Hi all. We only have one entry for this years drawing & we would really like to give another rifle away to a deserving youth. Keeping them interested in this sport is the only way to preserve it. Educating them on gun safety & the proper hunting ethics are very important. I think if a young man/woman were to have their own rifle/shotgun that they could carry it would help them to better understand all of the aspects of safety & ethics in our sport.

I know there is more than just 1 youth out there that would like to try for the top prize. Last years winner got a CZ 17M2. We haven't decided on the rig yet for this years drawing. But we do know that we WANT to give another one away.

All of the information about this contest is right here in the RSCAR 4 Kids Forum. If you have any questions just ask. Eric,Red, flatlander, MarinePMI & myself will do our best to answer them.

Anybody want to toss in some ideas??

You know my thoughts on this Glen as we have talked about it. I know Eric,Red, flatlander, MarinePMI & yourself want to make this happen for your buddy Russ. But it seems that the contest you guys picked out just does not generate the interest.....for whatever reason that might be. In hearing about Russ, there's no doubt that most anyone would have liked him. The bottom line of your contest theme is about helping todays kids get or stay involved in the outdoors....and you choose that because you know how important kids and their well being were to Russ. Somehow keep that ideal alive right here in the forum for Russ and the kids. I'm sure all forum members and guests are all for that ideal. But, it seems that almost none want to be directly involved in the contest and that seems almost unanimous. I'd drop the contest...Not the ideal you want to keep alive for Russ...and figure out a way to make that happen in a way that members do not have to physically do something in order to support it. Sorry if that offends anyone or sounds cold...but the facts of non support for that particular contest speaks for itself. You guys had a great idea and probably thought it would go over like gang busters. Possibly someone will post or PM you guys some ideas that will get a better response. God Bless Russ and family.

Glen....One idea of giving deserved and lasting recognition to Russ....On the top of Russ's favorite forum, or on top of all of the forums...Insert a favorite picture that you guys have of Russ. And then underneath his picture have a statement. This statement could be something that Russ might have said in life, or a statement of some sort that you guys put together to honor his life. Everyone would be reminded of Russ and what he stood for each and every time they visit a Varminter-Com forum. From what I have heard of this man...That would be a good thing.

Thanks Mike. Thanks for the feedback. I'll try to respond now. I'm not real good with words so please don't take this the wrong way.

We know there are youth out there that deserve this. The sport we've chosen to embrace here requires physical action. It's about getting our youth away from video games. To get them out or keep them involved in the outdoors. To teach them to be good stewards of the land. But on top of that the most important thing we can give our youth is a good education. The R4K Fund is all about rewarding youth on a wide spread scale. It's not just there favorite day in the field. The youth must keep up his/her schooling. Be respectful to their parents & elders. What I'm trying to say is that Russ believed the good kids never got enough attention. They were just,, Russ' words here,, "expected to do good". The bad kids got the attention. They threw the fits to get what they wanted. They passed the test to get a video game. Russ always thought there should be rewards for the ones that did good without expecting anything in return. The ones that did the right things because that is what they were supposed to do. Then there are the youth that do good in hopes of being rewarded but for whatever reasons aren't. Could be financial reasons for this. Could just be an oversight by loving parents that don't realize because they are too busy with the other children that need more attention.

If the Members of the Varminter Forums don't bring this to their children,nieces,nephews,grand children & ask them if they would like a chance to win their own rifle they will never know it existed. I can't emphasize enough just how much we need to get our youth involved. And even more today than ever before. Hope this came across in the right tone.

It came across in a perfect tone Glen and as we spoke of before, I have the same beliefs as you about the kids. They are ours and our countries future. I'd like to see a hundred or more kids take advantage of what you guys are trying to do here...but for some reason or another, it is just not happening...go figure?? And like you say....the forum members are the ones who have to take it to the streets, so to speak, to make the kids aware of the opportunity. Man I'd have loved to have had the chance to write an essay to win a BB gun when I was a kid let alone a cool powder burner Thanks for what you guys are trying to make happen

I don't understand either Mike. I would have drooled over the chance to win this too. My Dad would have as well. Raising 5 kids on a Railroaders electrician wage left money short at times. But my Parents did very well looking back. They instilled more important things in life. Thanks for helping!!

The idea was knocked around of setting up a separate site just for the give-away. That way it could be promoted on other sites, without there being a conflict of interest.

Another idea we can do, is to change the scope of the contest to a photo contest, or something like that. Parent can submit the photo of their son/daughter hunting or fishing and then it would be submitted. The results would be determined by a simple drawing of names from those who participated.

Good thoughts from everyone. Let's keep brain-storming!

Eric

I told my daughter about this a few weeks ago. I know she did start wrighting on the other computer. I'll have to see where she is at.

Cool!!

OK, I think this is the right place to post. My daughter is 13 and loves to go hunting with me. Here is here essay.

My First Woodchuck By: Katie Adams
2-26-2009

It was a beautiful sunny day in September, my Father and I thought it would be a great idea to go out and do some woodchuck hunting. We grabbed a .22 Long Rifle and headed out. We went to the nearby field and we posted some paper targets on the field post, and we sighted in the .22 Rifle. After it was sighted in we went to a better field where some more woodchucks would be grazing. We found a shady spot near the tree line and sat down and I took out some great binoculars. It took twenty minutes for the first woodchuck to pop up. The grass was sort of high, and he lowered his head to graze. That dampened my spirits a little. About five minutes later he stood up after I made a little noise. I got into position and was about to shoot, when he went down again. I was getting a little bummed. Then the trickster my Dad has been trying to shoot, popped up. I had two choices to make. The trickster was in a tricky position to shoot, so I returned my attention to the woodchuck in front of me. My chance had finally come! The woodchuck had been standing up for about 3 minutes now. The longest he had all day long, I aimed my gun in a safe direction, pointed the crosshairs of the scope on his head, aimed, and BANG!! After I shot the gun, I looked where I had shot the woodchuck. I thought I had missed and it had ruined my whole day! My Dad and I waited about five minutes to make sure nothing odd had happened. He asked me if I wanted to see if I had killed him. We went to the woodchuck hole, and there was nothing. My Dad looked down in the hole and there he was. He was headed straight in there to hide, but he didn’t move fast enough from me! We dragged him out from his hole and took him to the back of the truck and took some pretty cool pictures! I was SO happy! Even now when I look at my pictures a huge smile comes across my face, the size of the field I shot my woodchuck on!! Most of the boys at school are jealous, and I think that’s cool! I can hardly wait for woodchuck season to roll around this year.

Tigger, tell your daughter nice job and GREAT SHOT! I can tell by the picture she is happy to be out there in the field! Whats going on here with everybody else? No more entries?

AWESOME STORY KATIE!!

Makes me smile too.

Cool story Katie! I know grown men who will not reach down in a groundhog hole after a shot hog You ROCK Hope you and your dad have plenty of shooting fun this summer.

What was the final outcome of the essay contest? I know the contestants were few...just as last year..but there were entries...curious on what the outcome was....Mike

Haven't heard yet Mike. Thanks for asking.