Post By: Flyfisher05 Posted: 6/30/2012 9:40:50 AM Points: 2
I've been fishing for years and and have taught my two boys (ages 14 and 12) how to fish ethically as well. We decided this year to try hunting, I've never hunted so I'm at a loss here. We started by going to the CDPW and got our hunters safety. But now I'm lost. where are some good places I can get affortable equipment and what to get because I'm gonna have to buy for three. so if anyone out there can help me and my boys get started I would really appreciate it. oh yeah and we live in the denver area.
Reply by: Jakers83 Posted: 6/30/2012 10:07:20 AM Points: 58
What is it that you want to hunt? Dyou want to hunt big game, small game, or birds? What is it that you think you need? Are you just wanting to know about guns and cleaning/field dressing stuff?
Reply by: Flyfisher05 Posted: 6/30/2012 10:17:49 AM Points: 2
I guess I'm looking for a place to start, I'd like to start with small game or even birds. I think that will give us the best chance at learning. which means I guess I need to know what type of guns and equipment to buy for that type of a hunt.
Reply by: bescho4 Posted: 6/30/2012 11:04:36 AM Points: 25
for birds you have to go shotgun obviously... and from there i would say depending on how old you kids are i would say a 410 or a 20 gauge for them and a 12 gauge for you... for small game you can use many things so again depending on what you plan to hunt
Reply by: Raskal Posted: 6/30/2012 11:15:17 AM Points: 840
Have a look at the Hunter Outreach program on the CPW site. It is designed for people like you who have kids and want to start hunting. The web site has a ton of information and you can sign up for hunts where the division of wildlife provides EVERYTHING (guns, guides, food, etc.).
Reply by: stowe Posted: 6/30/2012 11:20:16 AM Points: 88
I'd say if you kids are too small to shoot a 20 guage then you should probably look more into something like rabbits or squirrels with a .22lr. I'm sure there are people who love their .410s and I'm not saying they are wrong but, the price of .410 shells is stupid high for what you get and more importantly you are asking your kid to use what is really more of a specialized gun for an expirienced shooter (based on limited range and pattern). I don't know how much you are looking to spend starting out and I didn't see anything that says you do/do not need to buy guns but if you do need to buy guns for your kids I can tell you that walmart has (depending on location) both a youth sized mosberg 20 guage and a youth sized remington 870. I bought the mosberg for my wife (she's on the small size and the youth model fit her great) and I bought my son the 870 youth and I'd say you can't go wrong either way.
Reply by: OCwalleye Posted: 6/30/2012 11:23:46 AM Points: 199
I am 16 and I have been using a 20 gauge double barled side by side since I was 14/15 and I have been fine caring it thru miles and miles of corn, wheat, grass and etc for phesant. So I would get your kids a 20, not to much kick, not that heavy but can still drop a phesant in one shot . From small game a 22 is always good.
Reply by: OCwalleye Posted: 6/30/2012 11:28:21 AM Points: 199
Also, IMO your 12 and 14 year old can handle a 20. Especially now adays they can, my gun is 30/40 years old and is very heavy compared to my dads newer 12 that can hold twice as many shells. The kick is not to much to worry about, its the weight of carry it thru fields while bird hunting IMO. My sister is 11 and has shot mine since she was 8. She is also a lot tuffer than the boys her age we go with. She even rung a phesants neck my dog retrieved!!!!! While the boys were all scared haha. Now all she needs is her hunter safety.
Reply by: stowe Posted: 6/30/2012 11:45:52 AM Points: 88
Sorry just noticed that you listed their ages. I'd say 20 guage, no problem. My kid was a small 14 year old when he got his and loved it.
edit: I'd say pick up some shot guns and a clay pigeon launcher and go have a blast learning to track flying birds together. That's something hunting related (and fun) that you can do in the off season and it will improve your abillity to hit a moving target when you do hit the fields. Also if you think that you may want to use your shotgun on ducks I'd say go with a 12 guage otherwise there is no reason you can't use a 20 guage also. It would make buying shells easier as they would all fire the same round and a 20 guage is a great little shell.
Good for you Flyfisher!! A heartfelt thanks for not only joining the hunting world, but bringing your kids into it as well. We need every young person we can get to keep our traditions alive for the future.
Consider seeking out some hunting forums as well, like we have here on FxR but for hunters. It is a very open and friendly world, and there are many who will bend over backwards to help you out. You'll never see someone black out the background in a photo of their hunting trips.
Regardless of what you guys are going to hunt or your future plans ALL of you need to start putting in time, LOTS of time, with 22's at the range. It is the single best training tool available. The more you shoot properly, the better you become. Even if you have been hunting/shooting for 60 years, you can always be better. Plus its fun and very economical.
Personally, I'd start out with bolt action, even single shot bolt action, 22's. Yes most shoot semi-auto, but its best to learn to make every single shot count, every time, and not count on quick back ups. Don't need to get fancy or expensive either. Ruger, Savage, Marlin and CZ all make very nice, accurate, reliable and affordable bolt action .22's. Since you want to start bird hunting I'd strongly suggest open sight 22's which can be scoped later. Learn to use the open sights, learn breath control, learn proper shooting form.
