Squirrel Education and Miscommunication

Recently,  I had the pleasure of attending a small hunting appreciation event put together by some friends. At first it promised to be a quiet event for hunting families to appreciate a slightly less-hunted game animal—the squirrel.

Any deer hunter can tell you stories about these cute, bushy-tailed tree-rats and the havoc they create while you sit in silence. They can be quite noisy—chattering away, and playing in the leaves while you are trying to listen for deer walking near you. They can also be very destructive to homes and anything else they decide to chew on.

Personally, I had never eaten squirrel, but I’m open to trying new things. They are small game and have been hunted for hundreds of years. Squirrels are plentiful and fairly easy to hunt. They are even considered a delicacy in some areas.

A local sporting organization hosted the family-friendly event at a hunt club, marketed as the “1^st Annual Family Squirrel Classic.” It was designed to introduce young hunters (as well as seasoned hunters who hadn’t tried squirrel) to the game animal. Part of the event was a contest for the hunters who brought in the biggest squirrels. The rest of the event centered around how to prepare the game animal and cook it. Hunters and their families were treated to several delicious game related meals like “moose stew” and some quite tasty squirrel. Hot dogs were provided for the less adventurous.  

Then came the protesters…

As I pulled up to the event with my youngest son, we were greeted by police cars with lights blazing, news crews, and lines of protesters with angry signs. What the…? Apparently, the small event had gotten the ear of an animal rights organization. The signs were atrocious: “Despicable parents raise despicable kids”, “And we wonder why there are school shootings”, and—

“You eat squirrel? You must be inbred.” 

There were accusations that we are training serial killers, and my favorite, “Teaching kids to kill is child abuse.”

More shameful than the signs were the actions of some of the protesters. One grandfather brought his granddaughter to the event and was barraged by foul-mouthed name calling in front of his grandchild. Several other hunters were also shouted at and ridiculed. I avoided the nonsense and quietly slipped in the door to the event.

My personal reaction to protesters? It is their right to protest PEACEFULLY. But, unless they were vegan, I found it hypocritical for them to protest hunting and teaching our children where our food comes from. Actually, game animals are equivalent to the food that is all the rage right now—hormone free, antibiotic free, organic, and free-range. Many may get their meat by paying $20/lb at the local supermarket. I get mine out in the woods and have a better appreciation for the animal that provided my dinner. It is not just a package that I picked up off the cooler-shelf.

Later, I did find out that there was some misinformation given to the protesters. Many either assumed or were told directly that we were having children shoot at caged or captive squirrels as a source of “family fun,” and that there were prizes for the kids who shot the most. I would have been just as outraged if this were true.

The moral of today’s post? It is fine to disagree with someone. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs. If you don’t understand someone’s point of view, have a CIVIL conversation. You might learn that the person is not that different than you. You might learn that you have misunderstood what they actually stand for. Or, you might discover that you completely disagree with that person. In which case it does NOT give you the right to disrespect them. Just agree to disagree, and leave it at that. Hopefully, if that person is mature, they will do the same.

In closing, hunters have an increasingly difficult time in populated areas like New Jersey. We play a vital part of the ecology that many people in our state do not understand. It is our responsibility to help them realize the part we play. Our job is to educate those who are willing to listen and learn about the joys of safe, ethical hunting.

Be safe, and enjoy your next trip to the woods.

At What Age Should My Child Handle Firearms?

As with any parenting issue, there are a ton of opinions on child-rearing. In the end, much of the decision comes down to how you feel as a parent, and when your child is ready. I do have some pointers that can help you make an informed decision to ease your way into the fun.

     Teaching firearm safety starts from the very beginning! It is hard in today’s society to not allow children to play with “toy” guns with the availability of so many choices. You have water guns, nerf guns, airsoft, paintball, and tons of video games with first-person and third-person shooters. It is an act of sheer determination and willpower to keep all forms of “toy” guns away from your child. I feel that this is essential in the years before you introduce them to real firearms. It helps to prevent your child from developing lazy habits like putting their finger on the trigger before they are ready to fire.

     Once your child expresses an interest in shooting, introduce them to something like a rubber band gun or nerf gun where there is little chance of injury, but they still have the experience of aiming at a target and knocking it down. 

I would not recommend airsoft at this point, though. Use that as a teaching tool. Treat it like a trip to the firing range. Keep it put away until there is parental supervision, and don’t allow them to just “play” at will.

Here are some safety practices to adopt:

1)      Have children tell you the “Three Rules of Firearm Safety” before each session. Watch them carefully. Have them get used to wearing safety glasses.

2)      Have children set up targets down range, and specify a shooting line to stay behind. Insist that if someone is downrange, the gun gets put down.

3)      Only allow children to shoot at targets. (No, the cat is not an acceptable target.)

4)      When the shooting is done, put the “toy” gun away and out of reach. Let children know that they are not to touch it unless they are with you. Maybe even lock it up with your real firearms.

Eventually, you will be able to judge when your child will safely be able to handle a real firearm. Once you are confident in your child, you can either step up to something like an airsoft gun that is slightly more hazardous, or move to something like a .22 caliber.

Whatever choice you make, always be 100% confident in your decision. If you are the least bit unsure, there is most likely a good reason. Trust your instincts. Have your child become familiar with whatever new “toy” gun or real firearm before they use it, and have them show you.

Above all, always be right by their side. It only takes a fraction of a second of inattention for a fun experience to turn into tragedy.