Zach rocking a squirrel

**0rion** · 10-25-2011, 07:08 PM

Went out today with the kids squirrel hunting. Zach actually shot his first one last year but just knocked it out of the tree and it took off. I had to chase it down and shoot it again. This one was a solo shot to the head. I grabbed him straight out of school so he didn't have his boots or anything like that on. I was gonna let him finish it but figured he'd get nabbed in the leg or something. Next time.

**wileyCoyote** · 10-25-2011, 08:35 PM

congrats!

...getting the young ones out to learn hunting >>>> sitting around playing video games!

**0rion** · 10-26-2011, 10:40 AM

he's hooked......we shoot in the backyard from time to time but hitting targets is nothing compared to hitting something you can eat. That 410 is a fairly useless gun other than to teach someone on. I started out with a 12 gauge but I was a little older and a lot bigger than he is. Next year or the year after I'll move him up to a 20 gauge....depending on his size and skill level. He's already a pretty good shot with his pellet gun so giving him the 22 should be pretty seamless. I just don't want him handling a rifle in the woods at his age......has another couple years before I turn him loose with the 22.

**Zinergy** · 10-26-2011, 11:25 AM

.410 is a bit useless unless shooting a man in the chest from 15 yards away. 20 guage is a great gun for ages 10 and up IMO.

**0rion** · 10-26-2011, 11:35 AM

yep..... 20 gauge actually has a better slug trajectory than a 12 gauge plus it's lighter to carry. He's just not ready for a gun that big yet. This 410 is perfect for his body size and age. Chloe will also get to use it so the gun will get put to good use. I'm hoping that in 2 years he'll be ready to deer hunt with a 20 gauge. They have a special youth gun weekend here that's right at the tail end of the rut. It'll be a good opportunity for him to get in the woods and start putting real meat in the freezer. He sat with me last gun season one day and got to see me kill a small doe so he's seen it done.....just have to get him taught to do it himself. I'm actually dreading when he's ready to bowhunt because that's my time. I'll show him but he will get the sink or swim lesson on that. Here's a bow, here's a stand, now wait.

**Zinergy** · 10-26-2011, 01:49 PM

We have youth hunts here in WI aswell. My cousins are taking part in them this year. Devin has already shot a deer, his younger brother dillon has not. Both are great shots with rilfes, pistols and shotguns far better than I was at that age. Dillon is 11 or 12 and has won many awards for trap shooting, he uses a 12 guage 870. He shot 4 25s this past year which are perfect scores and became the youngest person in club history to shoot a 25. The club was formed in the 40s.

**Sweet Chops** · 10-31-2011, 09:43 AM

Very cool.
I remember squirrel hunting with my dad. Even if we didn't get to shoot it was a great time. I started with a .22.

**Zinergy** · 10-31-2011, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Sweet Chops

Very cool.
I remember squirrel hunting with my dad. Even if we didn't get to shoot it was a great time. I started with a .22.

Me too, same .22 my dad started with. Single shot, bolt action rifle lol

**0rion** · 10-31-2011, 09:31 PM

I started with a 12 gauge....serious hunting that is. I shot pellet guns from the time I could walk. My dad didn't hunt.....actually no one in my family really hunted much. I had a couple uncles that did every once in a while but not seriously. My best friend's dad and uncles got me started. I borrowed one of their 12 gauges and that was it. Mom and dad bought me one for x-mas the next year or two ( which I still have) and I've been hunting ever since.
My grandpa used to say I just had it in my blood. He was half indian and grew up hunting but was too old really to do it when I was growing up....he knew a lot about the woods in general though and showed me a ton of stuff when I was a kid. He used to say I just had "the luck". I was always the kid to get deer, turkey, and pretty much anything we all hunted before everyone else. Still that way to a point. I don't do it every year but most years I out hunt everyone around here. Most of that is because I spend more time in the woods than they do but it's where I feel I'm at home. On a guess I'd say I have 30 or so deer kills with 20 or more using my bow. Keep in mind I didn't start bow hunting until the mid 90's. I have a great wife that understands how important it is to me and she's never said one word about me going hunting instead of being here during the fall. She even takes her vacations so I can go. I leave Friday to go spend 11 days in the woods with my bow. Can't wait until Zach is old enough to do it with me if he has the desire.