my 5 year old son wants to go shooting

Longranger

Hi all, as the title says, my young fella wants to come out to watch us shooting:D I was always worried that the "bambi effect" would be a problem but apparently not. He's dead keen so I'm going to bring along to a clay shoot on saturday. He just got his first fishing rod and LOVES it so, hopefully,he will take to the shooting the same way. I'll bring him out to a bunny hot spot soon and test the waters. To anyone with young kids, ye could not get them into a better way of life. It teaches discipline and responsibility and also it shows them how to appreciate the wonderful countryside we live in.

slingshot88

my young fella is the same. mad about shooting he is nearly 5 now ,so wont belong untill he is headin out with me although herself is not to keen on it:rolleyes: be sure to keep us informed on how he gets on and enjoy your day out

patsat

Great stuff! make sure to get him hearing protection though!

bravestar

Brought my 5 year old out about 2 months ago for the day, lovely and sunny, spent hours out shooting crows. Just thinking of what a great time it was with him brings a smile to my face. Highly recommend for some seriously good memories!

On a side note, the book "gun proof your kids" by Massad ayoob is worth a look at

meathstevie

I've a daughter and two sons, the eldest is ten, the youngest is seven and all have been out with me before they were six. They've seen rabbits, pigeon and foxes being shot. They've helped gutting, skinning and plucking and the and the only thing that has happened is increased curiosity.

The oldest son ( 9 year old ) is the real culchie and shooting man, he's even arguing with other kids in his class who believe that shooting is cruel telling them that they haven't got a clue what they're talking about proceeding telling them how they should shoot game and where to aim on deer and foxes and smugly telling them that rabbit curry and deer steaks are his favourite meat.

Farmlife

my older boys 10 & 11 love coming out, the 6 year old daughter didn't like the idea of daddy shooting the birds, but for my my 2 year old, she can't look at a bird without shouting at it saying her daddy is going to blow its head off, She worries me.

Understand minor's can't shoot, but this was done in a controlled environment outside of Ireland

German pointer

I am waiting on a licence for a .22 and my 7 year old girl can't wait to go "bunny hunting" as she calls it.

Last month I was bringing in 3 goats from the van and had 2 of them in the shed when the 5 year old girl came running in saying mammy, mammy he got a cute white one aswell.

Their favourite meal is Santa's Reindeer meat, but of course not the ones that pull the sleigh.;);)

lb1981

I used to cry if me da wouldn't bring me with him ,looking back now he was right i was only 5/6 and no way i could walk through ploughed fields all day rough shooting.He did bring me out to woods for roost shooting to keep me happy.He let me gut them as-well for peace sake.
I started going out for full days when i was 10 and i carried all the pheasants and rabbits around after they had been shot.
Then when i was 14 became a junior member in the club and started to use his gun.
One thing though make sure that the kid is wearing hearing protection im only 31 and my hearing is ****ed from shooting

cookimonster

In my own case, as a child whose father brought him shooting and as a father who brings his sons shooting, I think it’s great as it introduces the kids to the guns and removes a lot of the mystery and temptation that can and has been in some cases the ‘curiosity that killed the cat’ .

The kids will make up their own mind in relation to what they want to do. The oldest lad has discovered women so everything else is put on the back boiler at the moment, while my youngest (who by the way is a serious horror fan, so this dispels the serial killer theory) has expressed no interest in hunting and prefers target shooting and plinking.


Both kids recognise and enjoy the bounty of my hunts (when I do connect) and fully understand animals equal food ( it is amazing how sanitised society has become when it comes to food – milk and burgers come from the shop with no connection with living animals)
On a lighter note don’t do what I did one day and end up carrying gun, a full game bag and child back across the fields to the car, little legs tire easily.

tonytoc11

I was out following my uncles around at that age. I didn't fire a gun until I was 15 but I used love heading off with them knowing that I'd eventually get the chance. The one rule was I always stayed a couple of yards behind them.

