11 Year Old - Starting Deer Hunting - Questions

**MMH** · September 3rd, 2010, 11:04 PM

Want to start my 11 year old boy deer hunting & have a couple of questions:

Where can I get him in a hunters safety course? I'm in Murrysville, PA

I'm thinking about having him use my 700 SPS Tactical in .308 Win & reduced recoil loads. Would this be an OK choice?

I do not think that he will be able to shoot offhand, so will build a deerstand big enough for me & him w/ a rail so he can shoot w/the rifle fore end supported on the rail.

Comments?

**bionicskip** · September 3rd, 2010, 11:41 PM

I can't help with the hunter safety course but I can confirm your choice of the .308 reduced recoil load. A nine year old, a mentored hunter, used a Remington pump .270 with reduced recoil loads and he was able to handle it quite well with minimal recoil. It was equiped with a youth stock. The stand is a great idea and the rest will increase his confidence

**Arch007er** · September 4th, 2010, 06:57 AM

I prolly wouldn't start him off with a .308, I would have probably done a .243 rem. youth, but if the kid is big enough it might not be a problem. The rest is a good idea, hell who wouldn't like one. Another thing I would do is get him a little pellet gun with a scope and turn him loose on some birds, cans, whatever. I can say that shooting pellet/bb guns really helped with my shooting when I was young

**Dredly** · September 4th, 2010, 07:08 AM

I'm not sure how big your 11 year old, but the SPS Tac may be too long for him to shoulder and fire without sitting at a bench?

a reduced load .308 should be fine... but that rifle may be to big for em

**MMH** · September 4th, 2010, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by Arch007er

I prolly wouldn't start him off with a .308, I would have probably done a .243 rem. youth, but if the kid is big enough it might not be a problem. The rest is a good idea, hell who wouldn't like one. Another thing I would do is get him a little pellet gun with a scope and turn him loose on some birds, cans, whatever. I can say that shooting pellet/bb guns really helped with my shooting when I was young

He will be practicing w/ my RWS 34 'pellet gun'. This is a full size (stock size & 8 lbs.) air rifle. This will show me how well he can hit as well as access if the full size stock will be OK for him or not. He is about 4'11" and a stocky (115 lbs., plays linebacker) kid - I hope he does not need a youth stock but we will see.

**ForwardAssist** · September 4th, 2010, 08:13 AM

If you have an android phone download an ballistics app named "shooter lite". It's perfect for working a tree stand. You point the phone at your target and it captures the angle, downloads local atmospheric data, and informs you of your correction. Kids love tech anyway.

**thefirstndsecond** · September 4th, 2010, 08:17 AM

Well practicing with an air rifle is good for basics... he or she should also practice with what ever they are going to hunt with.

As for the hunters safety courses -

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/portal/se...unity/pgc/9106

http://www.pfsc.org/

check these two sites.

.308 is fine. I started with an 06. It has to fit.

Ground or tree stand I think you have to stay with him or her.
Read the regs and understand them.

Have fun and take pictures.