• Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices
    • Subscribe
    • Franklin Living Magazine
    • Services
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
    • Classifieds
    • E-editions
    • Public Notices
      • Public Notices
      • Alabama Public Notices

Franklin County Times
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries
  • Records
  • Subscribe
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Policies
  • Terms of use
  • Submit a news tip
  • Submit a photo
  • Birth Announcement
  • Birthday announcement
  • Engagement announcement
  • Wedding announcement
  • Submit a Classified Ad
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
  • Public Notices
    Franklin County Times
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
      • Site logo
      • Home
      • News
        • Russellville
        • Red Bay
        • Phil Campbell
        • Franklin County
        • Photo Galleries
        • Sponsored Content
      • Sports
        • Belgreen Bulldogs
        • Phil Campbell Bobcats
        • Red Bay Tigers
        • Russellville Golden Tigers
        • Tharptown Wildcats
        • Vina Red Devils
        • College Sports
        • Sports Columnists
      • Opinion
        • Letters to the Editor
        • Columnists
        • Editorials
      • Lifestyles
        • Birthdays
        • Births
        • Couples
        • Food
        • Features
      • Obituaries
      • Records
        • Sheriff’s Report
        • Marriages
        • Land Transactions
        • Police Reports
      • Special Sections
    Archives
     By  Staff Reports Published 
    4:54 pm Thursday, December 13, 2001

    Buyer's guide for parents of young deer hunters

    By Staff
    Dec. 7, 2001
    This Christmas, scads of youngsters will find deer rifles under the tree on Christmas morning. This column is for those who will be buying rifles for the lucky kids and for those who will be advising Santa. These words of wisdom are a bit early for the buyers, I realize, because most buyers of rifles are men and men do their Christmas shopping on December 24th.
    First, my qualifications as a giver of advice on gun buying are substantial. When our only child was born, I rushed out and bought him a shotgun. It rusted before I finally gave it to him 8 years later some 4 years before he was old enough. When a man gets a son or daughter, it is completely unfair for him to have to wait 12 or 14 years for a hunting companion. But wait we must, I learned.
    Anyway, I gave him the gun too soon, okay. Now I know better. That experience thing you know.
    Another blunder
    Then, when he was 15, I went and got him a rifle for deer, antelope and elk and blew it again! I knew a .243 would be fine for antelope and deer and he could wait a while for elk. But then I reasoned that in just a few years he would be grown up and a .243 would be too light for him and another purchase would be required. So I got him a .280 and it kicked him too hard and made his ears ring. He decided he didn't like big game hunting and to this day doesn't do it.
    So I offer the following suggestions from a background of solid mistakes in buying hunting guns for youngsters.
    Don't get them a gun that makes a lot of fuss and kicks like a jackhammer. Even if the beginner asks for a 30-06, don't listen. Even if he or she is the biggest kid on the basketball team and is bigger than you and growing like a weed, don't listen. The young, enthusiastic shooter needs to start out with a rifle that is comfortable to shoot. Heavy artillery can quickly cause flinching. Flinching at the shot is a destroyer of accuracy. It can become a habit. Don't foster flinching.
    Starting early
    We have so many deer these days and easy hunting that kids are shooting deer shortly after weaning. My advice is to let the youngster hunt deer without a real deer rifle until around age 12 depending of course on degree of maturity. But if their pleading and your eagerness must be served, forget about long range knockdown power and remember their frailty and sensitive ears.
    Really young and small hunters need the very lightest cartridges like the .222 or .223 Remington. These calibers are legal for deer in Mississippi but not in all states. Their drawback is their lack of knockdown power, but this brings with it the opportunity to teach the child the importance of precise bullet placement.
    A better deer cartridge is the .243 or the less popular .244 and .6 mm, good choices for most youngsters in the 10-year-old range. For those who can handle cartridges with a bit more punch, the .260, 30-30, .250 Savage and .257 Roberts are available.
    Either get a youth model or shorten the stock of the rifle to fit the young shooter. Sawing off the stock and installing a soft recoil pad can be a fun family project for those who are handy.

    Also on Franklin County Times
    Phil Campbell Festival
    Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
    Phil Campbell Festival
    Griffin Traylor 
    June 26, 2025
    The Phil Campbell Festival was held June 20-21 at Memorial Park in downtown Phil Campbell. This year’s event featured performances by Jase Swinning, w...
    Sparkman joins Belgreen as assistant principal, coach
    Main, Z - News Main
    Sparkman joins Belgreen as assistant principal, coach
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 25, 2025
    BELGREEN -- Jacob Sparkman, a seasoned educator and coach, is stepping into a dual role this year at Belgreen High School as assistant principal and o...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Children meet animals during Weatherford Public Library event
    News, Red Bay
    Children meet animals during Weatherford Public Library event
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 25, 2025
    RED BAY -- Children at the Weatherford Public Library got an up-close look at a variety of animals during an Animal Tales event that was part of the l...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Swann Brings new energy to Franklin County 4-H
    News, Z - News Main
    Swann Brings new energy to Franklin County 4-H
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 25, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Alicia Swann may be new to her role as Franklin County’s 4-H agent, but she’s no stranger to the community. A Hodges native, Swann steppe...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Argument leads to attempted arson charge
    News
    Argument leads to attempted arson charge
    Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
    June 25, 2025
    RED BAY — A Red Bay man is facing five counts of reckless endangerment and one count of attempted arson after he dumped gasoline throughout a residenc...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Vina, Tharptown coaches face off at Coleman Coliseum
    News
    Vina, Tharptown coaches face off at Coleman Coliseum
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 25, 2025
    TUSCALOOSA -- Most summer play dates don’t come with championship banners overhead, or a college coaching legend posing for photos of a father and dau...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Warhurst starts next chapter of her journey as educator
    B: Nation & World
    Warhurst starts next chapter of her journey as educator
    María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
    June 25, 2025
    R U S S E L L V I L L E -- Jennifer Warhurst, elementary curriculum director for Franklin County Schools, is retiring effective July 1. After 26 years...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}
    Son is sworn in to finish what his dad had started
    Main, Z - News Main
    Son is sworn in to finish what his dad had started
    Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
    June 25, 2025
    RUSSELLVILLE Grayson Murray was sworn into office on Friday morning as Franklin County commissioner for District 1. Murray was appointed by Gov. Kay I...
    {"epopulate_editorials_prism":"epopulate_editorials_prism"}

