Is it legal to have my 6yr old shoot a BB rifle while I hunt doves?
He will not be shooting birds but just targets. He likes to go with me but still a little small and gets bored.

im not totally sure, but i think that depends on where you are hunting. If public, I dont think it would be wise. Private property you are probably ok. I know i used to carry my bb gun when i was a kid while my dad hunted. I remember him being checked by the game warden, and nothing was said of it...but laws do change.

Of course you cannot be hunting doves with a BB gun. That's about the only thing in the hand book.

I would take the BB gun if it were me. Doubt a Game Warden would see an issue. Cannot see it making a difference public or private land.

Thanks for the comments; it's a lease so I'll also check with leasor too.
And to clarify, he won't be shooting any birds; that's the only thing I also found in the book, not a legal shooting for game birds.
Also it is a basic Daisy spring loaded rifle, nothing fancy.

Call one of the Game Warden for the county you will be hunting and ask him.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/warden/find_warden/county.phtml

It should be fine

it should be fine but you never know now days.

This reminds me of when my dad first started me hunting with him. I would carry a BB gun. I was around 6 or 7 years old.

Whether its legal or illegal, Shame on any Warden for Issuing a ticket for trying to get your kid involved with hunting with you.

My son has always brought his BB gun with me while dove hunting.

This year I'm kind of in a pickle and don't know what to do. He got bored with the BB gun. So I bought a 22 after Christmas and he's been shooting that. Now he can't wait to go dove hunting with me cause he has a gun that can kill doves.

I've tried explaining to him he can't use that gun, but he doesn't understand. Not sure what I'm going to do with him this year.

Thinking of sitting in the stand one evening and letting him shoot ringnecks underneath the feeder.

When did it become illegal to shoot dove with a bb gun? That's all I had to shoot em with when I was a kid?

It has been that way for as long as I can remember. It's also Federally illegal to kill birds like robins and such.

Regs say shoulder fired shotgun. I do not know when those came about but 20+ years ago they were that way when I checked on shooting some with the Contender pistol with 410 barrel. Since it is not shoulder fired it is illegal.

I got checked last season with a friend. Our sons had BB guns and were shooting the targets, cans, etc. The game warden wasn't concerned.

I will say I recommend eye protection for the boys. Ricochets were common...

I just talked to the Game Warden (Williamson Co) and he said it would be OK, just with the known conditions.... no shooting birds, and must be close within voice reach and should be fine.

I assumed this would be the case, but... well I don't want to get a ticket for having my kid with a BB gun.

As for being illegal, I understand it is illegal to shoot game birds with a BB gun, air rifle, etc, but ringnecks would be an exception as they are not considered game birds, unfortunately I have not seen one of those yet around here.

Thanks for your replies...