Introducing the little ones to shooting
 

My grandson, Webb, had an epiphany in his shooting! At ten yeas old he was shooting what the other grandsons had started with, a 20 gauge Youth Mossberg pump. The shells were very lite so he wouldn’t flinch. Opening day of Dove Season we were at a shoot that had started in 1948. It’s where I shot my first dove with Papa’s Parker. The handy little Trojan had been in that field 78 consecutive years for opening day. It was in that field Papa gave me the gun. Webb was plugging away with no success and asked if he could shoot Papa’s Parker. Something clicked about missing in front and the birds started to fall. He ended up with four plus one un-retrieved. The next day the Parker was all his, again with me mentoring, i.e. no low birds, no far birds, etc. He came out of the field with four birds and one lost having shot 19 times. He had about as many birds as everyone else. Pap (me) is very proud of his shooting and gentlemanleness. Before I lost sight in my right eye and cataracts plaguing me, I barely missed a shot with that little gun. I always felt as if Papa’s hands were guiding the barrels. Perhaps he is guiding them for Webb.

Great Work Webb!
 

That is great work Grandpa!

It is commendable that you are able and taking the time to make memories that will never be forgotten with your grandson.:bowdown:

I hope to follow your example if time allows and the Lord blesses us with grandchildren that have an interest in taking game.

Stan

Good job, Pap!! I love stories like this. They make me more optimistic about the future.

(BTW, I’ve had cataract surgery in both eyes and have now lost my excuse of fogged glasses and poor vision. :rotf:)

My first time in a blind. With my Dad on Maryland's Chester River

I'd say he's about ready to train his own versatile gun dog to help retrieve those doves...and ducks, and geese, and woodcock, grouse, snipe and some rabbits...

great photos!

Very nice. I wish more young people would get the opportunity to experience gun handling and shooting/hunting in a safe situation like this!
Thanks for posting.
Jim

Me too Garry - this year, so I should be filling my game pockets this fall in the grouse covers... :corn:

My grandson, Cam, was gifted his great-grandfather's Parker VH 20 about ten years ago. I wrote about it in Parker Pages. It will always be in the family I'm sure.



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Let me know how your season goes, Dean. I most certainly do not shoot much better with my new eyes, but now I can clearly see the birds I miss, and, regretfully, see the disdainfully tolerant look in my dogs eyes when I don’t produce a bird for them. :crying: