This one is for all you hunting dads (or moms) that are teaching your little ones to hunt.

My son will be four this June. I know it's still a little too early to be turning him loose with a firearm. The question is more about what age to start trying to teach him the responsibilities that go with owning a firearm.

I am also looking for some advice on how to get my wife, who has never cared for shooing "innocent" animals.

I meant to say, how to get my wife to go along with this.

I started teaching as soon as they could understand and keep teaching every time we go out , cause you know kids memory is short , as for the wife don't force it just keep taking her with you , after 20 years mine now thinks she may actualy want to shoot a pig

My thought is to take them when they are old enough to ask if they can go.

I feel if he can talk he can learn. If he's asking why not take him? He needs to make his own decissions (even though he's young it means alot to them) and this one will be one that ya'll will cherish forever!

My son started goin' w/ me in the field at 18 months. From that day forward he's been taggin' along. He kill his first animal at 5yrs old and hasn't stopped asking to go to the deer lease to shoot something.

My wife has tagged along only when we first got married over 16yrs ago. She has never went back out. I think our son will get her to go sometime this fall........I think.

She has made the comment that we need to do more family things.....my reply was that the 2 of us REALLY love to hunt and she could come along....the blinds are big enough.

Never pressure her or the son to do something.....it will only push them away faster.

My son was 2 1/2 when he pulled the trigger on a real firearm. Reason I say pull is because that's all he did. I held the guns for the most part and he pulled the trigger while aimed at a nearby stump.

Once he starts to show more interest it is time to keep it rollin'. A time or 2 at the rifle range w/ a .22 will do wonders. Especially w/ steel plates.

X2 on the gun range. Once the fever of shooting has taken over, the hunting part should come easy.

We started our son at the age of 4 with a Red Ryder BB gun, and with each passing year, just kept progressing further with more firepower.

He's 21 now and the best shot in the family. Also proud to say, a very safety conscious young man/responsible firearm owner.

It's never too early to start. A lot of it really has to depend on the maturity level of the child.

My oldest daughter was 4 when I started taking her with me. Got her used to the whole process..from sitting still and being quiet to filling feeders, cleaning your kill..etc. She's 16 now and still goes with me every chance she gets. My wife was all for it, her explanation being that if it means more quality, together time with your child then you are doing the right thing.

My sons started at 2 with a toy gun, then at 4 with a bb gun for a couple of years, then up from there. I made the mistake of putting up in calibers too fast and the recoil hurt him pretty good. That scared my oldest for a while. That was just as much the way he was holding it as the caliber I'm sure.

My 3 year old loves to shoot my .22 mag all day long. I just get him down in prone and hold the gun for him.

My son turns 4 in a few weeks and I am going to buy him his first BB gun. We are going to treat it like a 7mag. Clean it and all before putting it away.

I think I may get him a little Red Ryder or something along those lines when he turns four. Thanks guys for all your advice. I really appreciate it!

Cleaning is where I would start.. I see way to many people my age with guns in poor condition due to a lack of cleaning them. I agree with luckycharms get a bb gun and let him carry it with you when you guys are out and about. When you get home to clean the big boy toys sit him down with you and clean his pellet rifle. Glad to see your getting him involved in the outdoors!!