7 pro tips for getting kids excited about hunting and shooting

#1 STARTING POINT

Before young people can head afield as hunters, they must first learn to shoot and earn a government hunter education certificate. In Canada, there are age restrictions on hunting, but not on shooting firearm or bows, so it’s up to parents or guardians to determine when a young person is ready to give it a try. With close supervision and instruction, it’s been my experience that many young people are ready long before reaching legal hunting age. Despite their slight physical stature, my two daughters were mature enough to understand instruction, recognize consequences and follow safety rules by the age of 10. My youngest, Paige, shot her first duck when she was 13, and had the unique privilege of taking a springbok at age 10 in Africa, where there is no minimum age for hunters.