Keeping Muzzleloading Alive

[Tn mtn man]

Lazy people make lazy kids !!!!!!!!!my dad took me out in the woods when I was 4yrs old. He put the time in to me and my cuzen .was he great at it no but he tried. God rest his sole

 

[Mike in FL]

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 crap out of him for being so disrespectful, then kicked him out of the program.

 

[Mike in FL]

They have no respect for anything. Not even themselves. Certainly not their Creator. No one has taught them about the folly of life without God. They simply have no idea. Even though I despise that disrespect for anything,I wish I had someway to relate, to lower myself to their useless position, but I am convinced they believe themselves strongly connected to hate and liberal notions of total entitlement. I can't stand their proximity. I am convinced this present generation of young adults will be the last. I am glad I must suffer them but for a little while. Either my Lord will remove me from their presence or He will return for me momentarily. Either is okay with me.
Oh, to be clear: not just the degenerate youth, but the majority of mankind and their wickedness. In the meantime, I will wander what wild wood remains with my flintlock--seeking what earthly peace and solitude I might glean until THEN.

 

[cannonball1]

I have been at muzzleloading for 50 years now and the way the country is going, just maybe the only shooting recreation will be with a muzzleloader. Coming from one of the most conservative states in the nation and also being a country boy I don't see this as much as some of you, but one day just maybe your guns will be taken away in the distant future. Here in this state, a small faction are trying to introduce wolves and along with this and other poor management, the Mule Deer are decreasing every year. Pheasants, which use to be plentiful here in "Rooster Valley" are not wild birds now and hunted on Put-and-Take hunts. Soon to a large extent, shooting experience may be targets and clay pigeons. I have hunted with my kids all of my life and have eleven grandson's. With all of the sports available today, skiing, mountain biking, highschool sports, hiking, motorcycling, 4-wheeling, not to forget video games, etc. and the list goes on, you are lucky to find many young people that may be interested in black powder. I have three grandchildren that are interested in muzzleloading, an extra one - sorta, and two that are too young yet. All have been introduced to shooting and most muzzleloading, but face it the "o'blackpowder' takes more dedication than just shooting. The stinkin stuff anyway! Loading that gun when you have to remember the amount and loading sequence and then cleaning every excursion you go out and shoot! Lets face it boys "and girls" its not for everyone. But we need to at least introduce it to our kid and COMPLETELY train those who have a hankering to try it. Not just our kids, but even friends. You might even see some interest by someone in the field, so open a conversation about the Art of Muzzleloading. I have known a few of the unmentionable muzzleloaders who are transforming into the traditional muzzleloader for one reason or another. A lot just knowing it was part of our history. Ya know, you don't have to be a buckskinner to enjoy this sport. We need to be all inclusive and really try to escape the rudeness of others who don't agree with our traditional philosophy. They just may be a convert some day.

 

[Bushfire]

They have no respect for anything. Not even themselves. Certainly not their Creator. No one has taught them about the folly of life without God. They simply have no idea. Even though I despise that disrespect for anything,I wish I had someway to relate, to lower myself to their useless position, but I am convinced they believe themselves strongly connected to hate and liberal notions of total entitlement. I can't stand their proximity. I am convinced this present generation of young adults will be the last. I am glad I must suffer them but for a little while. Either my Lord will remove me from their presence or He will return for me momentarily. Either is okay with me.
Oh, to be clear: not just the degenerate youth, but the majority of mankind and their wickedness. In the meantime, I will wander what wild wood remains with my flintlock--seeking what earthly peace and solitude I might glean until THEN.

If my kids ever spouted such garble I'd be ashamed of them.

Pity us sir for we are mere mortals and neither as virtuous nor as infallible as you.

 

[brownac1983]

No one has taught them ...

Which generation is at fault for that?

 

[Coinneach]

Scouts USA (formerly Boy Scouts of America) still has shooting sports and merit badges, including Rifle and Shotgun, and can be done with either modern or muzzleloading firearms.

