After a while I'm getting questioned when she can shoot one. I kept saying she has to prove to me she can shoot.
However, On a goat hunt, she spots one pretty close and suggest this would be an awesome first goat and I grudgingly concede. Stalk in to 20mtrs and set the rifle up so she cant miss then let her shoot. She hit it alright but I immediately nail it again just to be sure(include an apology that he shot was good all to raise confidence). She's 6 and a half I think.

After that she's keen as buggery. I let her try the 243 on range but it's hard and I risk making things worse so instead told her she can't shoot animals until she's a better shot. After which I allow her to shoot a couple more(weak hearted bugger that I am).

I decide that she really needs something to shot that suits and fits her. My 243 is way to heavy and big and hard to move the crosshairs around for a kid.

I wanted a 223 and the howa mini is really the only easily accessible rifle that is close to small enough. As for the 6.5 grendel, it was the one I got to have a look at up here. Pretty low recoil but plenty of gun for anything up to and including deer. Vietnam cam on her gave me his chopped down stock. Otherwise, I'd have chopped the one that was on there. I did make the mistake of not ensuring I had good eye relief as it all gets pretty weird for an adult looking thru a kid length rifle.

Once I had that we spent a bit of time at the range but only letting her do 10 rounds max so she didn't get over it. Also take big chocolaty donuts and fizzy drinks on hunt and range.

After a little practice, I've taught her to let me know when she's ready to shoot. At first I'd pop my thumb behind the butt just to make sure she didn't scope herself but after fixing eye relief ad some practice there's no need. Just watch for anything dumb like putting face to close. After loading a round each time, we've reached a point where I can putt eh round up and let he do the safety. She has to say shooting at which point she knows I'll stop talking and trust her. She then pops safety off and squeezes trigger.

We've had a a lot of opportunities that I've not allowed to shoot or let fail as it's important not to make it too easy.

I never intended to let her shot so early as I shot my first deer at 13 or 14 and think its a good time. However she's built up many more skills and experience than I had at same ages and shown more maturity(pains me to say). I don't want her shooting anything too good to ensure that any further kills are as epic as possible. She already understands that the value is in how hard the hunt is. After shooting her first the other day we were travelling through some red deer ground and I suggested that around here she could get a red and imagine getting you first red and first fallow in one day. She told me that's cool but she'd rather not so that we can go and have a full mish on the reds with that as the aim.

Anyway. Some kids won't need all that pussy footing(especially some boys) however I wanted to retain her empathy and not put her off in any way. I always discuss how its slightly sad for the animal but it'd die anyway and it's yummy and we killed it quick. She puts a leaf in it's mouth as respect and I don't allow sitting on the animal. I do allow poking at any and all organs etc as it cure squeamishness and teaches her good stuff. I also demand no squealing oooooohs, screams and all that crap that little princesses do. Mainly cause it annoys the shit out of me.

Phew. Hope that covers it. Feel free to discuss. Actually this would be an interesting topic in the campfire section.