kildare.17hmr

My eldest gas no interest but the 4 year old is gun mad. He has not been out with me because heraelf says no way but he helps me clean the guns every time i come home, he knows all thw parts of the rifle and shotgun, checks they are clear as soon as he picks them up and shows me he has done it then helps me clean them. Its great because his curiosity seems to be filled by helping me clean them because he gets to touch them so he has not asked to come yet but when he does start asking mammy will have to suck it up

LR, enjoy it!

packas

Fantastic to see the sport has a future.

meathstevie

cookimonster wrote: »

In my own case, as a child whose father brought him shooting and as a father who brings his sons shooting, I think it’s great as it introduces the kids to the guns and removes a lot of the mystery and temptation that can and has been in some cases the ‘curiosity that killed the cat’ .

The kids will make up their own mind in relation to what they want to do. The oldest lad has discovered women so everything else is put on the back boiler at the moment, while my youngest (who by the way is a serious horror fan, so this dispels the serial killer theory) has expressed no interest in hunting and prefers target shooting and plinking.


Both kids recognise and enjoy the bounty of my hunts (when I do connect) and fully understand animals equal food ( it is amazing how sanitised society has become when it comes to food – milk and burgers come from the shop with no connection with living animals)
On a lighter note don’t do what I did one day and end up carrying gun, a full game bag and child back across the fields to the car, little legs tire easily.

I regularly use a lovely overgrown dry ( most of the year ) ditch for pigeon shooting and the oldest son always falls asleep in there....

beeroclock

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in shooting guns (apart from a stag party where we went to a Prague shooting range I have never shot weapons) and though I am shocked at the notion of bringing kids along to a hunt etc, I read with interest the comments here. I know nothing of this activity and wouldn't want a loaded weapon within a mile or me let alone my son and I'm sure its "safe" etc I do not for a minute understand the notion of children and lethal weapons

But like I said I know nothing of this activity so I read with interest as an outsider

cookimonster

beeroclock wrote: »

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in shooting guns (apart from a stag party where we went to a Prague shooting range I have never shot weapons) and though I am shocked at the notion of bringing kids along to a hunt etc, I read with interest the comments here. I know nothing of this activity and wouldn't want a loaded weapon within a mile or me let alone my son and I'm sure its "safe" etc I do not for a minute understand the notion of children and lethal weapons

But like I said I know nothing of this activity so I read with interest as an outsider

This will be slightly off point but here goes, I have fished sea and fresh water as long as I can remember, scuba dived since the age of 15, owned knives,bows and other sharp objects for ever, had my fingers in the guts of all the fish or animals I 've being lucky to catch and am still here today with all my fingers and toes thanks to the care and teaching of my father. There are far more dangurous activities out there that parents allow thier children to do either alone or in the company of strangers (cycling, skate boarding, contact sports, swimming lessons). I wouldn't even try to say that hunting is a every day need in our modern life but it is an activity and any activity that promotes bonding, awareness, exploration and of course disapline both in the skills of shooting and safety can only be looked upon as positive and productive in any child's life.

meathstevie

beeroclock wrote: »

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in shooting guns (apart from a stag party where we went to a Prague shooting range I have never shot weapons) and though I am shocked at the notion of bringing kids along to a hunt etc, I read with interest the comments here. I know nothing of this activity and wouldn't want a loaded weapon within a mile or me let alone my son and I'm sure its "safe" etc I do not for a minute understand the notion of children and lethal weapons

But like I said I know nothing of this activity so I read with interest as an outsider

Beeroclock, thanks for popping in and having a look and personaly speaking I would consider it understandable that as an outsider to the hunting aspect of the shooting community you could be a bit "shocked" as you describe. But I also dare say that you never realy knew that there's thousands of people in Ireland who are owners of thousands of legaly held firearms that are used on a very regular basis either for hunting in open field and forrest or for target shooting on very highly organised and strictly regulated ranges.

