[TomBomb]

My two step sons are both mentally handicapped...the older slight, the younger a little more. The youngest has very sensitive hearing and won't even consider shooting.... The oldest who is 19 has wanted to shoot and hunt, but has a nerve issue that causes him to shake when he concentrates or holds something in his hands....so, when we were gratiously offered a chance to go to a fish and hunt event at Adventure Lakes in Laurel for a youth deer hunt and bass fishing event (sponsored by BPS, Primos, the Cliff White Cptr. of the NWTF, and the MSWFP) next weekend, I was a little apprehensive that he may not be able to shoot. So, Saturday I started him off with safety, then basics of the gun, PPE, dry fire - my finger on his first then his alone, proper loading and unloading, using the safety, etc. etc. etc...then finally lined him up on the 10-22 Ruger, got his hands positioned, got him looking thru the scope and to my surprise and delight, when he focused thru the scope, concentrated, and put his finger on the trigger he was VERY SMOOTH and NO SHAKE at all!!! So he fired several times, I coached him thru all the shots...starting at close range then moving out to 50 yds....he was farily consistent and accurate! The only issue I found was him understanding the "sight picture" thru the scope.... he did very well and by the 3 clip, he was all in the black at 50 yds...and was getting consistently in the 9 and 10, and even 2 in the X..... So, we repeated the 22 on Sunday afternoon, then I sighted in the Savage 243...using a light 70gr. round to lessen the recoil....it was still a little to the left at 50 yds....anyhow, after a clip of the 22, he was ready to try...so again, went over the specifics of that gun, the bolt, loading and unloading, the different type of safety, dry fire, etc etc etc..... so he shot a few rounds at 50 yds....pretty good.... a little more coaching on the proper "sight picture" by getting him to line up, then easing his head to the left for me to see what he was seeing in the scope....finally after about 10 more shots, he got it, the sight picture thru the scope "clicked" for him! ..... a few more at 75 yds...doing better....so the last 4 rounds in the box, I moved it to 100 yds, and his results are below.... like I said the gun was still a little left from me sighting in at 50yds..... we'll shoot again one evening this week and again on Friday evening to sight it in for his first hunt ever Sat. am. Wish him luck.... I am very proud of him!

 

[captain-03]

Great Post!! :goodpost: :bravo:

I know you are proud - I can feel it through the words in your post! Quality time is priceless --- and, YES, we all wish him the best come Saturday!!

 

[TomBomb]

Thanks Capt. I'll re-sight it at 100 with the hunting ammo we'll use and make sure it's on.... the best thing about his groups is that his first shot is the best. If I'd had it it a little "right", his first shot would have been a "10"..... If a deer comes out <100 yds, he'll drop it like a bad habit!!!!

 

[Stryker6]

:awesome: That is some fine shooting for his first time to fire a Rifle :bravo: :youdaman:

 

[bigsig]

Tom, this is awsome man! Tell your stepson bigsig said Good luck! Sounds like it is gonna be a bad day for the fish and fur up there.
:2tup: :10:

 

[TomBomb]

Sig, that's what I was thinnin too....he's onlly shot a 410 shotgun and a BB gun prior to this......

 

[NRA_guy]

Great post! I taught my son 20 years ago and my grandson more recently to shoot---first air soft and BB guns, then .22 bolt action rifles, then .22 Single Six revolver.

Always with eye and ear protection and watching the backstop and ALWAYS assume it's loaded and NEVER point it at anyone and KEEP THE FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER.

Folks who teach kids about guns are doing the nation a favor.

Much better than hanging out at a mall video store...

 

[mhead]

You seem like a good teacher tom he's lucky to have you. :youdaman:

 

[encoreman]

Great story Tom, Wishing ya'll the best at Adventure. Hope he has fun no matter what is in the game bag. Tell him great shooting and to keep practicing. Mac

 

[RIVERBILLY]

:youdaman: yee haw great going bomb ,time spent with kids is investment in our future
look forward to hearing about all fun yall had

 

[Xd357]

I hope he kills a good one.

 

[dhollis51]

AWESOME... Hoping he has sucess and better off a great time

 

[GunOneDown]

good luck to yall. awesome post TB

 

[sidroski]

Ya'll are lucky to have such fine boys and they you. Go get 'em guys!

 

[94LEVERFAN]

Tom, good luck on Saturday. Be sure and show up Sunday for show and tell testamonials at 11:00. You have never seen so many grown men cry. This is the 4rth year that I will host and guide a child. It gets better every year. Hope to get to meet y'all. Ask Joe Wood to introduce you to Bruce Stephens. Again, Good Luck!

 

[TomBomb]

94Leverfan, thanks, hope to see you there too....sent you a PM. :thanks:

 

[RIVERBILLY]

hey tombom where yall going this weekend

 

[TomBomb]

I think there's a little confusion.......there is ONE event, but this year, for the first time, held at two locations, then meeting as one group on Sunday at Bass Pro in Pearl: the original location in the Jackson area and a satellite location down here between Laurel and Ellisville at Adventure Lakes.....

 

[TomBomb]

Official Info:
" Wheelin’ Sportsmen Youth Deer Hunt
November 6-8, 2009
Pearl, MS
The Wheelin’ Sportsmen Youth Deer Hunt will be held November 6-8th in the wildlife rich state of
Mississippi. Co-hosts for the events will be Bass Pro Shops, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries
and Parks, Mississippi Chapter of the NWTF, Greater Jackson Chapter of the NWTF and Primos.
A benefit dinner and auction will be held at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World on Friday, November
6, 2009. This will provide an opportunity to raise much needed awareness and money to support the
Wheelin’ Sportsmen program.
We are also looking for partners to help offset the cost of the event. Please consider teaming up
with Wheelin’ Sportsmen to help us provide this amazing opportunity for local disabled kids. There
are partnership levels available to suit your individual needs.
Event Co-Host $5,000
• Recognized as event co-host
• Recognized as WS program partner at NWTF national convention and in NWTF publications
• Opportunity to pass out promotional material at the event
• Opportunity to hang company banner at all event activities
• Five, 8 person tables at benefit dinner
Platinum - $2,500
• Meal partner- Recognized as host of the event meals
• Opportunity to pass out promotional material at event
• Opportunity to hang company banner at all event activities
• Four, 8 person tables at benefit dinner
Gold - $1000
• Activity partner- Recognized as sponsor of the event activities
• Opportunity to pass out promotional material at event
• Opportunity to hang company banner at event activity you sponsor
• Three, 8 person tables at benefit dinner
Silver - $500
• Table partner- Recognized as a table sponsor.
• Opportunity to display company signage on table you sponsor
• Two, 8 person tables at benefit dinner.
Bronze- $250
• Participant sponsor- Partnership covers the cost of sending one disabled participant to the
event.
• One, 8 person table at benefit dinner. "

 

[TomBomb]

Official Announcement for the Laurel Area Hunt:

"The Cliff White Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will participate in the Wheelin’ Sportsman Youth Deer Hunt which will be held from Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8, 2009. The local hunts will be at the Adventure Lake Lodge location near Laurel, MS. The Cliff White Chapter will serve as the local NWTF host for this event. "