I taught both my kids how to shoot using a .22lr with open sights, then a .22lr rifle with a scope. Hundreds and hundreds of rounds. Over a few years, until it felt natural to them and they were proficient. Muscle memory shouldering the weapon and getting your eye relief correct and obtaining quick, consistent sight pictures.

Both of them killed their first deer with a short action high powered rifle (.243 and 7-08) on the first shot they ever fired from a high powered rifle. Neither was scared of the recoil, not then, and not now. Now they both shoot excellent small groups off the bench and we don't even talk about recoil. I think they were in the 8-10 year range with the .22, and were 10 or 11, or 12 when killing their first deer.

To each his own, and every parent and every kid is different. I just wanted to share what worked for me.

If you make recoil a big deal, it will become a big deal.

I would normally tell someone to practice with the weapon they will be fighting with, but in this case, with kids, the above method has worked perfect for me twice.

my grandson was not quite three when he started shooting a cut down single shot 223 with a red dot scope on it. shot it by himself.

I understand this and encourage shooting a 22 to become proficient but I would also make sure my kid could hit where he was aining at 50-100 yards with the weapon he was planning to shoot. I would not let him shoot one weapon at a target then switch him to one he had never fired and hope he shot it well at an animal

Sounds like something he would do LOL. Unfortunately for my buddy, I don't think any 3y/o out there can stay quiet enough in the woods to get a deer in front of him.

I started my son shooting the 22LR at 3 yrs old. He could nail targets at 50 yds with it, so i built him an AR 223 to shoot. He was proficient in shooting this by the age of 4 while using 2 fingers to pull the trigger, so i took him on his first hunt. While we did not get a shot because he could not get steady enough for a long range shot (125 yds for him was long) i was confident at a shorter distance he would do fine. He killed his first deer at the age of 5 while shooting my muzzleloader loaded with 245gr powerbelt and 100 gr of pryodex.

Say what you want, but it is all in how often you work with them and how comfortable they are with shooting. He has since taken 3 more deer with the MZ and i think he prefers it over the rifle anyday.

Wait! What? Your 2yo isn’t driving tacks at 100 yards already? You are way behind. 🙄

Dr. B

Daughter is in bed and knocked out. Time to pack the truck and get ready for the am. I’m more excited than she is I do believe.

Me too...im taking my oldest 13yr old girl it was in the air before today but I was gonna give her seniority over the others..i honestly don't think she cares but I'll take whatever I can get from her now...im really proud of her just being cool headed and her own self no matter what is brought her way

I had my daughters look at deer magazines with all the different angles and asked them to show me where the crosshairs should best go. It really seemed to help them understand shot placement.

I got to watch others yesterday and took my bow for the first sit of the year. Our youth didn't see any horns, but a cousin killed a six.
Made sure he knew we were excited for him.

My oldest had her first legal drink today, so cherish these moments.

Any of yall hunt mid morning this morning? My cameras were blowing up from 10-12

First hunt out of our first shooting house. Sure is laid back hunting.

Watching the auburn game in my phone and watching a powerline plot with my son.. Three small bucks and does so far..

We on the board, son just shot his first racked buck. He almost beat the bullet to the deer he is so pumped

Awesome!!!

Nice. I remember taking my sons for his as well.

Special moments when your kids become adults. Time goes by too quickly.

Congrats Demp. Thats excellant!