For example your use of the word weapon is a word that seldom or never features in the target shooter's or hunter's vocabulary for the simple reason that a weapon is an implement used for inflicting violence on humans ( could be lawful or not ) and none of our guns are licenced or held for that purpose. The only people in Ireland that have lawful possession of firearms for use as weapons are state organisations like the Defence Forces and the Garda Siochana.

Situations like you have encountered in Prague simply don't exist here. There's no way you can walk into a range in Ireland, pay a few quid and get your hands on a pistol, revolver or assault rifle and rattle away at possibly human shaped targets. That sort of activity is highly illegal here.

The safety aspect of using firearms that are potentialy lethal to humans when misused is something that should be the first issue in every shooter's mind. I'm not much of a target shooter so I wouldn't be very up to date with rifle ranges and clay grounds but when out in the field there's a few things one should always be aware of mainly;

1) The gun always points in a safe direction when carried. For a shotgun that means in the air or to the ground in front of your feet. For a rifle it's always to the ground as rifle bullets have a long range.

2) Guns are never carried loaded when crossing roads or public places or when transported in the car.

3) Guns are open ( impossible to fire ) when negotiating obstacles.

4) Safety catch comes off at the last moment before taking a shot.

5) A gun will never be fired if there's any uncertainty as to where the shot will fall and what's in it's path ( never shoot through hedges, in the direction of houses, farm sheds, cattle or sheep etc etc ).

6) And above all, unless disassembled guns are to be treated as loaded all the time so under no circumstances will it point in the direction of a human being at any time. That means no swinging the barrels accross a shooting buddy while tracking an animal for a shot, cleaning always with the barrels pointing in a safe direction etc etc

Personaly I have no knowledge of hunting linked fatalities in Ireland for as long as I've lived here which is well over ten years but having said that just like any activity it's not accident free and there quite likely have been a small number of injury incidents I've no knowledge of but hand on heart when done properly using a firearm in the field should pose no danger to anyone.

Longranger

beeroclock wrote: »

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in shooting guns (apart from a stag party where we went to a Prague shooting range I have never shot weapons) and though I am shocked at the notion of bringing kids along to a hunt etc, I read with interest the comments here. I know nothing of this activity and wouldn't want a loaded weapon within a mile or me let alone my son and I'm sure its "safe" etc I do not for a minute understand the notion of children and lethal weapons

But like I said I know nothing of this activity so I read with interest as an outsider

Ok, here we go..........
1. We do not refer to our firearms as "weapons". Weapons are, by definition,something used to deliberately cause harm to another person. If you try to kill someone with your car then it too should be called a weapon.
2. We are safe, responsible people(well, the VAST majority of us) and would never knowingly put our childrens welfare at risk.
3. Children are far more likely to be injured or killed by stupidity in the home, ie. Tools left lying around or a balcony door left unlocked, or on the farm, ie.quad bikes,tractor pto shafts, animals etc.
4. If you have no interest in shooting, then why the hell are you reading a shooting forum?!
If you are so concerned about child safety then go and lecture those involved in farming, horse riding, football, cycling, motocross, surfing and all the other dangerous things people let their kids near!:rolleyes::mad:

kildare.17hmr

My four year old knows more about gun safety than all of my non shooting friends. With proper supervision and education kids using guns is not a problem.

Well said steve

German pointer

Not only do we introduce our kids to a safe and rewarding pastime but they also get know where meat comes from. Meat does not come wrapped from the supermarket or butchers but from the killing and butchering of animals and if I want hunt and butcher it myself and introduce my kids to it that is my business.

I have being going hunting with my father since I was about 5 years old that is over 40 years ago ( no accidents or a hint of one). I also have being going fishing with him for the same lenght of time and my childern love to come out in the boat with me. Should I let them on the pier incase the fall into the sea?

How may childern have being killed or injured in their own garden in the last few years???

How many have being killed or injured out hunting with firearms?


