# Little gunner boy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899 "2011-12-31T01:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/21 "2011-12-31T18:57:51Z")
The best way to deal with coyote problems is to get roadrunners. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/22 "2011-12-31T18:58:24Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > They hunt in packs. I’ve heard they are pretty crafty and will use one 'yote to lure a dog into chasing it into the brush where the rest of the pack is waiting. > > They can mate with dogs I believe. > > I’ve also heard thier prefered prey is mice, rabbits and squirrels. I am definitely not a coyote expert. I’ve heard about the “bait” thing too, but from I’ve observed I’d think there would be a problem convincing the lure to do his part. Especially if the dog is large like a shepherd or lab etc. Perpetual puppies and purse dogs would be a different story. A story goes that groundskeepers on golf courses used to encourage coyotes to visit. I do know that they enjoy a nice fat gopher now and then. I’m no expert either, but it may be obvious that I have an affinity for them. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/23 "2011-12-31T19:10:14Z")
This thread was inspired by a post on another board by a dad seeking advice about what to do about a six y/o who could hold a bb gun (a youth version) okay, but couldn’t cock the lever or easily reach or squeeze the trigger. I suggested maybe an airsoft, but after some thought I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to simoly wait until the kid grew a little more. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/24 "2011-12-31T19:11:28Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > That would be mostly _little_ pets, right? I hear they like to mate with larger dogs but I don’t know if that’s true. Where I grew up it was mostly cats. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/25 "2011-12-31T19:21:17Z")
> [@FlyByNight512](#): > > Where I grew up it was mostly cats. I don’t think coyotes can mate with cats. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/26 "2011-12-31T19:24:32Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t think coyotes can mate with cats. As food. Get your mind out of the gutter. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/27 "2011-12-31T23:41:05Z")
Originally Posted by mangeorge That would be mostly little pets, right? I hear they like to mate with larger dogs but I don’t know if that’s true. Originally Posted by FlyByNight512 Where I grew up it was mostly cats. Originally Posted by TriPolar I don’t think coyotes can mate with cats. Originally Posted byFlyByNight512 As food. Get your mind out of the gutter. (Whew, that was wotk) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/28 "2012-01-07T13:29:51Z")
I’ve been pondering (in the back of my mind) about the gun for the last week or so. This morning I saw a program on the tube about remodeling a six year old boy’s bedroom. I must say I’m just a little uncomfortable about a kid that age and physical size using a gun, even under close supervision. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/29 "2012-01-09T12:26:54Z")
The question should be, is there any overwhelming reason that children NEED to use bb guns in the first place ? If its all about fun then there are plenty of other ways for them to enjoy themselves. I’ve never come across a private weapons owner who wasn’t convinced that he was an expert with his weapon, and was a good enough teacher to pass on all his supposed expertise, not to mention his also supposed mature self responsibility on to his kids. Unfortunately many of them have self assesments that are very far from the truth. And no, regular firing at static targets down a range does not make you anywhere near an expert. This applys to air weapons just as much as to bona fide firearms. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/30 "2012-01-09T17:59:08Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I’ve never come across a private weapons owner who wasn’t convinced that he was an expert with his weapon, and was a good enough teacher to pass on all his supposed expertise, not to mention his also supposed mature self responsibility on to his kids. You have now and I can introduce you to a few hundred others. I’m good enough to be alive for now and feed myself a little in a serious pinch, and I have been an hunter education and safety instructor for over 30 years. Expert? No way. To pass on what little I have to a kid or make him learn it? Forget about it. But I know football and basketball coaches and instructors who say the same thing. It comes down partly to your first line. Does the kid have the need and dersire to learn to shoot? Or play football? Or play chess? Do they find it rewarding? If he/she does my job is already half done. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/31 "2012-01-09T19:16:37Z")
I’d say 6-10 under close supervision, but so much of it depends on the maturity and interest of the kid that it’s basically impossible to make a blanket suggestion that works. Regarding L4L’s “need” argument–if nothing else, my children will be getting the basic familiarization with firearms (unloading, safety, range rules, etc., including a demonstration of how badly they can damage ordinary household objects with something as small as a .22 or air rifle) before they are ever in a situation where they are visiting a house with firearms without me or my wife being there. That’s just plain and simple common sense for a rural person in a community where the relative percentage of firearms ownership is high. Hobbyist use of weapons (hunting, target shooting) is in the same league as any other dangerous sport or hobby–and believe me, I’m going to have enough trouble keeping them off my uncle’s four-wheelers and snowmobiles when their 2nd cousins are having a blast driving them unsafely at the same age–if the kid is interested, it’s FAR better to teach them the proper ways to do it and avoid as much risk/injury as possible, epecially if they’re going to have the ability to do it anyway when visiting friends or relatives outside of my supervision. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/32 "2012-01-09T19:49:56Z")
Good post, I’m inclined to agree with you, though it goes against my natural instincts. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/33 "2012-01-09T20:12:46Z")
Here are the ages / rules for the Boy Scouts as a point of reference: Boy Scouts of America allows Wolf Scouts (2nd graders in Cub Scouts) to shoot bb guns under supervision. Once a Boy Scout (6th grade / 11 years old) they can shoot .22s and shotguns under supervision. In Venturing (14 and out of 8th grade) handguns and all calibers of rifles are added. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899/34 "2012-01-10T18:04:49Z")
My son first fired a BB gun last year, at age 5. That said, not all BB guns are created equal. The item we used was a single pump, spring loaded type. Very low velocity. Wouldn’t puncture denim at close range. Other types of BB/pellet guns operate at much higher velocities and can be used to hunt small game. One of those, I would not let him fire until he is at least 8 - and that depends on my assessment of his maturity when that time comes. There’s no such thing as “too young” when it comes to firearm/projectile weapon safety. And safety instruction doesn’t need to include firing a weapon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-gunner-boy/607899.md?page=1)