An American Tradition: Growing up With Guns

[zephyp]

Here's something I wrote recalling memories of my first shotgun and hunting experience. I sure wish we could enjoy the same freedoms today as I did growing up as a boy in Alabama and Indiana.
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An American Tradition: Growing up With Guns

In 1970 I was 11 years old and living in southern Alabama. My father, now deceased, would take my brother and me to the dump where we learned to shoot a .22 rifle. We were very poor and the local dump was a place of adventure for a young boy to explore and discover treasures discarded by those we considered to be rich. My father usually held more than one job to make ends meet and he often had trouble finding time to sleep much less time to take us to the dump for shooting practice and exploration.

Around 1972 we moved to a small town in Indiana and I started middle school. Most of my peers and cousins were involved with hunting and so I too took up an interest in the sport. We lived in a trailer park across the road from the “gravel pits” where we could fish, explore, and hunt. I tried to convince my father to take me squirrel hunting, but the efforts failed. Finally he looked at me and said “Boy, take ole Long Tom there in the corner and go buy yourself some shells and head for the woods.” Old Long Tom was an ancient 12 gauge single shot with a 38 inch barrel and nearly as tall as I was. I managed to acquire a couple of dollars and stopped at the local sporting goods store on the way home from school a few days later. Remember that this was 1972 and I was 13 years old. I had been in the store many times and it was a place of wonderment for a young boy. The old man had stocked it full of hunting supplies, fishing gear, and guns which were off limits to young boys unless your dad was along for the visit.

One thing I can still clearly remember is the cardboard box full of loose 12 gauge shells. They were big, green, and mean looking. I don’t remember how much they cost, but I had enough money to buy 6 or 7 and away I went loaded down with ammunition for ole Long Tom. It never occurred to me at the time that I had never shot Long Tom and my father had made it clear I was on my own. A couple of days later I found myself in the woods just as it was beginning to get light enough to see. I was sitting under a tree with a fully loaded 12 gauge shotgun and ready for action. I cannot honestly remember a time when I saw so many squirrels in the woods. I watched the first as it scampered along through the leaves and raised the gun to shoot only to stop myself out of fear. I had no idea what was going to happen when that gun went off. About 2 hours and several unscathed squirrels later I decided it was time to shoot that gun. By this time the squirrels had given up presenting themselves as targets so I stood on the side of a hill in those woods, cocked the hammer, and pulled the trigger. BLAM!!! The kick was hard and the blast was enormous, but I left those woods with that shotgun tamed and fully mine. Never again did I pass up an opportunity to put meat on our table whether it was squirrel, rabbit, dove, or even pigeon, which by the way tastes like chicken.

Ole Long Tom was eventually replaced with a 10/22 and was returned to my uncle who now lives in northern Alabama. The prized gun actually belonged to his father so it was rightfully his. My father died a few years ago and I was pleasantly surprised to find a similar shotgun in his collection. That old shotgun is now in my collection and will remain there until its passed on to a deserving young boy who wants to learn how to hunt and shoot. I realize that he will never be able to make the trip by himself to the corner store to buy loose shotgun shells until he’s old enough, but I can and will certainly pass those and other memories along with that old shotgun. Hopefully, he and his peers will not only learn how to hunt and shoot, but also how to respect our rights and preserve them for future generations...dk

[VBshooter]

Great story DK.. A lot of us have those same type of memories. This might be a good series for others to relay their own first time stories.

[herohog]

Nuff said. My mom (RIP) in our dining area just off the kitchen.
That is my dad's .223, his Ithica 12 ga, my Ithica 16 ga and my Stephens .410. I was all of 11 or 12 years old when this was taken.

[FIDO]

Great story. It brought back a few memories in the field with my dad. We haven't hunted together for the past few years due to his health. He recently suprised me by handing me the Model 12 Winchester he had since before I was born. I used this shotgun to kill my first deer when I was a snot nosed kid and I'll always remember his big smile that day.

[allingeneral]

Nuff said. My mom (RIP) in our dining area just off the kitchen.
That is my dad's .223, his Ithica 12 ga, my Ithica 16 ga and my Stephens .410. I was all of 11 or 12 years old when this was taken.

That picture reminds me of home! We had paneling just like that in the kitchen of the old farm house that I grew up in.

[zephyp]

Same here. Had that same kind of paneling only it was in the trailer I grew up in and we had a little rifle rack too that I made in wood shop. I wonder what kids make in wood shop these days. Back then a rifle rack was the number one choice.

