Keeping Muzzleloading Alive

[dave951]

Along the vein of the thread started by BPMS, part and parcel to keeping our hobby alive is getting kids involved. Let's face it cynically speaking, if you get someone involved who's retired, over 70, questionable health, how long is your time investment going to yield any benefit to the hobby? I'm not saying ignore adults, but kids are the future. Your time is a finite resource that is nonrenewable and nothing you can do will stop is flowing through your grasp. The real question is, what are you going to do with it?

I had a very interesting conversation with someone well placed in the higher levels of Scouting. It looks like there is a "perfect storm" of things brewing in the background and without going into everything, our work in summer camp has been noticed at the highest levels of Scouting and there seems to be a desire to be able to replicate what we're doing with kids in muzzleloading and the "mountain man" experience part of summer camp. Replicating what we do isn't going to be that hard except for one glaring issue- lack of qualified instructors who know and are passionate about muzzleloading and have a desire to share that knowledge with kids in a fun way. To become an instructor isn't easy, nor is it free, but then again, most worthwhile things in life aren't. To invest your time and knowledge in a youth about muzzleloading can have a long lasting, positive effect on the kid and may well result in someone young who enjoys muzzleloading. The effects of being a positive role model in one on one interaction is as they say, priceless.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I don't like kids. My parents sure as hell weren't going to buy me a muzzleloader, they were busy trying to put food on the table. Any where I wanted to go I had to walk or ride my bike so I certainly wasn't going to get to go to any organized shooting event. I found my own way into this hobby when I was 23, nobody pushed me into it.

 

[user 48679]

I don't like kids.

 

[andy52]

I don't like stinky crying babies and toddlers. I don't have the patience to teach a group of young kids the fundamentals of muzzleloading, however, I have mentored a couple of teens 15 and 17 it's more one-on-one, and that I don't mind.

 

[Frontier's]

we can preach about getting kids involved all day long, but it does no good. Kids these days are lazy. Simple as that. My girl friend is involved in 4H and its amazing how lazy these kids are. They no longer want to help paint fencing or containers, put up animal pens. All they want to do is dress up western and show their animals. Lack of attention span, even their "grown" up attitudes these days is a huge turn away. I was listening to a kid struggle to figure out what kind of leather project he could do and so I rambled off a few things and that kid got aggravated, made "pistols" with his fingers and made the sign like he shooting me. Had that been my kid, i'd have beat the manure out of him for being so disrespectful, then kicked him out of the program.

 

[dave951]

The kids we work with are 14+ and have signed up to be there. Go in with a poor attitude and it will be returned to you with interest. If you go in as the crotchety curmudgeon, you will never be successful. Make it fun and interesting, they'll stay till you run out of ammo or daylight.

 

[Brazos John]

I took the NRA courses, became an Instructor, and ran some sessions of .22 Marksmanship for Scouts at Camp Strake and other campouts. All of the kids had a good time, but some of them really got into it!

For almost all of them, it was their first time to shoot a firearm. I still remember my first time, at a Decatur County Fair in Indiana in the '60s. I think most of us still remember our first shots.
I hope those Scouts remember their first shots.
I bet they will.

 

[mushka]

The electronics age landed on the young about 40 years ago and it stuck. Kids nowadays have had most of their present personalities handed to them by poor parenting for the most part. They've received participation trophies and they live with their electronic devices for the most part. There are only a few who might care about mechanical devices and these are the one's to look for. The physical, the curious. Give these few of what we know and hope that their parents will be supporting. We are in a difficult place with our hobby and I don't see any miracles happening soon.

 

[Longhunter]

The kids we work with are 14+ and have signed up to be there. Go in with a poor attitude and it will be returned to you with interest. If you go in as the crotchety curmudgeon, you will never be successful. Make it fun and interesting, they'll stay till you run out of ammo or daylight.

I believe Dave is right here. Many kids are constantly outdoors and love to go hunting, fishing or hiking. Given a chance many would be very interested in traditional muzzleloading. It takes the right kind of person to teach kids. It’s true, some kids are lazy however is that because the kid is really lazy or because that kid is surrounded by lazy adults that refuse to put in the time and effort that proper instruction requires? Writing off a whole generation won’t do us or the kids any favors.

