How to get your kids into game shooting - Part 1 - laying the foundations

It is the dream of every shooting parent to be able to enjoy days out shooting with their children. After all, so many of us had our introduction to this wonderful lifestyle at the knee of our parents and grandparents, and since those days were often the most memorable of our childhoods, it is only natural that we want our kids to experience them too. What's more, if you start them young, there's a good chance they'll be hooked for life.

As a newish Dad myself, this is something I have been giving a certain amount of thought to, and I quickly realised that there's a lot to consider. Because this is such a big subject - and such an important one - I've decided to break it down into two articles - the first focussing on the years before they pick up a gun, and the second on the transition into the gun line.

Beating is the perfect introduction to game shooting for kids

Some of my earliest memories are of days out beating on the farm shoot. The cold toes and the icy fingers were largely ignored because, well, what small child doesn’t like marching through a wood or patch of cover whacking things with a stick and making a loud noise? I suppose at this stage I was probably about five or six, but there’s no reason that a little-un in possession of a pair of wellies and some warm,waterproof clothes couldn't go out for at least part of the day. In fact, for the really dedicated, the kids don’t even have to be walking - there are lots of backpacks and chestpacks that smaller tots could be carried around in. 

But, taking small kids anywhere requires plenty of planning and forethought, and all it takes is one bad experience for kids to be put off for life. Not having direct experience of taking kids beating myself, I spoke to Charlie Day - aka @the.country.mum on Instagram - who seems to have got it nailed, and also to my own mother.

My Mum told me that the key was to make sure that everyone was always having fun. "We would get another family along for the day with their kids so there were always a few children the same age," she said, adding that making sure that we were always dry and warm (insofar as was possible) was the other golden rule.

Where there's a will there's a way when it comes to getting kids into the shooting lifestyle

Charlie Day beats at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire, taking her two kids along for the ride, the youngest quite literally, since she's ferried around the shoot in a chest pack. I've always been impressed to see such young children apparently relishing a day's beating, so to find out how she does it, I asked her what things people need to consider before heading out beating with the kids in tow. She echoed my Mum's advice on getting the right clothing.

Make sure children enjoy shoot days by keeping them comfortable

"Keeping my two warm and dry is an absolute must. They both have fully waterproof snowsuits, hats and gloves, even if these do spend most of the time in my pockets!" She adds that keeping spirits and energy levels high is also key: "Snacks are an absolute must. If you think you’ve put enough snacks in your pockets, put more in because you’re going to need them! A sports bottle of some kind with a drink is ideal too. The other thing I'd suggest is you take is a packet of wipes, no matter how the kids are, because I can guarantee you they will fall face-first into the mud at elevenses and then need to be cleaned up before they can have a sausage." 

For the most part, Charlie’s Instagram feed looks pretty idyllic; rosie-cheeked ankle-biters and big smiles. But I’m not naive enough to suppose that the reality is always as perfect as it appears. 

Be prepared to do some heavy lifting if you plan on taking toddlers beating!

"It was a million times easier when Beau, my eldest who is now three and a half, stayed on my back all day," admits Charlie, "but now he’s full of sass and independence and wants to walk rather than be carried. On paper this sounds great, but in reality I spend the day looking behind me, telling him he needs to hurry up and running back to throw him over my shoulder to avoid him getting left behind!"

It is never too early for to take your kids out beating!

Impressively, Charlie was out beating last season with her baby daughter, which presents challenges all of an entirely different kind. Charlie explained:

Arabella is now six months old, but first came out with me in the beating line when she was only eight weeks old. At that age all they want to do is sleep, so a couple of emergency nappies, a packet of wipes, her carrier and snow suit is all we need. She’s breastfed, making it much easier as I don’t have to worry about bottles. I’ll usually give her a feed in the barn before we load up, another at elevenses and then again when we get back to the yard.

Credit: Andrew Cavanagh

As kids get older, things get somewhat easier, though you still need to make sure that they’re warm, dry and well fed and watered… a bit like their parents, really. They love the feeling of being part of the team, and of having a 'job' to do.

If you belong to a syndicate, this is an ideal place to start them off beating. Older kids could even be dropped off in the care of a trusted and experienced beater while you enjoy a day on the peg, but if you don’t belong to a syndicate, put the call out among local shoots - private farm shoots are usually happy to get beaters along.

The transitioning your kids from beaters to guns

There will most likely come a time when a kid who has been beating for a few years, watching Mummy and Daddy enjoying days in the gun line, is going to want to graduate from beater to gun. However, to really get things right it is worth taking your time - there are several steps along this road, and it pays to get started early. Get this right and it will provide an excellent foundation upon which to build when they're old enough to hold a gun.

Observation and teaching children the etiquette of game shooting

If you’re taking the kids beating on a day that you are shooting, invite them to rest their legs for a drive or two by standing with you on the peg. This provides a fantastic opportunity for them to see the action from ‘the other side of the line’ and to get a feel for how a drive unfolds. Plus you get a loader for a drive who you don't have to tip. Kids being kids, you’ll no doubt be bombarded with questions, ranging from “what sort of bird is that?” to “why did you miss that one?”

Credit: Andrew Cavanagh

In researching this article, I also spoke to my own father to get his take on this key stage in a young gun’s development. “I think the opportunity to stand with a parent or grandparent on the peg before ever picking up a gun is key,” he said, explaining:

By spending time watching you shoot, prospective young shots get their first introduction to - and understanding of - the etiquette of game shooting. As a parent you can explain not only about safe shooting, but ‘sporting’ shooting, so that long before they’re in the line they understand what they should and should not shoot at and why, respect for the quarry and the importance of clean kills,  marking pricked birds and all that sort of thing.

An afternoon in the pigeon hide can also serve as a great learning opportunity - a chance to pick up some fieldcraft, observe nature, and to develop an understanding that driven birds aren't the be-all-and-end-all of shooting.

Dad also had one more key piece of advice: “Whatever you do, don’t try to teach your kids to shoot yourself. Leave that to the expert instructors.”

But that's a topic that deserves an entire article of its own. Keep an eye out for part two coming soon, when we'll look at shooting lessons, live quarry shooting and how to pick the right shotgun and cartridge combinations for kids.

READ MORE: Part two: Your kids' first game days - how to prepare