NONE.

beeroclock

Longranger wrote: »

Ok, here we go..........
1. We do not refer to our firearms as "weapons". Weapons are, by definition,something used to deliberately cause harm to another person. If you try to kill someone with your car then it too should be called a weapon.
2. We are safe, responsible people(well, the VAST majority of us) and would never knowingly put our childrens welfare at risk.
3. Children are far more likely to be injured or killed by stupidity in the home, ie. Tools left lying around or a balcony door left unlocked, or on the farm, ie.quad bikes,tractor pto shafts, animals etc.
4. If you have no interest in shooting, then why the hell are you reading a shooting forum?!
If you are so concerned about child safety then go and lecture those involved in farming, horse riding, football, cycling, motocross, surfing and all the other dangerous things people let their kids near!:rolleyes::mad:

On point 4 - I can peruse what I like - it happened to be on the main page and caught my eye

You seem to think I am "lecturing", I can assure you I am not, what others do is none of my business - to reiterate it was with curiosity I looked at thread not with the purpose of lecturing, castigating or anything else of that sort

beeroclock

Thanks for replies guys it opened my eyes as I knew nothing of this sport, cheers for taking the time to share the info

Longranger

beeroclock wrote: »

On point 4 - I can peruse what I like - it happened to be on the main page and caught my eye

You seem to think I am "lecturing", I can assure you I am not, what others do is none of my business - to reiterate it was with curiosity I looked at thread not with the purpose of lecturing, castigating or anything else of that sort

I'm sorry if I offended you, but I hope that you can understand my attitude to your post. Over the years, we have been lectured, painted as irresponsible, chastised and plain downright insulted by the non-shooting community and as a result, some of us, obviously myself included, tend to take a somewhat grim view of people who appear to judge us because of our sport. If I came across as defensive or angry I apologize. Please don't take it as a personal attack.
If people can understand that shooting is no more dangerous than any other sport, then perhaps the shooting community would have less grief to put up with. We are not gun-toting lunatics. We are responsible people who just happen to take part in a sport which utilises tools which are feared and misunderstood by those who do not partake.
Again, sorry if I offended you,but I stand my ground.......shooting is perfectly safe if you have a bit of cop-on.

meathstevie

beeroclock wrote: »

Thanks for replies guys it opened my eyes as I knew nothing of this sport, cheers for taking the time to share the info

If you have any questions I definitely will not have any problem trying to answer them and I suppose a lot of lads in here will be exactly the same. After all we're doing nothing illegal and anyone who comes in here with good intentions looking for a bit of info will be accomodated by most.

If you want to get a taste of shooting in Ireland book yourself a session with one of the commercial clay grounds and you can get a feel for what shooting ranges over here are like and you'll get some one on one coaching as well because those folk don't let anyone out without a qualified staff member.

beeroclock

Longranger wrote: »

I'm sorry if I offended you, but I hope that you can understand my attitude to your post. Over the years, we have been lectured, painted as irresponsible, chastised and plain downright insulted by the non-shooting community and as a result, some of us, obviously myself included, tend to take a somewhat grim view of people who appear to judge us because of our sport. If I came across as defensive or angry I apologize. Please don't take it as a personal attack.
If people can understand that shooting is no more dangerous than any other sport, then perhaps the shooting community would have less grief to put up with. We are not gun-toting lunatics. We are responsible people who just happen to take part in a sport which utilises tools which are feared and misunderstood by those who do not partake.
Again, sorry if I offended you,but I stand my ground.......shooting is perfectly safe if you have a bit of cop-on.

To be honest as soon as I re-read your post I was thinking god knows how many people have come into this forum on their high horses casting dispersion's on shooting so I totally understand where you are coming from. From reading the replies I couldn't agree more with "we are not gun-toting lunatics" and the responses have been very insightful to an outsider

You didn't insult me in the slightest and if the opportunity ever arose I think Id like to give it a lash

Thanks!

beeroclock

meathstevie wrote: »

If you have any questions I definitely will not have any problem trying to answer them and I suppose a lot of lads in here will be exactly the same. After all we're doing nothing illegal and anyone who comes in here with good intentions looking for a bit of info will be accomodated by most.

