by Jim Fulmer | Past President NMLRA
I don’t know who said it first, but the first time I heard it was in 2014 at the Pennsylvania Federation of Black Powder Shooters State Shoot. Don Blazier always referred to upcoming young shooters as the “young lions.” There has always been a lot of good natured ribbing and verbal sparring when you shoot black powder. Don said at the shoot this year “An old has-been still beats a never-was.”
The “young lions” are the young shooters, not the new shooters. A new shooter can be anywhere from 8 to 88 years old—if you have never shot, you are a new shooter. A “young lion” is the young shooter—maybe only 15 years old with eight to ten years of shooting experience. The young lions are in our clubs all across the country. He or she was fortunate enough to have a family member or a friend introduce them to shooting at a young age. I have seen many shooting families raise children who shoot, who in turn raise more children who shoot. Why is this? Why is there this bond? It’s simple really.
Left to right Grandpop Blazier, Lucas Fulmer, and father Curt Fulmer shooting at NMLRA Territorial match.
Shooting is cross generational. It is something that is timeless and something that can be shared from one generation to another. The knowledge of shooting and the responsibilities that go with it are perfect for generations to share. Much of it is a duplication of what has already been achieved by the previous generation. “My Grandpa and Grandma shot 50s, my Dad and Mom shot 50s, and I am going to shoot 50s, too.”
What is a good age to start a young person shooting? Get them involved early. I spotted for my Dad and my brothers with a scope when I was about five or six years old. That’s probably how I learned the hands on a clock and counting. Early on I had to point at a target to show shot locations and I do remember getting nine o’clock and three o’clock mixed up for a while.
Many clubs work very hard to promote shooting among children. No club has worked any harder at it than Whispering Pines Cap & Flint Club here in Pennsylvania. At their yearly rendezvous held in the middle of August dozens of youth attend. Archery has become a large part of their shooting program. For some of the youth, this may be the first individual competition they have ever shot. The range officers are not managing the range, but do some instructing to make the youngsters better shooters. Success breeds success; if you have a shooter who achieves hitting their target with arrow or round ball, they will be back for more and bring their friends. People like sharing success.
The Junior Aggregate at Whispering Pines this year had 14 shooters. Many of these young shooters are already “young lions.” Bobby Pollock, III, won this year. His grandfather was a good shot, his dad is a great shot, and if Bobby keeps going, he will surpass Senior and Junior. Klohe Faatz came in second that weekend and would go on to shoot a 50-1X on a Juniors target at the state shoot. Rebecca Reeder placed third. That is the beauty of shooting; everybody—boys, girls, men, and women can all compete on the same footing.
There are many programs that help to promote the shooting sports to the young and none helps promote black powder shooting more than the YHEC program that the NRA runs. YHEC stands for Youth Hunter Education Challenge. Here, with rifle, pistol, and muzzleloader, young people learn to compete, using life-size animal targets in hunting situations.
Klohe Faatz with a 50 1-x shot in the Junior Standing groundhog match at the Pennsylvania State Shoot.
There is a large youth program not too far from Whispering Pines that does compete in YHEC. The club is Troy Junior Sportsmen. I have watched this club come out in force and shoot at Whispering Pines to practice for competing in YHEC with the muzzleloaders. The Troy Junior Sportsmen hold raffles and shoots to help raise money to send teams to the YHEC shoot. These same programs may go on in your area; if not, then they should. So who are these people behind the “Young Lions”?
To bring a new shooter into our sport is great, but new shooters come and go all the time. The difference is the mentors who promote and help new shooters become a “Lion.” The “Old has-been” is one of the greatest assets a youth program has in helping the new shooter to become successful. Just because an “old shooter’s” scores have fallen because he or she can’t see like they use to or you’re worn out after shooting a half dozen targets offhand, there is a need for your experience.
Whispering Pines Cap & Flint Club 2014 Rendezvous picture of partial camp. Note all the children. Photo courtesy Brittany Hogue
“Old Shooters” know what it takes to make a rifle shoot accurately; you have knowledge that the new shooter needs. You can bet a champion junior shooter was coached and helped along by a champion old shooter at some point in their life. Being a mentor to a new shooter or a youth shooter is the greatest gift you can give to the shooting sport.
Now it’s October, but there are still many shoots left this month. The Walter Cline Range has an event every weekend in October. Starting with a Boy Scout Camporee, a Table Shoot, a Turkey Shoot, and a Long Range Black Powder Cartridge Shoot. Pennsylvania also has muzzleloading shoots every weekend in October as well. The NMLRA is hosting a shoot at Fort Roberdeau’s 18th Century Marketfaire and Rifle Frolic, Oct. 10 – 12, 2014, near Altoona, PA. It is a one of a kind event. Stop by and check it out, and you’ll be glad you did. You can find out more about the “Rifle Frolic” at NMLRA.org or Marketfaireandfrolic.com.
