Please forgive this off topic thread....but it's not entirely off topic.

For as much as I love hunting and had the time of my life in Africa (and I will return) I also had the time of my life today as well

The local gun shop had a "kids day". My kid is married and gone so I went to the neighbors house and asked their boy if he wanted to shoot (with parents permission of course) shotgun at the club. This kid is an adopted Korean boy and isn't always treated well by the other kids but seems a good boy to me.

He wasn't too sure as the 10-yr old boy had never shot anything bigger than a 22 before but was willing to try.

I handed him a .410 Over/under and we went thru the handling and safety things.

We aimed it and dry fired it and then shot empty shell boxes sitting still on the ground. Before we went to the trap range he was quite familiar with the functioning of the gun and had confidence that he knew what he was doing with the gun..

At the trap range he shot 8 of 25 his first time out and a few onlookers was impressed as it was his first time ever shooting at moving targets.

We took a break, had a pop, looked at the mounts in the gunclub and then went back for another run at the clays.

This time he broke 14 of 25 and was among the highest scores of the day. (with a 410 mind you)

Well all the other kids wanted in on this as well and we went to corner of the range for purely shooting sitting empty boxes. The kids stood in line to shoot and a young lady (about 8 i'd guess) had extreme difficulty holding the gun. Finally I held it for her and she pulled the trigger and the box jumped. A few shots later she was shooting herself and there was a lot of amased looks around as the box jumped every time she pulled the trigger.

All in all I emptied a whole case of 410 shells today. That was fun but while I thought of it as a gift to the kids the biggest gift was to me. I loved giving what hunting has given to me and African hunting especially. Those kids will never know how much their smiles and enjoyment was a gift to me. Hell, it's the way I felt flying to Atlanta after the RSA trip......and it cost me a lot less.

For those of you that get a chance to take a kid shooting I'd like to just say....it pays huge dividends. Almost as good as an African Safari.

As my buddy says, "Good on ya, mate."
It is absoulutely true. Nothing beats watching a kid's eyes light up.

Very well done. You've made a few converts in the shooting sports. In most parts, the public system discourages kids from ever learning to handling any firearem and ostrasizes them for talking about or liking firearms.

Good for you!

quote:

Almost as good as an African Safari.

Better. Good job.

Very Good Job!! If hunting and shooting are going to survive, we must get young people involved. Well done Vapodog!!

Two thumbs up to you!

Vapo you are all heart! You get the good guy award and have set a fine example for all of us.

Nice going, man.

Vapodog,
I used to be involved with the 4-H trap team in our county. There is nothing like the gleam in a kids eye when he breaks his first target and seeing the moms and dads get excited for them. The best one's were the kids without a dad. I made some good young friends on the trap range those few years and watched them progress to consistently breaking clays in the 90's out of 100. We even took them to the Grand Nationals and competed very well.
You did a good thing and deserve and big pat on the back. WELL DONE

quote:

Please forgive this off topic thread....

Getting kids involved in the shooting sports isnever off topic. Far too few youngsters get the opportunity you gave those kids today.


Regards,
hm

Three attaboys for vapodog!!!!

-Bob F.

Outstanding! There is no better way to spend an afternoon!

Today I shot in a sporting clays match at a local gun club outside of Fort Worth and there were about 75 4-H kids shooting in it. Some of them weren't even as tall as their shotgun!

What was REALLY humbling was comparing MY scorecard to THEIRS!!

Great job!

JDS

LAst Wednesday the family went to the club to shoot a box of birds. Kate is a 80# 14 y/o, she is shooting a hacked off 1100 12 ga, just smokin them one after another. An older gent(who did not know us) and his two grown sons were waiting their turn, when we were finished the older guy said to her "keep it up young lady and someday you will get a nice animal".

She smiled at me and went to the truck for the pics that live there, went up to the guy and said " Sir, did I ever show you the pictures of my trip to Africa". The two boys were practicaly rolling on the ground laughing.

She was smiling ear to ear!!


Dulcinea

This has just made my day. I feel all better now. Keep up the good work.

From a kid that not too long ago was being taken to the range for the 1st time (OK, I guess it was around 15 years ago since the 1st time I shot, but it feel like yesterday...damn, I'm starting to feel old now!), I thank you, sir. I always tried to get my friends in the shooting sport, and sometimes they did, but the vasy majority they just didn't have the passion about it that we do. You did a great job, and I wish there were more people like you so I would have some more people my age going out to the range so I could have some more people my own age to talk to.

My hat is off to you! I agree you were the winner.

Vapodog, Welcome to the enjoyment of being an educator...I have been doing this for 33 years and as a firearms safety instructor in Pa. for35
years...I love to see the excitement when young girls and boys can see how much fun can be had without damaging or hurting anyone...Treasuring the first game shot legally, Standing next to one child and seeing the glow of thanks Dad or thanks Mr. P. for that tip and it worked...
For the past 10 or 15 years I have been a judge for the NRA Youth Hunter Ed Challenge held in Pa. at Mansfield State Univ. and Whittington Center, N.M. every other year...Meeting young shooters and young hunters..Showing them Africa and big boomers...Answering a million questions and telling them, they can do it also if they work hard and keep a dream alive...
I have made friends from all over the USA and Canada...

Mike

quote:

That was fun but while I thought of it as a gift to the kids the biggest gift was to me. I loved giving what hunting has given to me and African hunting especially. Those kids will never know how much their smiles and enjoyment was a gift to me. Hell, it's the way I felt flying to Atlanta after the RSA trip......and it cost me a lot less.

Great words.Very decent of you.Thanks for sharing this with us.Best-
Locksley,R.

If any of you feel you have time, become a volunteer Hunter Safety Instructor in your area.

I've been doing it for 5 years and saying it is "rewarding" is an understatement.

All states welcome new volunteers.

Contact your state's Game & Fish Dept for info.

Hats off to all who get kids in the shooting sports!!!!!!

I know the feeling. And it is just as you described. Our sport needs more guys like you. Good going.