When you guys start looking into shotguns, there is a world of options out there for everyone. Some will prefer an over/under, some a pump, some a semi-auto...all personal choice. Best bet for full sized guns (shot guns or centerfire rifles if you guys decide to take up big game hunting) is to physically go handle as many as possible at the store. Everyone will "fit & feel" different to every gun. The best fit is going to be the best choice regardless of action type.
It is great that you are getting your kids into hunting. There will def be many memories that will last forever in your family. For cheap gear I would look at craiglist, I have bought many things that are new for half price. Guns I would find someone who knows about them and go visit pawn shops, you can get some great deals on shotguns and rifles. Just make sure to thoroughly check them over. Most importantly, have fun!!
My first gun was a 22 / 410 over and under.My second was a Remimington 870 Wingmaster 410. From the years Daddy took me hunting, I appreciated the smaller caliber (single shot over the pump) because I learned fast that you have but one shot to put dinner on the table. The over/under let me know I have that but one shot The 870 is really nice, because I could correct my shooting error and have another shot. I guess it was about shooting skills. On Dove opener, you'll see me in the field with the 870 / 410, my age and health earned me a spot as a blocker for pheasants, and I'll be there with my 410. Agreed, the cost of the shells, but the sport of it and being able to pass that on to your children is priceless, and the skill of shooting, the priceless look on their faces knowing they fed the family..........
go to a shooting range like cherry creek, rent some guns to see what you like, I dont think your kids would have a problem shooting 12 gauges, bird shot will not provide too much kick for a teenager, once you know what you like look up budsguns.com , they have some great prices.
The Rossi Trifecta is a great all around gun but try and do research on guns youre thinking about. For camo and other things try ebay and craigs list, Go to the DOW and talk to rangers they will be very helpful when trying to find a spot to hunt certain animals
I think it is great that you are getting your boys and yourself into hunting. Some of my fondest memories are hunting birds with my dad. And might I say there is nothing more exciting than walking in on a dog on point. I have participated in the youth waterfowl hunt the last six years with a buddy of mine and his boys and friends. Good Times are to be had. Wish you luck.
As others have mentioned, it really depends on what you want to hunt. Unfortunately,the reality is that the bigger question is WHERE you can go to hunt. There are a lot of opportunites for the youth if you know where to look, so I would start with the DOW to find those special hunts. But without those special opportunites, or paying to belong to a private hunting club, or to have private land to hunt, then you are in the mix with the rest of us. So that means fighting the crowds to hunt the open Walk In Program for pheasants, trying to beat the dial-in system on Mondays to reserve a waterfowl hunting zone for the state wildife areas along the I-76 corridor 2 weeks in advance, or being part of the orange Army in the national forest for the big game seasons. But to be honest that is what you need to expect when hunting the public areas with the rest of us. I dont want to give you all that doom and gloom, but I will finish by saying that there are places and opportunites out there that have good hunting opportunites, and youl need to do is keep asking questions and looking for help, because there are a lot of us out here that are more that willing to help out.
Good thread guys even for a fishing forum LOL. Good luck to you and your boys and be safe especially on public lands :) I've not hunted CO yet but enjoyed it very much in MI where I am from.
Reply by: Ajax5240 Posted: 7/2/2012 12:23:16 AM Points: 154
I know it has been said but safety... X1,000,0000
The next thing to really look at is budget.. Kids can be tough when there is limited success and action from my experience.
Waterfowl (Ducks & Geese) is some of the most fun, but incredibly expensive to do well. Sure you can get a dozen cheap decoys and go to some public land and maybe shoot a, and I mean A duck... Once you really get hooked you have $10k+ into the decoys, then a few grand a year for land leases, or a club... Not trying to scare you off, just the facts.. and yes.. a 20ga is fine for your boys, id look at a single shot or 870 pump to start.
Pheasant, you need dogs.. Or a friend with dogs... not any dog, a good, trained upland dog.. Like kids, they aint cheap.. And you need access to the land that has the birds... and it isn't very plentiful in CO...
Big game, is probably the easier to get into. You could do it with a rifle, warm clothes, good boots, and a knife.. Granted we all take a lot more than that to elk camp with us... but you don't need decoys, a dog, and there is sufficient public land to have success.. Lots of patience though... And big game meat is a lot better than goose....
Personal suggestion.. for anything other than the big game... Book a guided hunt or two. The guides generally do a great job laying down the safety rules, and politely remind you of them when the excitement gets you going. And you will see some great success most of the time.. The $200/hunter price compared to the cost of owning the gear and having the land... is an easy one to swallow.. And they set up and pick up the decoys... thats pretty nice..
Same with upland (pheasant, etc) take the kids on a Road trip, get a guided hunt and have a blast... otherwise you may spend the day walking through waist deep brush to not even fire a shot..
All in all, the time in the outdoors with friends and family is the true trophy. But we all like having success for us or the kids as well... Keep em safe, take it slow, and enjoy every minute...
And beware of the waterfowl hunting... its addicting... and your wife will kill you if you buy your two kids a goose or duck call...
