When to take my daughter shooting

[TaiRM]

View attachment 453760
Took my boy as a Xmas holidays treat after he turned 6. As agreed with him in Jan

Absolutely love it mate!

 

[TaiRM]

I have just up rated my granddaughters bino's
To these . She is 8 yrs old.

Thanks, will have a look at these. I've got some vortex ones that I don't use, but maybe a little heavy duty for her

 

[TaiRM]

Mine’s been going since about 3, slow stalking.. It’s all about going with dad and not about stalking at all. Get her hands into the gralloch to actively take part and identify every organ. Everyone I’ve shown it to, except grownups with preconceived antibias who would not even look, loved it.

It’s a normal part of everyday life after all.

This is good to hear. Think you've nailed it in terms of people's preconceptions

 

[pendle]

@TaiRM an even cheaper pair

 

[ChrisWill184]

I took my daughter out the first twice on a walked up shoot when she was about 2 - 2 1/2 years old. No gun for me, had ear defenders for her and I had one of those toddler carriers that strapped her to my chest so it was easy to walk about and manage the two dogs. She came out about a month ago on another walk one, stand one syndicate I'm on (she is 4 1/2" years old now) and was able to walk a lot of the day, though I had to put her on my shoulders for longer walks / areas we had to get into quickly.

I know that you would expect it, but it TOTALLY changes the day! Looking for a pheasant coming towards the line is suddenly overpowered by her saying ''look what I'm doing with the dog'' as she has wrapped the lead around its waist, or splashing in puddles that the cattle have made and you are wondering if you have indeed brought enough dry clothes for her to change in to (and hoping that she doesn't fall into one as the hoof marks can go over the top of her wellies). Oh, and holding her hand to go over any uneven ground (which is pretty much everything except a grass park). Once she isn't in nappies, remember to take tissues / bog roll with you as well. I didn't on the last outing and having to shake / wipe her up with the cuff of your sleeve isn't the best way to sort her out. I am so glad that she didn't need a number 2!

One thing that I have done whenever she is out is to absolutely load the lunch box with the usual stuff but make sure that there are plenty of biscuits / sweet things / juice in there as well. She normally doesn't eat that much but was eating like a gannet at lunch time! Didn't stop her walking around the bothy at the end getting a couple of handfuls of sausages etc either. As far as I know she really enjoyed the day but hasn't asked much about it / if she can go again. I'm assuming with all the Christmas stuff going about, her tiny head has been filled with what Santa is going to bring her rather than walking over a freezing field.

I have been told that she can go out more often when she is 5 by my wife (and my mum for some reason!) but I'd like to see what she is like to try out some stalking. Probably making a racket and won't see anything the first couple of times I presume but it'll be a good walk. She has already had the experience of carrying pheasants but I am aware that it would be very different slicing open a roe and taking out a pile of guts the same size as her! We'll see though!

I've stuck in a couple of photos also (handy having my sister on the shoot as well to take these). I've tried to make it as fun (and as safe) as I can. If you can get the fun in at this age to make it memorable then that is you sorted as far as I can see.

 

[Jelen]

Thanks for this, I don't mine doing a half day to be fair, so maybe something to consider.

The wife is not into shooting at all !

I should have added to OP but the main reason I was thinking about stalking is because the wife and I both work in health, I'm Monday to Friday, she's shifts, so often works weekends. I was thinking I could potentially take my daughter stalking for a few hours and gives something to do, aside the soft play and the likes.

Not sure your thoughts on that?

From experience don't over do it, or commit to something that its too long. Stating the obvious here, little children get tired or bored quickly and making them continue past this point is a negative experience for both. The experience is more for her benefit than you and it should be fun at this early age. Good luck and enjoy the fun.

 

[TaiRM]

I took my daughter out the first twice on a walked up shoot when she was about 2 - 2 1/2 years old. No gun for me, had ear defenders for her and I had one of those toddler carriers that strapped her to my chest so it was easy to walk about and manage the two dogs. She came out about a month ago on another walk one, stand one syndicate I'm on (she is 4 1/2" years old now) and was able to walk a lot of the day, though I had to put her on my shoulders for longer walks / areas we had to get into quickly.

I know that you would expect it, but it TOTALLY changes the day! Looking for a pheasant coming towards the line is suddenly overpowered by her saying ''look what I'm doing with the dog'' as she has wrapped the lead around its waist, or splashing in puddles that the cattle have made and you are wondering if you have indeed brought enough dry clothes for her to change in to (and hoping that she doesn't fall into one as the hoof marks can go over the top of her wellies). Oh, and holding her hand to go over any uneven ground (which is pretty much everything except a grass park). Once she isn't in nappies, remember to take tissues / bog roll with you as well. I didn't on the last outing and having to shake / wipe her up with the cuff of your sleeve isn't the best way to sort her out. I am so glad that she didn't need a number 2!