Sadly not here in Australia.

 

[user 53891]

I don't fit in at all with any group or organization. Don't want to teach or encourage anyone's children. They are a lost cause and the more distance I can put between myself and today's youth the better. Brats and material obsessed, disrespectful smart-mouths is all I can see in any of them. I got more than my fill of the little jerks during my LEO career. I'm not a joiner or an organizer. As I said, I don't fit in. I care about Jesus, family, and spending as much time as possible in the woods. Not a member of any club. I like this forum though; good folks representing clean activities.

You might care about jesus, but that isn't a real christian attitude. There-in lies why this sport will eventually die out.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

All my Dad did was work. Never took me fishing or hunting or showed me how to shoot. Yet, I learned to do all these things myself. It was my passion that drove me, it had nothing to do with adults doting on me. I grew up in the 60's, Dads didn't have any time to do anything but work. None of my friends Dads were any different.

 

[user 53891]

If people ever wonder where kids learn their disrespectful tongues they need only view some of the comments made on this forum at times. Age doesn't always lead to wisdom.

I'm not a kid but I'm 31, I've not met anyone within 20 years of my age shooting BP in Australia. I do know one thing though as a budding BP enthusiast excited to get my first flint rifle I was contacted by an older shooter through an ad i was running. I explained my age and enthusiasm and he said it was great to see a young person into the sport. He then went on to sell me a flinter that wouldn't ignite in a fart factory. Could have easily turned any young/new shooter away from the sport, didn't seem to bother him none.

Bushfire, I'm 74 and you sir are entirely correct in your comment! Those comments made negatively about kids are the things that will, and are killing this sport! A bunch of grouchy old men condemning every kid in every big city/town. And you wonder why none of these kids are interested! Thank you for your respectful and intelligent comments.

 

[user 53891]

I’m currently in college, and I got into muzzleloading on my own within the last 2 years. It is possible for others to find their way in without any help, but it’s getting rarer by the day. I’ll be taking 3 of my coworkers and my brother shooting with my muzzleloaders over the next month, and we’re all excited about it. Sure we ain’t kids, but we’re definitely still young enough to pick up the hobby and enjoy it!

As a former newbie, it was way easier getting into this hobby when the members on this forum answered questions, even if my questions were dumb. I really appreciate that and feel that I can confidently pass on information on muzzleloading to new people.

To those of y’all saying you hate kids and don’t want to bother teaching them because they are “disrespectful” and lack an attention span, YOU will be responsible if muzzleloading dies. There is no excuse to say screw it and give up, unless you’re physically unable to. I’m sure when y’all were children y’all were difficult as well, THATS THE NATURE OF BEING A CHILD. Anything worth teaching or passing on will be difficult, and there’s no way to ensure that it’ll stick with today’s children, but at least an effort will have been made to preserve our passion.

Sir, that is one of the most intelligent comments I've seen on this thread!! You sir are a credit to the ML community.

 

[Splitear]

Bushfire, I'm 74 and you sir are entirely correct in your comment! Those comments made negatively about kids are the things that will, and are killing this sport! A bunch of grouchy old men condemning every kid in every big city/town. And you wonder why none of these kids are interested! Thank you for your respectful and intelligent comments.

I can say from experience that when you get these folks around the kids, they come around. I had half a dozen volunteers who fought tooth and nail to keep youth from becoming "Junior Instructors" in 4-H. They thought that kids were too immature to teach Shooting Sports,. Their tune changed really fast when they actually taught with these kids. It's easy to stereotype and generalize, but from what I've seen, experience is the greatest teacher.

 

[Little Brother]

I was over at Sportmans Warehouse this past weekend looking for for primers and such. Ran into a couple of youngsters that were picking up various components for their new muzzle loader. They were full of questions and receptive to advice. What I'm seeing out here is that their is a massive shift back to the primitive happening amongst younger folks.

