The idea for this thread came up when I was going through the "what do you grab when something goes bump in the night." I was thinking to myself about the times I have gone to investigate a bump, but I could only think of one instance where I was rudely awakened. I'll get to how it relates to the title after the story.
I work at a summer day camp when I am not at college, and the first year I worked there I actually lived in one of the cabins with some of the other staff, so i spent my off hours there as well. Now this camp has a serious squirrel problem (or what i like to call a "target rich environment"
). They were getting into the horse feed, into the cabins, and getting into the kids lunch boxes and such. I told the camp director I had a .22 at home and would gladly thin the population out a bit, but he kind of blew me off.
As the summer progressed the problem got worse and he asked me if I could give him some advice on purchasing a firearm for dealing with the squirrels. Since it would be his only gun, I suggested a 12 gauge pump because he could use it for just about anything, including the squirrels. I also wanted to make sure that he was going to hit them, and I didn't want to have to worry about him shooting a .22 into the trees if I wasn't there to remind him about firearm safety. He said he'd think about it, and i thought that was the end of it.
I went home to see my family that weekend, and he called me to ask if I could bring my .22 down when I came back to take care of some squirrels. This was like an inviting a kid into a candy store, so of course I obliged.
I was waiting for the next Saturday because I knew nothing was going on and I could get all sighted in and do some work. I left the rifle locked and bagged in the trunk of my car all week to keep it safe from curious eyes and hands.
Saturday came and I awoke to the sound of a gunshot extremely close to the cabin, then another. I immediately jumped up sprinted out the door in my boxers to the trunk of my car to get my .22. I was the only person who had special permission from the director to have firearms (it is expressly forbidden in the employee contract) at camp, so I had no idea who was shooting and what they were shooting at. When I got to my car (it was right in front of the cabin), I looked up to identify the perceived threat.
My boss was standing about 25 yards from the cabin, with a Pardner Pump he had purchased that morning. I was both relieved and angered at the same time. Relieved the situation was not what I had expected (good thing because I had left my car keys in my jeans
) and angered because of the dangerous situation my boss created by not letting me know what he was up to. I realize it is his property and he doesn't have to run things by me, but the situation could have been handled better.
After I got dressed we had a discussion about firearm safety and I came up with a check in system to make sure nobody started shooting without the other knowing.
Looking back, I regret suggesting he get a shotgun, and still kick myself for not thinking about single shot air rifles when he asked.
I've introduced plenty of people to the joy of shooting safely and with the proper respect the sport deserves, but I wish I hadn't done it that time.
anybody else have a similar experience?
I work at a summer day camp when I am not at college, and the first year I worked there I actually lived in one of the cabins with some of the other staff, so i spent my off hours there as well. Now this camp has a serious squirrel problem (or what i like to call a "target rich environment"
). They were getting into the horse feed, into the cabins, and getting into the kids lunch boxes and such. I told the camp director I had a .22 at home and would gladly thin the population out a bit, but he kind of blew me off. As the summer progressed the problem got worse and he asked me if I could give him some advice on purchasing a firearm for dealing with the squirrels. Since it would be his only gun, I suggested a 12 gauge pump because he could use it for just about anything, including the squirrels. I also wanted to make sure that he was going to hit them, and I didn't want to have to worry about him shooting a .22 into the trees if I wasn't there to remind him about firearm safety. He said he'd think about it, and i thought that was the end of it.
I went home to see my family that weekend, and he called me to ask if I could bring my .22 down when I came back to take care of some squirrels. This was like an inviting a kid into a candy store, so of course I obliged.
I was waiting for the next Saturday because I knew nothing was going on and I could get all sighted in and do some work. I left the rifle locked and bagged in the trunk of my car all week to keep it safe from curious eyes and hands.
Saturday came and I awoke to the sound of a gunshot extremely close to the cabin, then another. I immediately jumped up sprinted out the door in my boxers to the trunk of my car to get my .22. I was the only person who had special permission from the director to have firearms (it is expressly forbidden in the employee contract) at camp, so I had no idea who was shooting and what they were shooting at. When I got to my car (it was right in front of the cabin), I looked up to identify the perceived threat.
My boss was standing about 25 yards from the cabin, with a Pardner Pump he had purchased that morning. I was both relieved and angered at the same time. Relieved the situation was not what I had expected (good thing because I had left my car keys in my jeans
) and angered because of the dangerous situation my boss created by not letting me know what he was up to. I realize it is his property and he doesn't have to run things by me, but the situation could have been handled better.After I got dressed we had a discussion about firearm safety and I came up with a check in system to make sure nobody started shooting without the other knowing.
Looking back, I regret suggesting he get a shotgun, and still kick myself for not thinking about single shot air rifles when he asked.
I've introduced plenty of people to the joy of shooting safely and with the proper respect the sport deserves, but I wish I hadn't done it that time.
anybody else have a similar experience?
