14 yr old newbee

[arav]

Hi, My 14 yr old son wanted to start pheasant hunting. I have created this profile to help him connect with a syndicate near north west London preferably near a train station.

He knows nothing about this and needs an introduction to this activity when he starts. He wanted to use air guns, so any recommendations on which air guns would be suitable would be appreciated.

 

[T.eddie]

Welcome from Essex, most pheasants would be taken with a shotgun usually, though this is something he would be able to apply to get good luck finding a syndicate / club fingers crossed for you

 

[VSS]

Welcome!
There are a number of London based shooters on here. Maybe someone would take your lad under their wing and introduce him to fieldsports?

 

[Craigsaun]

I wish he lived closer to Wales , I could do with some one enthusiastic

 

[arav]

Welcome!
There are a number of London based shooters on here. Maybe someone would take your lad under their wing and introduce him to fieldsports?

it would be such a wonderful thing if it happened.

 

[bullet chucker]

Welcome to the site.

BC.

 

[arav]

I wish he lived closer to Wales , I could do with some one enthusiastic

oh yeah. He is very enthusiastic

Welcome to the site.

BC.

Thank you very much

 

[JSW]

Get your son to join basc they run a course for young people called young shots many years ago my son shot at Windsor great park and many more places with them, good luck to your son.

 

[HallyButt]

Hi, My 14 yr old son wanted to start pheasant hunting. I have created this profile to help him connect with a syndicate near north west London preferably near a train station.

He knows nothing about this and needs an introduction to this activity when he starts. He wanted to use air guns, so any recommendations on which air guns would be suitable would be appreciated.

Simple answer, (assuming this is a genuine question) is ‘none’ and I recommend a read on up the law of air rifle ownership as he has along way to go.

I’d recommend googling and YouTubing UK pheasant shooting, it’s not an air rifle activity as you will quickly see.

If still interesting, then a young shots clay pigeon course is a good start to learn gun safety, but ..

I’d question why he wants to start Pheasant ‘hunting’ if he knows nothing about it, the culture and tradition is a huge part and I would suggest the best route may be to find a syndicate (not sure there are many near West London) who are looking for beaters and helpers so he can start to understand what Pheasant shooting is.

I would suggest that this is not an activity for a youngster who ‘knows nothing about it’

 

[arav]

Simple answer, (assuming this is a genuine question) is ‘none’ and I recommend a read on up the law of air rifle ownership as he has along way to go.

I’d recommend googling and YouTubing UK pheasant shooting, it’s not an air rifle activity as you will quickly see.

If still interesting, then a young shots clay pigeon course is a good start to learn gun safety, but ..

I’d question why he wants to start Pheasant ‘hunting’ if he knows nothing about it, the culture and tradition is a huge part and I would suggest the best route may be to find a syndicate (not sure there are many near West London) who are looking for beaters and helpers so he can start to understand what Pheasant shooting is.

I would suggest that this is not an activity for a youngster who ‘knows nothing about it’

“Because pheasants are wild and edible” he says (teenage boys = always thinkingabout eating )

In any case it is natural for him not to know anything at this stage. I will sign him up for young shots and also see if any syndicate will let him work as a beater. This is really sound advice so thank you for it.

 

[arav]

Get your son to join basc they run a course for young people called young shots many years ago my son shot at Windsor great park and many more places with them, good luck to your son.

Sounds like a plan!! I checked on their website and they don’t have anything in Windsor now. So we have to go to Essex or Lincolnshire.

 

[bullet chucker]

This sport is enjoyed by ALL age groups and LONG may it continue! I beat and work cockers on a pheasant shoot and on several occasions the guns attend with their young families and the children sometimes join the beating line,most are a lot younger than 14?
There are shoots near GUILDFORD and into W.Sussex.

BC.

 

[Pedro]

Beating is the way to go. You get to know people and you (by you I mean your son) get to be trusted. And you will, likely at the end of the season get a free day shooting on Beaters' Day. Being a regular shooter or "gun" can be expensive! Although as a beater, you'll likely get some pheasants for him to scoff! By the way, perhaps it's something you'd enjoy. A bit of father/son bonding maybe. But be wary. If you are anything like the father/son combinations I've come across, the son quickly becomes the better shot!

One way to let him dip his toe in the water would be to take a clay shooting lesson at a clay shooting ground. You won't need a certificate and guns and cartridges can be supplied. It ain't exactly the same as game shooting, but it's similar enough to get to know if it'll be your thing. Just search for clay shooting grounds within easy reach and go from there.

 

[arav]

Beating is the way to go. You get to know people and you (by you I mean your son) get to be trusted. And you will, likely at the end of the season get a free day shooting on Beaters' Day. Being a regular shooter or "gun" can be expensive! Although as a beater, you'll likely get some pheasants for him to scoff! By the way, perhaps it's something you'd enjoy. A bit of father/son bonding maybe. But be wary. If you are anything like the father/son combinations I've come across, the son quickly becomes the better shot!

One way to let him dip his toe in the water would be to take a clay shooting lesson at a clay shooting ground. You won't need a certificate and guns and cartridges can be supplied. It ain't exactly the same as game shooting, but it's similar enough to get to know if it'll be your thing. Just search for clay shooting grounds within easy reach and go from there.

Unfortunately, I don’t shoot at all and infact don’t eat meat either. I’ve told him this is unlikely to become a family sport, but he is still interested! It is his passion, and as his parent I will facilitate as much as possible.

Good point about the clay shooting…maybe he will try…but I can already hear him say “I want the real thing”

 

[arav]

This sport is enjoyed by ALL age groups and LONG may it continue! I beat and work cockers on a pheasant shoot and on several occasions the guns attend with their young families and the children sometimes join the beating line,most are a lot younger than 14?
There are shoots near GUILDFORD and into W.Sussex.

BC.

I will look up the ones in Guildford and West Sussex. Something in Windsor would suit us so much better commute wise but Google didn’t give us any results for that.

 

[VSS]

Unfortunately, I don’t shoot at all and infact don’t eat meat either. I’ve told him this is unlikely to become a family sport, but he is still interested! It is his passion, and as his parent I will facilitate as much as possible.

Very commendable!

I would also advise him getting some good books on various aspects of fieldsports. I know you can get a lot of info online these days, but nothing quite compares to a good book for inspiration, particularly some of the older ones.

 

[arav]

Very commendable!

I would also advise him getting some good books on various aspects of fieldsports. I know you can get a lot of info online these days, but nothing quite compares to a good book for inspiration, particularly some of the older ones.

Thank you, great suggestion. I will check.

As one of those always “outside kids” not sure how much he will read. He is always catching birds though, even just with his bare hands

 

[bullet chucker]

Very commendable!

I would also advise him getting some good books on various aspects of fieldsports. I know you can get a lot of info online these days, but nothing quite compares to a good book for inspiration, particularly some of the older ones.

Shooting Times Magazine is a weekly issue, in SOME paper shops. Or can be delivered to his door at your cost.

BC.

 

[arav]

Shooting Times Magazine is a weekly issue, in SOME paper shops. Or can be delivered to his door at your cost.

BC.

I’ll send him down to Waitrose to have a look. If not online it is…

 

[VSS]

I’ll send him down to Waitrose to have a look. If not online it is…

I think you'll find that they won't sell shooting related publications to a youngster.