[VBshooter]

With all of todays PC BS and teachers trying to shove their liberal agenda down the poor kids throats they probably wouldn't be allowed to make a gun rack. Spice rack yes, gun rack, No, I wonder if wood shop is even allowed anymore.

[zephyp]

Probably not. Kids could get hurt in wood shop. Probably only basket weaving or finger painting. I'm sure that libs have long since stepped in to make sure they're in control of what these kids are doing in school...these liberals and all this junk they are pushing is really starting to get under my skin...

[allingeneral]

Same here. Had that same kind of paneling only it was in the trailer I grew up in and we had a little rifle rack too that I made in wood shop. I wonder what kids make in wood shop these days. Back then a rifle rack was the number one choice.

I made a "key rack" for my parents when I was in wood shop. I think it's still hanging on the wall where I grew up

[zephyp]

Same here. Had that same kind of paneling only it was in the trailer I grew up in and we had a little rifle rack too that I made in wood shop. I wonder what kids make in wood shop these days. Back then a rifle rack was the number one choice.

I made a "key rack" for my parents when I was in wood shop. I think it's still hanging on the wall where I grew up

Thats pretty cool to still have that hanging on the wall. I remember making a key rack too. One of the advanced projects in wood shop was a light box you could synch with a stereo that flashed colored lights. You got to finish it in electrical shop. Those were the days.

[SgtBill]

I never had anything to do with any type of firearm untill I was 17 and in the Marines, from that point on my whole life has had something to do with every type of firearm used in both the Military and Police work.
Bill

[goodoleboy]

Started shooting when I was in ~4th grade. Started on a .22 bolt action and 20 gauge shotgun hunting squirrel and quail respectively. As for wood shop....I made a key rack and a gumball machine. I still have the gumball machine on top of the fridge.

[Vahunter]

I started out with a bb gun at about age 5 then graduated to a .22 at 7. Took my first deer at 11 with an old JC Higgins pump that my Dad bought back in the '60's. My sister had that shotgun but I have a Winchester 37 that my Dad bought way back when. He always complained that he paid $7.50 for the gun. One night at a turkey shoot a guy offered me 1K for it. Told him no way.

[gfost1]

Good story, DK,

I can still see the dump, and the gravel pit. The General Store that had everything you needed, 'cause folks just didn't "need" there and then like they think they do here and now.

You paint with words like Remington did with oils.

Regards,

George

[zephyp]

Thank you, George. I can still see them too and would give almost anything to roll back the clock and be there again.

[PatP]

My father taught me to shoot when I was 5 or 6. the first thing he did was put a round through a small melon and show it to me. "This is what a gun can do. This is why they are not toys and must be respected. Now, are you ready to learn to shoot?" The love affair started and I never looked back.

While I never took a buck or other big game, I've filled my gullet with many a rabbit and squirrel. My wife and I have taught our daughter to shoot. Regardless of the fact that she is a special needs child, she fully appreciates the wonder and enjoyment, as well as the danger and respect.

What a shame that so many youngsters will never know anything of firearms except that they are bad and only bad people have them.

[Jakeiscrazy]

Great story, I just learned to shoot about 2 years ago when my father's friend took us to the range. Had a blast and been getting into it every since. They do have woodshop still, I took it a couple years back. I had an "old school" teacher who pretty much let you use everything if you were safe about it. The surprising part almost none of the kids were willing to use the tools. I saw one kid afraid of a handheld engraver. I grew up using tools so I had no trouble. We made a clock. Out of 20-25 students maybe 5 worked on and finished there project.

[va599]

Loved the story! Funny enough, my 7 year old, who has never been to the range asked to go with me tonight. He had a blast, watched me shoot, asked lots of questions and after we were finished, he picked up different shell casings to add to his growing shell case collection. The guys behind the counter were great also. We also have written to the NRA and they have been great and sent Eddie Eagle educational pamphlets. We worked on them together and he can recite them chapter and verse. This August, we are going to a Jakes Event in Luray VA, and he and I can't wait to go. Hats off to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for helping to organize and provide events like this:
http://www3.dgif.virginia.gov/web/events/

[meadmkr]

Thx for sharing!

I too learned how to shoot down at the local dump back in the 60's. Shot my first .22 revolver at age 5 and got an Ithaca (model 49?) 22lr for my 8th birthday. The local dump was swarming with rats and crows. The supervisors had no problems with folks coming into the dump to do 'treasure collecting' and were more than happy to have folks thin the vermin population, especially during the summer months. Too bad the local dumps don't have similar mindsets

Cheers
Chris