If you want to get a taste of shooting in Ireland book yourself a session with one of the commercial clay grounds and you can get a feel for what shooting ranges over here are like and you'll get some one on one coaching as well because those folk don't let anyone out without a qualified staff member.

thanks alot Stevie much obliged

Longranger

beeroclock wrote: »

To be honest as soon as I re-read your post I was thinking god knows how many people have come into this forum on their high horses casting dispersion's on shooting so I totally understand where you are coming from. From reading the replies I couldn't agree more with "we are not gun-toting lunatics" and the responses have been very insightful to an outsider

You didn't insult me in the slightest and if the opportunity ever arose I think Id like to give it a lash

Thanks!

Fair play:)thanks for the reply. I hope that some day you will take the chance to pick up a firearm and see how much fun it is and how easy and safe it is also. If I can ever answer any questions for you please don't hesitate to ask.
All the best.
LR

beeroclock

Longranger wrote: »

Fair play:)thanks for the reply. I hope that some day you will take the chance to pick up a firearm and see how much fun it is and how easy and safe it is also. If I can ever answer any questions for you please don't hesitate to ask.
All the best.
LR

Thanks alot

German pointer

and we are all lovey dovey again, awh.:):):)

Spunk84

:eek::eek: no infractions, no bannings and no thread closed, how has it come to this!!!

Longranger

Spunk84 wrote: »

:eek::eek: no infractions, no bannings and no thread closed, how has it come to this!!!

As Van the man said"wouldn't it be great ie it was like this all the time"

Grizzly 45

We must be losing our touch!!!:D

Spunk84

It's all down hill now we will be out on anti rallies next lol

German pointer

Spunk84 wrote: »

It's all down hill now we will be out on anti rallies next lol

On your own on that one:eek::eek:

German pointer

Had the young girl out the other day (7 years old) for her first day shooting rabbits and she loved it :D She can't wait to go again but the nicest thing about it she said was when we BBQ them;)

BadGirl

Husband came in recently with some pigeon decoys he had bought, little fella (4) was looking at these with great interest, then he says 'Hey Dad, when are we eating them?'

Both of ours have been at clayshoots, they watch their dad and me butchering and cleaning meat (and fish) and equate the animals that he shoots with what they are eating They are well used to seeing the guns around the house etc, i'd rather them know, and have respect for the firearms instead of being curious and wanting to see what they do...

They haven't been out shooting with him yet, but thats purely because they are 2 of the loudest children ever to grace the face of this earth and have no understanding of being quiet! It will happen though.

shooter88

I think its a great idea getting kids involved in guns from a early age so they automatically know how to use and respect properly as my father done with me again I was old enough to own a gun I was familiar with proper practice as I hope my kids will..anti gun ppl always shoving opinions at shooters do they know the inhumane way the animals and produce are kept before it arrives nicely wrapped on a shelf nothing like the real meat we eat from hunting

tac foley

beeroclock wrote: »

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in shooting guns (apart from a stag party where we went to a Prague shooting range I have never shot weapons) and though I am shocked at the notion of bringing kids along to a hunt etc, I read with interest the comments here. I know nothing of this activity and wouldn't want a loaded weapon within a mile or me let alone my son and I'm sure its "safe" etc I do not for a minute understand the notion of children and lethal weapons

But like I said I know nothing of this activity so I read with interest as an outsider

It's good that you can see and read about shooting activities on an open forum like this one - where none of us actually have anything to hide or be ashamed of in our pursuit of our legal sport.

Of course, you are as entitled to hold your opinion, just as we are, and I have to tell you that shooting sports are actually the safest participation sport of anything carried out indoors or outdoors, simply because of the training and self-awareness that, of necessity, forms a major part of it. Of course, we are not shooting 'weapons' here - 'weapons' are, by definition, used to carry out war-like activities. Soldiers have weapons. We sportsmen have firearms and we shoot our firearms under the full permission of the many restrictive laws that we all have to obey in order to shoot them at all. Of all citizens, we are the least likely to commit any form of crime - how else are we to be trusted with firearms if we do?