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    ❮ ❯
    Latest Local News
    Phil Campbell Festival
    Phil Campbell Festival
    The Phil Campbell Festival was held June 20-21 at Memorial Park in downtown Phil Campbell. This year’s event featured performances by Jase Swinning, w...
    June 26, 2025
    Children meet animals during Weatherford Public Library event
    Children meet animals during Weatherford Public Library event
    RED BAY -- Children at the Weatherford Public Library got an up-close look at a variety of animals during an Animal Tales event that was part of the l...
    June 25, 2025
    Franklin EMA seeks grant to purchase scene light
    RUSSELLVILLE The Franklin County Emergency Management Agency is hoping to secure funding for a much-needed piece of equipment to improve nighttime eme...
    June 25, 2025
    Swann Brings new energy to Franklin County 4-H
    Swann Brings new energy to Franklin County 4-H
    RUSSELLVILLE Alicia Swann may be new to her role as Franklin County’s 4-H agent, but she’s no stranger to the community.A Hodges native, Swann stepped...
    June 25, 2025
    Argument leads to attempted arson charge
    Argument leads to attempted arson charge
    RED BAY — A Red Bay man is facing five counts of reckless endangerment and one count of attempted arson after he dumped gasoline throughout a residenc...
    June 25, 2025

    More Local News

    Latest Stories
    Franklin EMA seeks grant to purchase scene light
    RUSSELLVILLE The Franklin County Emergency Management Agency is hoping to secure funding for a much-needed piece of equipment to improve nighttime eme...
    June 25, 2025
    Calendar Of Events
    June 28 – Orange Baptist Church VBS,9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., one day only. 8153 Highway 34, Russellville. Theme: “Magnified.” Open to all ages.July 13–18 ...
    June 25, 2025
    Murray, 20, steps boldly into politics of Franklin County
    The adage he’s got some big shoes to fill takes on a whole new meaning for Grayson Murray.On Friday, Murray was officially sworn in as Franklin County...
    June 25, 2025
    Birthdays
    June 25Monica Hovater Stanley Tim Alford Truman Stanley Tiffany Hallman June 26Monica Hovater Stanley Brad Fuller Chris Fuller Kellie Hargett Jo White...
    June 25, 2025
    Red Bay ’24 audit indicates improved finances
    RED BAY – The city’s financial position continued to strengthen over the past year, according to the Fiscal Year 2024 audit.J.C. Johnson of The Sparks...
    June 25, 2025
    Latest Sports
    Belgreen’s Moore earns First Team All-State honors
    Belgreen’s Moore earns First Team All-State honors
    BELGREEN -- Jemma Moore has been named to the AHSAA First Team All-State for softball, becoming just the ninth player in school history to earn the di...
    June 18, 2025
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    Maddox retires after 26 years of shaping young minds at RMS
    R U S S E L L V I L L E -- Teaching for Diane Maddox has never been just about grammar rules or reading comprehension, but rather about connection, cr...
    June 18, 2025
    Reynolds rebounds from knee injury, excels in baseball
    Reynolds rebounds from knee injury, excels in baseball
    REDBAY--TyReynolds hasn’t picked out the spot yet, but promises it will be a place of prominence, a semi-shrine for one item that shaped so much of hi...
    June 18, 2025
    ‘Sky’s the limit’ for Phil Campbell aviation program
    ‘Sky’s the limit’ for Phil Campbell aviation program
    PHIL CAMPBELL — Students at Phil Campbell High School recently had an unforgettable learning experience — one that lifted their studies to new heights...
    June 18, 2025
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    Tournament raises $1,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation
    Let us share your photos. Information should include the names of all people in the photo, the name of the photographer, and a brief explanation of th...
    June 11, 2025

    More Sports Stories

    x

    Sections

    • Home
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyles
    • Obits
    • Special Sections
    • Sponsored Content
      • Home
      • News
      • Sports
      • Opinion
      • Lifestyles
      • Obits
      • Special Sections
      • Sponsored Content

    Services

    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise With Us
    • Policies
    • Terms of use
    • Submit a news tip
    • Submit a photo
    • Birth announcement
    • Birthday announcement
    • Engagement announcement
    • Wedding announcement
    • Submit a Classified Ad
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter
      • About Us
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise With Us
      • Policies
      • Terms of use
      • Submit a news tip
      • Submit a photo
      • Birth announcement
      • Birthday announcement
      • Engagement announcement
      • Wedding announcement
      • Submit a Classified Ad
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

    Follow Us

    Copyright

    © , Franklin County Times