Youth Rifles - Heavy is a kid's best friend

This particular day was a dark, familiar dream.  I am wincing into a low afternoon sun, a drip of sweat lands on the stock of a 30-30 saddle gun.  The steel butt plate is biting into my bony shoulder; sore after the first three shots.  An unscathed paper plate half a mile away, or so it seems; blotted out by iron sights.  I am trying to delay certain shoulder separation when a southern voice oozes around the corner, "Don’t be a weenie boy, that thing don't kick compared to my gun!!  It’s part of being a man!!! Closing my eyes, I yank the trigger, miss by a mile, and think to myself, “Like hell that thing don't kick!  I weigh 85 pounds mister-behind-the-corner-man.”  (Proper rearing sprinkled with a very important fact; he is the ranch owner, keeps me quiet.)  The purple bicep and vertigo seemed unnecessary to manhood. 

Maybe you had a similar experience with your first center fire rifle.  Anyway, what I am about to tell you is just between you and me.  In my humble opinion, as a man of multiple decades, a mortgage, kids, and a lot of days burning ammo, I declare the following:  Recoil hurts and can create bad shooting habits – especially for kids or new shooters.  Okay, let’s make sure no one else heard that and continue on.



This Happens!



What if we bought heavy guns and low caliber rifles like a .223 or .243, say something like H@R's Ultra Varmint Handi Rifle?  She's a single shot, 24" bull barreled beauty pushing 10 pounds.  But she's not fat!  What happens?  8 year olds take their game cleanly.



I'll tell you what happens - accuracy and proper shot placement happen.  Recoil is not your friend, and especially kids.  Think about this and let me know if you are planning to set up a new rifle for someone.  I'd sure like to help you in the planning process because heavy rifles and low caliber's produce results!



Texas Youth Hog Hunting team - .223 Handi Rifle Ultra Varmint



Kid Fishing - BIG

Carp are not pretty, carp are not fancy, but carp get big and kids don't care what they catch.  They, to use ESPN language, say - SCOREBOARD when a 20 lb fish comes to the deck.  HOWEVER, there is a behavioral disorder associated with Carp.  Such as:

SCORE BOARD!



SCORE BOARD!!!!!



Wandering through church one day an acquaintance saunters up - mouth on full auto, bluetooth enabled.  "Hey, I understand you fish with your kids.  Your son was talking about catching a 15 pound fish??  Dude, I took my son and he kept whining, 'this is boring, we're not catching anything.'  He fishes with a basic push button and can't sit still.  So and so told me you got a knack for this kid thing." 

"So, how do you do it?" 
Ooh, boy, there it is - immediate loss of man card.  The feaux pas is lurking, I have felt the scorn.  But like a hyperactive three year old,  I blurt out, "We do a lot of carp fishing, it is really easy, you just take some dough bait and………"  and, and, the reaction is the same almost every time.  (This dude has a cool bass boat matching his truck, shirt, hat, you know the drill) 

He cuts me off mid sentence, the Bluetooth must have a cardiac monitor - it starts flashing - much faster.  Barely drops me a  - "Thanks" and walks off.

My ego, toughened after two solid decades of Carp fishing prowess, knows he is missing out on a great time.  If you would like to take your kids fishing, for BIG - relatively easy fish - post a comment and I'll give you the scoop and the full length article.

Birds of Prey - In Town

Working on my Father-In-Law's coast house the other day and happened to catch a picture of this Osprey.  he was munching on a trout.  Sure hope it was legal!

The Beginning of The Blog

You pretty much don't have to wonder about this blog.  With my ADD (Atypical Data Dexterity) you will course through randomness following a rather direct line - the Outdoors.  The SBWLL handles all kinds of Data in this area.  Sure, he moves from fishing rods, to moon phases, guns, to youth baseball, because that is the way he "jives".  Come along for the ride - we will explore some useful data.