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These all seem like good advise, bird hunting early in our family, I remember by grade, I can remember dove hunting 2nd grade or so, duck hunting in 4th grade, my fist 20G in 6th grade, and first 12G at 13.

However: deer hunting is different. Mammals hit the ground hard, have more blood and guts. My sister is a Child therapist and has had more then one kid that knew WAY to much WAY to early. At an inappropriate age, only wanted to talk about the stink and sound of the guts ect, how to clean, how they were knocked off there feet ect…

Enjoy your birds, do that for a bit before moving to big game. The PSA is worth what you have paid for it.

iratollah wrote:The biggest problem I've seen taking kids younger than 10 or 11 out bird hunting is barrel discipline. When you're walking around, they tend to forget where they're pointing that loaded shotgun.

I also agree that while many of us learned shotgunning with .410s, it could be a discouraging experience.

Just my opinion.....

I think it is the parent's obligation to make sure the child is mature enough. Make sure they can shoot before you go into the feild. Stress practice and patience. You need to make sure that as a parent, you understand what you are doing. When I started hunting with my son, I did not carry a firearm. Always keep an eye on your kid. When they start being unsafe, carry the firearm for them and make sure they know what they did wrong. You have to make it fun. Take lunches and a backpack - My son loved MRE's. Half of the fun (for me) was watching him in the woods. His first trophies were interesting rocks and leaves. You can stop hunting whenever you feel like it. Make it an adventure. When he gets bored, Leave.

He will have a memory for life.

My old man took me when I was 7 years old, I went out with my grandfather on one day and killed a 8 point buck down in South Texas. I grew up with guns around all my life, and my old man was a great teacher.

My dad started me with a .22 on rabbits and squirrels after I had been shooting cans with that .22 for about a year.