One thing that I have done whenever she is out is to absolutely load the lunch box with the usual stuff but make sure that there are plenty of biscuits / sweet things / juice in there as well. She normally doesn't eat that much but was eating like a gannet at lunch time! Didn't stop her walking around the bothy at the end getting a couple of handfuls of sausages etc either. As far as I know she really enjoyed the day but hasn't asked much about it / if she can go again. I'm assuming with all the Christmas stuff going about, her tiny head has been filled with what Santa is going to bring her rather than walking over a freezing field.

I have been told that she can go out more often when she is 5 by my wife (and my mum for some reason!) but I'd like to see what she is like to try out some stalking. Probably making a racket and won't see anything the first couple of times I presume but it'll be a good walk. She has already had the experience of carrying pheasants but I am aware that it would be very different slicing open a roe and taking out a pile of guts the same size as her! We'll see though!

I've stuck in a couple of photos also (handy having my sister on the shoot as well to take these). I've tried to make it as fun (and as safe) as I can. If you can get the fun in at this age to make it memorable then that is you sorted as far as I can see.

View attachment 454331View attachment 454332View attachment 454333

Absolutely fantastic!

 

[Skogsmannen]

Just floated the idea with my 6yo daughter. She wants to climb a high seat and watch the deer, but without me shooting one.

I'll take the rifle though... Just in case

My 4 year old's fine with the idea of shooting it, just want me "to use a machine to suck all the blood out " before he does anything with it

 

[Jh1986]

My 4 year old's fine with the idea of shooting it, just want me "to use a machine to suck all the blood out " before he does anything with it

Take a small length of hose, then ask him to suck on the end to start the siphon

 

[Skogsmannen]

He's absolutely fine with a dead one still in fur and everything that comes after, but I think it might be his way of letting me know he's not quite ready for the bit before hand yet

 

[ColinBr]

I'm pretty sure my little man was out with me when he was around 4 or 5.

At first just out spotting deer with binos or at least he had a set of binos around his neck and liked to pretend he could see deer.

Regardless of what anyone else say. Get out there with your kid and enjoy the time just being there with them.

By god it goes in too fast and you will absolutely detest yourself if you didn't spend more time with them. I know I do as my boy goes to high school this year and I have the absolute fear of us growing apart.

 

[Pedro]

So, it won't have escaped your notice that the majority of people that take part in shooting activities aren't female. Although, of course there's a significant minority that do. I only mention this because there's always a chance that at some point she'll decide it's not for her. For that reason, I'd make it as enjoyable as possible. Not getting her too tired, not taking her out when the weather is bad, be aware that as she gets older other interests could well impinge.

Having said the above, if you take things slowly and on days with others present (pheasant days and so on) encourage others to interact with her, perhaps beating with a woman or older child/youth who makes things interesting explaining how things work and can have a laugh with her. Do you have dog(s)? Get her to work a dog. That'll get any lass interested. Obviously all these things will only happen over time, by which I mean years. And, like men, there'll come a time when other friends, the opposite sex, maybe college or university takes them away. But with a good grounding, that love of field sports will have taken root and you'll see the woman coming back to it.

As for what age to do things, that really depends on your daughter's development. Only when you think it's right really. But don't drag her along because if you don't, you can't go. She'll pick up on that sooner or later. And remember, many females like field sports, but not necessarily the shooting bit. So be prepared to maybe angle things that way.

 

[TaiRM]

So I've taken my daughter out twice, first time was just with the wife to see why she was like and she was fine. Second time I took her to the range on some ground I shoot on and she's been absolutely fine and has enjoyed it. So will try get her out a few more times before the tics are out

 

[tozzybum]

Various kids have grown up as beaters on our shoot .The latest youngster comes with her dad and thrives on it.
Kids are curious and seem to learn quickly on a very interesting day out .
My generation were lucky we had a rifle club at school using. 22lr ,boys and girls learning safely on Burton TA center

 

[Jagged77]

I’ve not taken mine out yet but they’re getting towards the point they could. We’ve had some walks on my stalking ground though and I was pretty impressed on both their stamina and ability to navigate commercial forestry rides and awful clearfell. Noisily I have to say though… I’ve bought them a BB gun and although it’s still large for them they’ve managed to blat some tin cans. I’m in no rush, if they want to shoot or come out on a stalk they can.

 

[suburban bushwacker]

start with cooking.

my friend in sweden’s boy ran to his room got his toy rifle and drew a bead on a moose that walked through the garden. literally teaching himself