 

[user 53891]

I was over at Sportmans Warehouse this past weekend looking for for primers and such. Ran into a couple of youngsters that were picking up various components for their new muzzle loader. They were full of questions and receptive to advice. What I'm seeing out here is that their is a massive shift back to the primitive happening amongst younger folks.

I've noticed that same thing. You know, the thing is, parents out of curiosity will take their kids to some of these ML club shoots, and/or rendezvous. The youngster are in awe at the smoke and smell of gun powder, and this peaks their interest. One thing about kids, they go back to school and tell their friends about what they saw, and maybe even did at those events. It's like the domino effect. Now, not all are going to be interested, but they get the info out there!! And there, my friend, is the future, good or bad, of ML!

 

[cannonball1]

They have no respect for anything. Not even themselves. Certainly not their Creator. No one has taught them about the folly of life without God. They simply have no idea. Even though I despise that disrespect for anything,I wish I had someway to relate, to lower myself to their useless position, but I am convinced they believe themselves strongly connected to hate and liberal notions of total entitlement. I can't stand their proximity. I am convinced this present generation of young adults will be the last. I am glad I must suffer them but for a little while. Either my Lord will remove me from their presence or He will return for me momentarily. Either is okay with me.
Oh, to be clear: not just the degenerate youth, but the majority of mankind and their wickedness. In the meantime, I will wander what wild wood remains with my flintlock--seeking what earthly peace and solitude I might glean until THEN.

Some of the best kids I've seen have been from parents who neither hunted or fished, but the parents took them out doing other recreation type of things and put up and lived thru their adolescence type of behavior.
Some of the worse kids I've seen is where the parents didn't want to take the effort to train, hunt or fish or anything else, but you can bet your life it didn't slow him down from being out there with his buddies. A neighbor across the street had a beautiful yard, but his kids never mowed the lawn or did anything else. Ask why he didn't have them participate with the upkeep and his response was they were sloppy and wouldn't do it right. In other words he didn't have a patience and those kids didn't learn how to work or do anything with their parents. All because he did want to be bothered with those damn little brats. Guess that about says it all.

 

[maillemaker]

Boy Scouts quit being the Boy Scouts.

While the program has changed, it's still a fantastic venue for kids to learn outdoor skills. I'm an Eagle Scout and proud to have my son in Scouting.

 

[user 53891]

Some of the best kids I've seen have been from parents who neither hunted or fished, but the parents took them out doing other recreation type of things and put up and lived thru their adolescence type of behavior.
Some of the worse kids I've seen is where the parents didn't want to take the effort to train, hunt or fish or anything else, but you can bet your life it didn't slow him down from being out there with his buddies. A neighbor across the street had a beautiful yard, but his kids never mowed the lawn or did anything else. Ask why he didn't have them participate with the upkeep and his response was they were sloppy and wouldn't do it right. In other words he didn't have a patience and those kids didn't learn how to work or do anything with their parents. All because he did want to be bothered with those damn little brats. Guess that about says it all.

You are so correct my friend. A general statement condemning all kids in big cities/towns as a waste of time, is just ignorant. As we have seen over the decades and especially over the last 2 years of rioting, looting, burning, sometimes adults are not the best role models.

 

[cannonball1]

Just one other word from this old muzzleloading guy. I have told all my kids and all of the older grandkids, "Got a Temper, Lose it" I repeated it enough they don't want to hear it again.
99% of all the major problems I have probably seen are with people who have not learned to control their temper.

 

[cynthialee]

bring in non scouting affiliated shooting instructors

I wouldn't mind spending the occasional Saturday teaching kids to shoot muzzleloaders, but I am not about to become a Den Mother to a bunch of Cub Scouts just to do it.

I like kids...in short doses and occasionally.

 

[user 53891]

bring in non scouting affiliated shooting instructors

I wouldn't mind spending the occasional Saturday teaching kids to shoot muzzleloaders, but I am not about to become a Den Mother to a bunch of Cub Scouts just to do it.

I like kids...in short doses and occasionally.

And that is exactly what is killing this sport and rendezvous!