Unlike many other sports where people regularly die or are horrifically maimed or crippled for life - horse-riding comes to mind, as does racing around on motor-cycles - both sports or hobbies with a horrific record of harming the participants - I can't actually recall the last time a shooting sportsman or woman was actually injured by a gun in Ireland. Please feel free to check me out here.

As for teaching youngsters to shoot at an early age, think of it this way. Every youngster here is being taught a sport that requires -

1. A complete awareness of all aspects of safe handling.

2. Concentration and application of the skills required to actually carry it out.

3. Respect for other human beings and the wildlife that becomes the target.

4. And a healthy respect for other people's property and a sense of responsiblity that comes with the handling of what can, in untrained and uncaring hands, be a dangerous device.

In the fullness of time, there can be no doubt that that youngster will become a better citizen for all that I have noted above.

Like many of us here, I started shooting young - with me at it was at age six, and now, at 66, I'm looking back on a lifetime of enjoyment that has always accompanied my shooting sports. I've met some wonderful people who have been a privilege to know, and many of them all over the world are close friends that I know I can trust and have relied upon over the years.

Unlike sitting crouched up in a corner in front of a TV screen with thumbs flashing over a zombie game on a Nintendo, these youngsters are getting to know a world in which they will become responsible adults, with a full appreciation of makes life worth bothering about.

My $0.02.

tac

shooter88

tac foley wrote: »

beeroclock wrote: »

I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in shooting guns (apart from a stag party where we went to a Prague shooting range I have never shot weapons) and though I am shocked at the notion of bringing kids along to a hunt etc, I read with interest the comments here. I know nothing of this activity and wouldn't want a loaded weapon within a mile or me let alone my son and I'm sure its "safe" etc I do not for a minute understand the notion of children and lethal weapons

But like I said I know nothing of this activity so I read with interest as an outsider

It's good that you can see and read about shooting activities on an open forum like this one - where none of us actually have anything to hide or be ashamed of in our pursuit of our legal sport.

Of course, you are as entitled to hold your opinion, just as we are, and I have to tell you that shooting sports are actually the safest participation sport of anything carried out indoors or outdoors, simply because of the training and self-awareness that, of necessity, forms a major part of it. Of course, we are not shooting 'weapons' here - 'weapons' are, by definition, used to carry out war-like activities. Soldiers have weapons. We sportsmen have firearms and we shoot our firearms under the full permission of the many restrictive laws that we all have to obey in order to shoot them at all. Of all citizens, we are the least likely to commit any form of crime - how else are we to be trusted with firearms if we do?

Unlike many other sports where people regularly die or are horrifically maimed or crippled for life - horse-riding comes to mind, as does racing around on motor-cycles - both sports or hobbies with a horrific record of harming the participants - I can't actually recall the last time a shooting sportsman or woman was actually injured by a gun in Ireland. Please feel free to check me out here.

As for teaching youngsters to shoot at an early age, think of it this way. Every youngster here is being taught a sport that requires -

1. A complete awareness of all aspects of safe handling.

2. Concentration and application of the skills required to actually carry it out.

3. Respect for other human beings and the wildlife that becomes the target.

4. And a healthy respect for other people's property and a sense of responsiblity that comes with the handling of what can, in untrained and uncaring hands, be a dangerous device.

In the fullness of time, there can be no doubt that that youngster will become a better citizen for all that I have noted above.

Like many of us here, I started shooting young - with me at it was at age six, and now, at 66, I'm looking back on a lifetime of enjoyment that has always accompanied my shooting sports. I've met some wonderful people who have been a privilege to know, and many of them all over the world are close friends that I know I can trust and have relied upon over the years.

Unlike sitting crouched up in a corner in front of a TV screen with thumbs flashing over a zombie game on a Nintendo, these youngsters are getting to know a world in which they will become responsible adults, with a full appreciation of makes life worth bothering about.

