Go for it.
My 14yr old son started air rifle at about 4, and has become a proficient shot with gun and rifle and has shot a fair bit of game and deer although ski-ing rugby and no doubt females are creeping into his mind right now so he will no doubt miss some shoot days once the snow is on the hill.
My 6 year old son on the other hand is absolutly manic about all things fishing shooting . His biggest delight is preparing and eating game and he is on the phone every night for the last 2wks to his grandfather to get the squirrel cull update and check that thing are being kept in the freezer for his inpending visit and feast!!!!
He tells his class mates every day what he has brought in for lunch [today venison roll
, but on Monday he had a whole roast snipe!!!![inards out]] The village school delight in his enthusiasm and encourage him as he encourages other kids[sometimes].
My eldest daughter looks at me with disgust when shooting is mentioned and just doesn't get it! Middle daughter enjoys being out but not too bothered about shooting game.
However they are both crack rifle shots and shoot every week at Biathalon club
It's great to have the kids interested , however 2wks ago the little one was standing at the peg with me, we had an outstanding snipe drive[about 200 seen] and his questioning of WHY I wasn't hitting them was getting a tad irritating.
Especially when he pipes up Peter's a better shot than you, he got tons, I'll stand with him next time - he was swiftly relegated to the beating line
+1 for this Bambislayer, new to this site but joined to read such comments as above. I'm all for encouraging my 13yr old to develop into 'himself' and not just one of the crowd like many at school these days. If they have something different and individual like shooting, then their development goes in this direction. It develops independence, self confidence and responsibility from an early age. Its also developing a healthy lifestyle involving exercise and an understanding of where the food comes from.
In short, some really good comments to this thread gents.