Kids' first birds

[Fred Preston]

My two youngest grandsons came from MD for Thanksgiving. For added activity, I put 3 pheasants out in the 30 acres of CRP behind the house. The boys, ages 13 and 10, had shot at hand thrown targets once before. We used my open choked VH 12 with 1&1/4 oz. of 7.5 shot, a stout load but they are "big boys" and there was a better chance for a hit. Well, Pete, the pointer, found the first bird and I gave Garrett, 13, who was first gunner a shell for the right barrel, and I flushed the bird. The boy shouldered the gun and as the bird was rapidly gaining distance, I told him to shoot. He did, and the bird folded at about 45 yards; should have seen the look on his face. Pete retrieved the bird and it was James', 10, turn. After about 15 minutes, Pete located another bird and as we approached from about 20 yards, the bird blew out and I hadn't given James a shell yet. The bird flew about 170 yards to the wood line and landed in a tree. We moved toward the tree and at about 40 yards, I gave James a shell. We carefully moved in another 10 yards or so and I told the boy to go ahead and shoot. He did and the bird flew about 20 yards and dropped dead and the awkwardly held gun just about put James on his butt. It was a more successful hunt than I had expected and we had two proud boys. Each got his first pheasant, and with a 100+ year old Parker to boot.

[Dave Miles]

Wow, that's really cool Fred.
The boys will remember that for the rest of their lives. Job well done.

[Larry Frey]

You did good Fred. I love to hear stories of parents, grandparents, or even unrelated adults introducing kids to hunting and the outdoors. Thanks for sharing that story with us.

[Dean Romig]

A great start for those boys and it will only get better. What memories they'll have!

[Linn Matthews]

Who got bird #3?

Great story, thank you

[Dave Suponski]

Thanks for the great story Fred. It made me remember the first time Danny dropped a pheasant at a preserve we were hunting years ago. In fact he was 9 or 10 at the time also! Thanks for the trip down memory lane....:)

[John Dunkle]

Simply a great story and pics, Fred!!! Many thanks for sharing both.... As well, when I read your story and looked at the pictures - it simply is another confirmation of everything PGCA & forum is all about: lazy days hunting & shooting with 100 year old Parkers and involving the "next generation" into that same legacy - and allowing the "rest of us" to participate through your words.

Simply a terrific post, Fred... Thank you for sharing it....

John

[Fred Preston]

Thanks guys for the reps. Linn asked about No. 3; it wasn't found and most likely left the field before we started out. Scott enquired by PM as to the fate of the birds with a most kind offer and I replied to the effect that they wound up in a kitchen in MD and tried to attach a pic to prove it but couldn't figure how to make such an attachment on a PM. So, here's the pic, Scott. Also, Larry mentioned the desireability of getting youngsters going on "our thing" before it becomes obsolete (I inferred some of that from Larry's statement). We have a great PF chapter here in Ashland County and each year for the past 12 of so years we have sponsered and carried out a "youth hunt" a week or so before the regular opening (all ODNR legal). I have usually performed as a dog handler (though kid handler would be more like it, the dogs usually know what they're doing). We have had 40 to 60 yungsters a year get his or her toe in the upland water this way. An old pic below of a happy hunter with his dad and old Ring who found the bird for him.

Fred

[calvin humburg]

5980A couple more keeping it alive during KS youth hunt. Jett on right Will on left. ch

[Dean Romig]

Reminds me of my pheasant hunts when I was about the same age. I didn't have a fancy hunting vest though, just jeans, boots and a cheap red & black plaid wool jacket. What memories those young men will have!

[calvin humburg]

Jett wanted to sew his hunters education patch on something so I got him it with cabela's points. I never had one eather.

[Fred Preston]

Calvin, I'm suckered by Cabela's points too, but you know how to use them right. Jett is a lucky guy with a great mentor and living in real pheasant country.

Fred

[Jack Cronkhite]

Reminds me of my pheasant hunts when I was about the same age. I didn't have a fancy hunting vest though, just jeans, boots and a cheap red & black plaid wool jacket. What memories those young men will have!

Dean: I think that must have been the gear for the era or you are a long lost twin. Boots, jeans but a pretty fancy-schmancy "reversible" red&black plaid/all red wool jacket. (Red for huntin' and plaid for date night). Dad had the Parker.
Cheers,
Jack
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1410/albums/userpics/normal_Jack%2C_Savage%2C_Sage_Grouse_1960_s.JPG

[charlie cleveland]

jack is that a model 11 or a browning or....that you were shooting in the picture.....that picture brings back some good memories.....thanks charlie

[Jack Cronkhite]

Charlie: The gun is a Savage 755A autoloader 12 gauge with polychoke hanging on the muzzle. Sometimes delivers two shots with a single trigger pull. I have tried over the years to correct that but it is now a permanent resident of the retirement section of the steel tombs.
In the world of priorities, that jacket was mostly red side out.

cheers,
Jack

[Wendy Bonertz]

I can't wait to get out after some pheasant with my Grandchildren!
The oldest is only 2 1/2 but he is already practicing in the living room with his "shotgun" (a wooden replica of a Kentucky rifle) and stuffed animals standing in for game.

I wonder how old he should be before I start him on a .410?

[Dean Romig]

I would say you should bring him along on short hunts as soon as he can negotiate the cover and terrain you hunt. Make the hunts short and non-tiring. When he is able to mount a kid-size and kid-weight gun get him out there doing it.

My grandson will be six on his next birthday and I plan to start him next fall. If my granddaughters who are eight and five and three show any interest at all I'll do the same with them. They're mostly "girly girls" though so time will tell.