First turkey gun

[nickhrp]

How old was your child when you let them first attempt turkey hunting and what gun did you start them with I'm wanting to start my daughter shooting but afraid she is too little just curious to when y'all started your kids

[Will]

My son was 11 and used a youth Remjngton 11-87 20 gauge. He had already taken geese, ducks and squirrels prior to him taking a turkey with that gun. The following summer he shot a youth trap league and I was amazed as to how young and disciplined some of those kids were. My son was recoil shy with my single shot 20 but was very comfortable with the semi auto. Hope this helps

[Happy]

My son was 9 when he first went turkey hunting. We used a borrowed 410 pump and were limited to a 20 yard max range with that gun. He had already taken deer with a 223 and barnes handloads. We struggled getting birds in that close due to movement and once we had Jakes put on a 30 minute show at 30 yards but I just couldn't get them to break. He learned a lot those two years with that gun. Last year when he was 11 I bought him a mossberg bantam in 20 gauge. Set it up with a straight full choke aND #6 shot 2 3/4" high brass. We were good for 25 yards. 30 was pushing it for the pattern. All his experience from the previous years paid off and he took his first Longbeard at 23 yards. He is hooked now so I am getting serious with his gun. My main concern was making sure I didn't give him to much gun and then making him afraid to shoot it.

[chadly]

I started my oldest shooting at 5.  He shot a single shot .22 Cricket.  It was too big for him.  I took him turkey hunting when he was 6 and he missed.  He shot his first turkey when he was 7 and his first deer at 9.  He shot both with a youth 20ga pump.  In hind sight I'm probably not going to start my other children until they are older or absolutely begging me something silly to go.  Each child is different and willl start when they are ready.  As far as the kick I never let my son shoot the 20ga until he was shooting at game.  I knew he would not be impressed with the kick.  When he shot both animals I held the butt of the gun and the stock to reduce the recoil.  I did have him shooting regularly prior to hunting with his .22's. The kick of the gun gave my son a very slight bruise on his face when he shot it at age 6.  It did scare him a bit.  When he shot his deer this fall he got a very small bloody lip.  Although he did not notice.  Equal and opposite.  Guns kick. 

[Gawhitaker]

My son was  6 when he killed his first turkey with a single barrell 410, patterned great out to 25 yards with 3" 6-s, he used it until he was 13 and killed every one he pulled the trigger on. killed his first deer around that time with a youth model 7mm-08. Is agree that may be to young for some kids, but he was chomping at the bit

[nickhrp]

My daughter is 6 and honestly didn't want to tell her age in fear people would think I'm crazy she has turkey hunted with me first time she was three (hunting from blind) but has been going regularly since 4 and even helps with calling already yelping cutting with a box and yelping with a slate she seen me kill two but now getting a little mad cause I don't let her shoot she already shoots a compound bow and a good shot with her cricket .22 I want to get her a gun that will take a turkey have no clue what she might can handle I was thinking a 410 but no idea what load got a field pod dead shot thought from a blind I could get her one in close enough

[born2hunt]

I bought a Mossberg semi auto 20 last year for my kids. I put a pound of lead in the stock to reduce recoil and shot 2 3/4 low brass bird shot for practice. My oldest daughter  was 8 and held good patterns out to the loads limits . We came real close to getting her one but just not quite  . My other 2 kids were 4 and 6 and they even shot it with no complaints just lacked the form consistency for hunting.  Just pattern the turkey loads your self and save them the until the hunt, let the kids get confident with the light loads and they won't realize the difference in the woods.

[nickhrp]

Ok thanks for the input everybody I'm gonna get her a 410 and a 510 bantam weight mossberg 20 gauge