New shooters

[captcl]

Took my daughter (27 yrs) and her boyfriend out with me on the coarse last weekend and even though she had to shoot the jr. size rental gun she seems to be hooked (like her dad).I'm am and she is planning on making this a father/daughter activity (without the boyfriend) and I can she fitting her with a good autoloader in about a year. next time I may get her to try a 12ga. There is always a new shooter out there just as I was @ 57 yrs. and hit or miss it is FUN!

[shotgunfun]

   Good deal Capt!! We must individually do our best to grow our sport. It really is all about having fun, and this game is fun!! We can't rely on "national governing bodies" to do the promotion. We are our own ambassadors. Keep it up Capt, you just got closer to your daughter, and that is a great thing in itself.

[Browningfan369]

Speaking of growing our sport, a group I'm involved with here in Philly, does a Youth Field day, every June, we've been averaging 70 kids (plus 1 or 2 adults per child), we've been lucky enough over the years to have great supporters and we are able to put the whole event on for no cost what so ever. The kids get hands on demos from everything to do with the outdoors, including a fly fishing demo,22 rifle, shotgun (guess who teaches that event?), archery,plus much more. The way I figure it if we can get one or two kids a year so interested in the outdoors/shooting sports it's a win. This years event is scheduled for June 19Th. If anyone's in the Philly area and interested in more info feel free to PM me.

Shotgunfun, I'll be seeing you and the gang on May 15Th, Hope all is well.

[Charlene]

Last Tuesday myself and three gun club friends went to Lehigh Valley in PA for our monthly sporting clays get-together there.  It was my second time shooting there and it was a joy.  We were almost finished with the course when a couple of fellas drove up in a golf cart and commented about how much they enjoyed watching us shoot.  They said we seemed to be having a great time, and we were.  Note: We are always playfully teasing and kidding one another when we shoot - nobody's "safe".  They said they'd tried talking to a group of "intense" shooters behind us who wouldn't even respond to their "Hello".  The two guys in the golf cart said they wanted to try sporting clays, had brought their shotguns, forgot ammo and didn't think the clubhouse sold any.  We told them what the clubhouse offered for sale or rent.

Want to be an ambassador for the sport?  Just go out, have the time of your life, and you will attract new shooters.  BTW the same thing happened to our group last fall when we met at Lehigh Valley.

[Rollin Oswald]

The populations of all shooting disciplines would increase if more regular shooters would occasionally glance around looking for spectators and then walk over and ask them if they have any questions.

I have heard comments on other forums saying that so many observers are simply ignored, even when they do things that suggest they may be interested in shooting.

Are we so self-absorbed that we can't occasionally invest s few minutes to make "outsiders" feel welcome?

[shotgunfun]

  Well said Rollin. At times I think we all get a bit absorbed in a practice session. But those times are in the minority. We should all be more observant and help out "newbies" and answer ??'s from observers. We are all ambassadors of the game whether we like it or not.