My $0.02.

tac

Here here

Feisar

slingshot88 wrote: »

my young fella is the same. mad about shooting he is nearly 5 now ,so wont belong untill he is headin out with me although herself is not to keen on it:rolleyes: be sure to keep us informed on how he gets on and enjoy your day out

She may not be keen on it but it's great bonding. Some of my earliest memories are of traipsing around after Dad out rough shooting pheasants with my pair of blue wellies. I invariably end up in a drain and he'd heel out my wellies and give me his socks.

slingshot88

Feisar wrote: »

She may not be keen on it but it's great bonding. Some of my earliest memories are of traipsing around after Dad out rough shooting pheasants with my pair of blue wellies. I invariably end up in a drain and he'd heel out my wellies and give me his socks.

im workin on it the whole time:) had herself out lamping and at a few targets a couple of times so she is starting to see its not so bad and as tac said there is far more dangerous sports out there so im expecting to get the go ahead any day now:D

Feisar

shooter88 wrote: »

I think its a great idea getting kids involved in guns from a early age so they automatically know how to use and respect properly as my father done with me again I was old enough to own a gun I was familiar with proper practice as I hope my kids will..anti gun ppl always shoving opinions at shooters do they know the inhumane way the animals and produce are kept before it arrives nicely wrapped on a shelf nothing like the real meat we eat from hunting

At work one of the lads I know and knows I do a bit of shooting asked me would I be after the deer. I said I would and would be bringing the .308 out, checking zero and firing a shot out of it when out with the .22LR at various ranges to get confident. Not firing for groups but hitting a mark with the first shot. Another lad piped up about cruelty etc. I asked did he eat meat. He said he did. I told him to Google slaughter houses, chicken farms, foie gras and get back to me on the cruelty.

tac foley

Feisar wrote: »

Another lad piped up about cruelty etc. I asked did he eat meat. He said he did. I told him to Google slaughter houses, chicken farms, foie gras and get back to me on the cruelty.

After ten minutes in the average abbatoir, watching panicking sheep or cattle being herded into the stunning pens [according to one operator they have to be 'alive a bit to bleed out properly' - most people would become violent veggies.

With us, it's a single clean shot and instant off-switch with no suffering or stress to the animal concerned.

My one and only large beast took the shot and went straight down on his knees and never even twitched.

tac

German pointer

I was out today with a 7 year old girl, an almost 6 year old girl and a just gone 4 year old boy. We got lucky and got one rabbit. The moral of the story is when you are bringing out small kids bring them one at a time. They will have no one to fight with and so be quite.

meathstevie

BadGirl wrote: »

Husband came in recently with some pigeon decoys he had bought, little fella (4) was looking at these with great interest, then he says 'Hey Dad, when are we eating them?'

Both of ours have been at clayshoots, they watch their dad and me butchering and cleaning meat (and fish) and equate the animals that he shoots with what they are eating They are well used to seeing the guns around the house etc, i'd rather them know, and have respect for the firearms instead of being curious and wanting to see what they do...

They haven't been out shooting with him yet, but thats purely because they are 2 of the loudest children ever to grace the face of this earth and have no understanding of being quiet! It will happen though.

Don't talk to me, only a few weeks ago the youngest lad ( 7 and mad as pish ) managed to fall flat on his face in a drain full of water next to a field full of ripe wheat while I was trying to shoot a few pigeons...suffise to say that trying was what I was it. Poor lad never worked it out that the "nanny McPhee cane" he found in the drain was rotten as can be. He found out when it broke and he went flat on his face...couldn't do nothing strip off his clothes, wrap him up in my fleece, carry him to the pick up and go back for the decoys... .Ach well a bit of craic for all...the brother and sister still call him "granny McSplash".

German pointer

I ment to put these up a while back. Some photos of my seven year old after a walk with the shotgun.

BigBoi83

About 2r3 years ago we took my 8 year old nephew out for bunnies... We had a bambi moment with the 1st rabbit, but after a little explaining he quickly came round...to be honest i think it was more just shock off how sudden it all happend for him, alas he hasnt much interest in the whole thing anymore sport aint his thing :-(