4-H Shooting Sports Program teaches safety and responsibility
The National 4-H Shooting Sports Program gives young people an opportunity to learn safe and responsible use of firearms.
“Jan. 23 was the beginning air rifle class, the prerequisite for the air pistol class and the advanced rifle class,” said 4-H Instructor Dan Bowden. “In the advanced rifle class students learn standing, kneeling, sitting, prone positions, use of a sling and we shoot from a little further back.”
Bowden has been teaching gun safety for 31 years as well as teaching gun safety at Camp Ohio. This is a six week course and to successfully complete the course they must attend at least five classes to be eligible for State Fair. 4-H has an evaluation and depending on where they class, they can go on to State Fair shooting sports.
“The kids sit at the table on the bench, where we heavily cover safety,” Bowden said. “The number one rule is to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Karl and I are always looking for that. We tell the kids, if you don’t learn anything else, learn that number one safety rule. The other rules are muzzle control, action open and unloaded until you are ready to shoot, finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot and eye and ear protection. We use only Co2 air rifles because they work well indoors. They are not noisy so we don’t need ear protection and the kids are able to listen to the instructor.”
Co-Instructor Karl Rinehart has been an instructor for 4-H shooting sports close to 20 years. “Our first goal is safety,” he said. “If we can make them good shooters that is a benefit, but by the end of the class if we can make them a safe shooter that can handle a fire arm without having any issues, that is our number one rule and to always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction. We want to have fun and we want to make them good shooters, but we want to make them safe first. That’s my main goal.”
Ages for the class range from 8 to 18 years. “We have various experiences with both boys and girls,” Bowden said. “I like to tell the class that girls shoot better because they listen and they apply. We’ve got 9 year old boys that come in saying, I’ve been shooting all my life, so they can’t teach me anything and they don’t listen. That’s why we shoot off the bench. It is very controlled, we only have five shooters at a time and we’ve got two instructors always within reach to keep them safe. Everyone in the class is taking this course as a 4-H project. They will be evaluated in the county and then potentially go on to state level. Graduates of the class have done very well. The first night we cover everything in the project book in detail, multiple times and that is number one and get it into their minds so they remember and do well on the evaluations. I bring in different kinds of hearing protection and encourage them to use it here and in any other noisy environment like with chain saws, tractors, lawn mowers, that kind of stuff. We go over and over basic marksmanship, cover the project books and bring in show and tell to match the pictures in the book. We try to start class early in the year so that we will be finished for the ones who plan to show animals as well.”
Dan’s wife Becky Bowden, also an expert shooter, helps with their project books, assigning goals and asking them questions out of the book.
Students learn the three parts of a rifle, practice how to use their site pictures, site alignment, shooting at a blank target and a bulls eye target, as well as, getting in position, establishing your site picture, slowly squeeze the trigger and you can shoot with both eyes open if you are using your dotted i.
As soon as you fire, put your safety back on, you should be able to see the red (loading and unloading) and how to tell if the rifle is safe. They learned that anyone can call cease fire. They practiced exercises for shooting at a target. To place your safety off, put your feet flat on the floor and do not wiggle your feet or you will be wiggling your rifle. Have both elbows on the table, use your cheek weld for site alignment, remember your breathing control, slowly squeeze the trigger, and put your safety back on.
Ten year old twins William and Jonathan McCoy wanted to take the class and their mom Lisa McCoy also thought it was a good idea. “I have been in law enforcement so it is just second nature to have firearms in the house,” Lisa said. She worked at US Customs while in the Army and as an investigator before that.
Nine year old Allie Miller said, “My Dad shoots trap and so I have shot guns before. I thought I would try this and I really like it.”
This is the first time Sarah Thomas and her sister 8 year old Abigail have taken a gun safety course. Sarah who will be 11 soon said she got a gun for Christmas and wanted to learn how to be safe and how to shoot.
Oliver Whinnery learned about shooter safety although he doesn’t have a gun. “I’ve shot my Dad’s 22 before,” he said.
For information about a shooter safety class or other 4-H projects available, contact Coshocton County OSU Extension 724 S. Seventh St. in Coshocton or call 740-622-2265.
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