 

[ord sgt]

I have been a merit badge consular for a cub scout troop. I am an NRA certified m/ling instructor and trained some RSOs on bp. My club runs an NRA Women on Target course for several years. Muzzle loaders are a part of the firearms introduction. Feedback from the ladies after the day is done, the black powder part was the most enjoyed by the ladies. I offer to let club members and guest shoot my rifles at our open house day at the range.
So, yes, I try to spread the joy of shooting the muzzle loading firearms to as many people as possible.

 

[andy52]

crotchety curmudgeon

Wait just a second, I resemble that remark.

 

[dave951]

This is not a short term thing. It's actually more of a change of mindset. It took years to get here, but if we don't start the change, it will never happen. Kids will never be exposed to anything other than the official narrative and if you like how things are, keep on keeping on. If you want things to improve, don't sit back and complain, get involved in a positive manner somehow, somewhere in some way.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

My Dad thrust a M1906 Winchester in my hands when I was 9 and said " don't do anything stupid with this", and that was the extent of my gun training. When I turned 14 my Grandpaw gave me a Mossburg bolt action shotgun in 20 bore. No instruction what so ever.
I hunted and fished all the time when I was a kid. Never needed an adult's supervision or wanted it. I was rarely found in the house, mostly just for eatin supper than I was off and going again.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

We have our work cut out for us. There are many more entertainments for young people these days that seem to hold their attention than when I was coming up. A dearth of cool television shows movies and other things doesn't help any. I am not optimistic and feel that traditional muzzleloading is dying out and likely will be all but kaput before I take my dirt bath.

But like Comfortably Numb said he found his own way to the hobby, as we all did. And regardless of age I'll be there to teach them what I know as best I can. I won't force it on others or waste my time on those with no interest or desire to learn, but will make every effort I can to teach those who "wanna."

 

[Horse]

Its no surprise is it?
The planned breakup of the traditional family. Enrollment in government indoctranation centers cleverly called public schools, to be taught by degenerates that their parents are evil and to be despised. On top of that, parents who let television raise their children instead of spending time with them.
We reap what we sow. Time to pay the piper. I know they're are exceptions but thats the way it is for many people these days. I can only imagine what my father would have done to them if any of my teachers tried to teach me the manure being taught to our young impressionable children today.
My old man was as tough as nails and when I fouled up I paid the price. Thanks Pop for being there for me and my brothers when we needed you, I know it wasn't easy but you did your job even if we didn't like it.
Horse

 

[Trapper Scott]

I am one that believes in passing along our heritage to the young ones. I grew up hunting with my uncles and was always in the woods doing something. I have 4 grandchildren now and each one has already received their first 22 rifles from me, while the oldest has also received a single-shot 20 gauge. I encourage shooting and hunting but don't press it since that seldom works. My two youngest grandsons have the good fortune of having a mom and dad that shoot and hunt, so I'm pretty sure they are on the right track. As far as teaching one particular discipline, these kids will be exposed to everything from flintlocks to plastic mush bang pistols as well as reloading and they will receive a nice supply of boomsticks, fishing gear, tree stands, you name it with the stipulation they have their heads screwed on straight.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I got little moccasins for my little grandson, he's only 5 months now but when he's ready to go for a woods walk with grandpa he'll have his moccs on ....gotta start somewhere

 

[nhmoose]

I don't like kids.

Can agree myself. Until they are 15-20 years old or so.

 

[Splitear]

I guess the kids I work with are the exception. The group of 12 I work with in Muzzleloading are excited and engaged in what we’re doing, and I’ve even had a couple say that their favorite part of class is cleaning guns
I don’t know how many of them will stick with it long term, but they certainly enjoy the sport and I hope it teaches them many life skills while they’re involved.

 

[Trapper Scott]

I guess the kids I work with are the exception. The group of 12 I work with in Muzzleloading are excited and engaged in what we’re doing, and I’ve even had a couple say that their favorite part of class is cleaning guns
I don’t know how many of them will stick with it long term, but they certainly enjoy the sport and I hope it teaches them many life skills while they’re involved.

There is no better time than teaching kids new things and watching their eyes light up when they see that they can accomplish things! I remember the first time I taught my oldest grandson to shoot his 22 rifles. After a few years, he could make the dueling tree sing and flip like nobody's business.