When the time comes that youngsters go from tag-alongs to actual hunters, it is important they learn gun safety and that they are given the right gun for the hunt. (Steve Knight/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

I recently had my oldest grandson out blinking with a .22. Connor is 8, but none of the guns I own fit him well enough to actually hunt, but there is nothing wrong with shooting a few targets at that age.

It was my first time to be on the range with him, so we started out by me learning a few things about him, and him learning a few things about the rifle and what I expected of him any time he has a gun in his hand.

The first thing I learned is that the right-hander is left-eyed dominant. I realized it the same way I learned my youngest son was a lefty when it came to shooting, he rested his right check on the butt stock to aim down the barrel and then leaned way over to use his left eye.

Just to make sure I put him through the diamond test where I had him make a diamond shape opening with thumb and pointer fingers, then look through it with one eye closed and then the other to see which way he saw best. Yep, he has left-handed guns in his future.

With that figured out, we began to talk about the gun and how he was to handle it when he was resting, and when he was on the line shooting. Whether loaded or not, the gun was to be pointed at the ground or up in the air in a safe direction. Add to that his finger was never to be on the trigger unless he was ready to shoot.

Like most kids Connor has grown up with Nerf guns and there was never a worry about where the gun was aimed. I talked to him on occasion about how he handled the toy gun, but how serious could you take it being pointed at you.

The .22 was different. In my world there is no “don’t do that again” when it comes to handling a gun, loaded or unloaded. If you are cleaning a gun and someone walks by you make sure the barrel is pointed away from them or tilt it toward the ground. Yes, it’s a little extreme, but I have written too many stories about shooting accidents over the years.

The good news is the kid got it, and not once after we first talked did I ever have to get on him about careless handling. To be honest, I was prouder of that then the shots he made.

With Christmas approaching there are going to be some kids who find their first gun under the tree. People who do not hunt probably will not agree, but I think it’s a great Christmas present for youngsters who have the hunting or competitive shooting bug.

A big question for parents is probably how old is old enough to buy that first gun. My answer has always been that age is not as important as size and maturity. I do not care how old they are because if they cannot shoulder the gun properly, and are not mature enough to handle it properly and understand what hunting actually is, then maybe it is best to wait a year or so.

There are a lot of youth model guns out there that might fit smaller kids, but with the exception of a .22 the light-weight, cut-down youth models often kick like the proverbial mule.

The good news is that about the time a child is ready to hunt they are old enough to take a hunter safety course. While the easiest way to take the course is on-line, as someone who has taken it twice with my sons, I prefer the classroom course if you can find one. Accustomed to a classroom atmosphere at school, I think young hunters are prone to pay attention and absorb more information that way.

Either way, a hunter safety course is an important reinforcement on the power of a gun and safe ways to handle it and the perfect off-season addition to the present.

The final question is what gun you buy, and my answer is the best you can possibly afford, and in a gauge or caliber that not only fits the need today, but is something they can grow into in the future.

That said, a .410-bore shotgun is not a kid’s gun in most cases unless you want to ruin their confidence. A 20-gauge, and not a single shot, is a much better starting place.

As for a rifle, there are a lot of options out there. Historically, the .243 has been the starting point, but while ammunition quality and options have improved, it can be a little light when it comes to a white-tailed buck.

And if you are buying a rifle, you are probably also buying a scope. As someone once told me the scope is probably more important than the caliber, so put all the money you can into it.