As I was leaving the dam after a walk, I saw this little pumpkin lying abandoned in the grass. I pulled over, put it on the passenger seat and brought it home to live on my dining room table. But eventually, in the way of all gourds, it began to decompose. My younger son asked if he could use it for target practice and suggested I try it as well.
After briefing me on safety, my son demonstrated and then handed me the gun. (This is not the Airsoft AK-47, but a BB rifle he'd purchased earlier). To my surprise, I hit the pumpkin on my first shot.
My son explained how the gun worked, showed me the CO2 canisters and let me try with both round BBs and lead pellets. He cautioned me not to touch my mouth if I did come in contact with the lead and told me to engage the safety before I walked over to the pumpkin. As much as anything, I was pleased to see how very careful he is.
My shots! We'd turn the pumpkin a little each time and check between each round. I was, I will admit, absurdly proud of myself for hitting it.
We moved in a little closer to try the BB pistol (a replica of a Smith and Wesson, he told me). I was able to hit the pumpkin with that gun, too. After checking my shots and celebrating my victory, my son said,
"No dancing with the gun, Mom." Like that's going to stop me.
Finally, it was time to put the pumpkin out of its misery and toss it to the woods to provide some food for the animals there. Another one bites the dust.
it was not suitable for a soup:) at least the animals had their dish:)
ReplyDeleteBlog about life and travelling
Blog about cooking
Definitely past its prime.
Deletehaha...my sons would have had a ball...i taught them those lessons with gun safety at an early age...it is great to hear them giving it back...or to each other when needed as well...crack shot, mom....
ReplyDeleteI'd never have allowed even a BB gun without knowing my son's caution, but it was nice to have it confirmed.
Deletethat is neat that your sons knew gun safety! It does sound like a good and humane way to put the pumpkin out of its misery and provide food for wildlife in your area :)
ReplyDeletebetty
That kid researches everything before he does it, so these guns were no different.
DeleteIt's good that your son is so safety conscious! If you were pumping lead pellets into the pumpkin did you remove them before you tossed the pumpkin into the woods for the animals?
ReplyDeleteOnly a couple of tiny lead pellets - the rest were regular BBs. So no, I didn't cut up the pumpkin to look for them.
DeleteI don't know anything about guns, so it's amazing how real they look to me. Are they made of metal or some sort of hard plastic?
ReplyDeleteAs much as I dislike the deer eating our landscaping, we do toss the pumpkins into the woods for the deer. Last year, I rolled a giant one down into the ravine and was amazed that the next morning, it was completely gone; not even the big stem was left behind.
The Airsoft that I wrote about earlier is metal and wood. These two are a hard plastic, that he has painted in a camouflage pattern.
DeleteI often throw bruised apples, squash that have grown too big and the like into the woods for the critters. I figure they could use the food.
I now expect to see your ad in "Mercenary": "Squash a problem? Woman available for weekend hits, humane end to your pumpkin issues."
ReplyDeleteHa! Although really, I'm not sure being used for target practice is a humane end!
DeleteGood that he takes the safety aspects so seriously. And yes, I bet you were proud of your new-found skill! I did a bit of shooting when I was at school and I also turned out to be quite a good shot. But I haven't shot since.
ReplyDeleteI know the cross hairs make it way easier, but I was pleased I could hit it at all.
DeleteWell I hope the poor Deer that eats this can digest BB's and pellets!
ReplyDelete(Loved your wine stash, but your beer collection looks a little stout to me)
When I threw the pumpkin, it broke into pieces - I don't imagine the few BBs are going to be a huge problem. And I also don't imagine they wouldn't roll right on through!
DeleteOnly one six-pack of stout in that lot, plus some brown ale - those aren't for me. I mostly buy IPAs and pale ales.
Mama and the BB.
ReplyDeleteI have the story now.
XO
WWW
My kids won't ever be able to say I never took an interest in what they were doing!
DeleteLaughing @ Should Fish More :) You do look like a natural with those weapons.
ReplyDeleteDR is holding on to the little pumpkin he never carved at Halloween. Maybe I can persuade him to hike it up into a woody area for the animals :)
Looks can be deceiving!
DeleteAnd I think going to the deer would be a fitting end for DR's pumpkin. The Indian corn on my front door will soon be given to my squirrels.
I'm not a person who likes guns much. But I have to admit that I did enjoy shooting cans with .22, and I think I would like that pellet gun. Guess I may have a bit of a wild side after all.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a person who likes guns AT ALL! But I admit, it was fun.
DeleteLong ago when we were first married, my husband took me out in the desert for some target practice---his idea of a good time, not mine! At one point he asked me to hold the gun while he did something else. It must have had a hairline trigger because it went off in my hand and scared the bejazus out of me. Nobody died, or even got hurt, thank God, but after that, we agreed it was okay for each of us to have interests the other didn't share! I never touched a gun again. Poor pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteThat would have scared me, too. I shot a gun when I was 16 on my aunt's boyfriend's ranch. Just once, but I hit the log in the lake I was aiming at. But I didn't liek how loud it was.
DeleteWhat else should one expect from a secret agent woman but to hit the pumpkin? Now you can move up to watermelons.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be down to watermelons since they are bigger and easier to hit?
Deleteyesterday brussels sprouts, today pumpkins, tomorrow watermelons (stolen from mr. charleston)
ReplyDeleteyou have a good future in the produce market, ms accurate aim.
:^)
ps okay, so this comment doesn't make sense. i was hoping it had a bit of clever rhythm to it :^)
If I can ever hit a Brussels sprout from that far away, I'm joining the FBI or something.
DeleteLOL Not the way I expected the pumpkin to go! I was sure it would be sliced and diced into pie, this was much more entertaining.
ReplyDeleteIt was not this pumpkins lot in life to end up as a pie!
DeleteI've always enjoyed target practice but rarely do it since I need to travel to my brother place. Guns are not a problem with safe people like you and your son.
ReplyDeleteYou may have missed your calling as a sharpshooter. I propose you keep practicing until you can hit blueberries from the same distance, then put our resumes.
ReplyDelete*out*
ReplyDeleteI think I'll stick with the occasional pumpkin!
DeleteLooks like you had fun. My husband took my smaller ones and some old apples to shoot at the gun range. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm so impressed with all the cautions and guidance he gave you!
ReplyDeleteHe's a careful kid, for which I'm thankful!
DeleteWow. Great shot! Judging by how much I suck playing all the first person shooter games, I probably have a lousy aim in real life too.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!!!
I have never tried any of those games, so I'm not sure how I'd do.
Deleteexcellent. glad he's so safety conscious. target shooting fun isn't it? ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was fun!
DeleteThat pumpkin looks so cute sitting on the passenger seat. It makes me want to put a seatbelt on it. Is that weird? ;) That's awesome that you were able to shoot it and then later put it out in the woods for the critters. I'm sure they were very appreciative!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny - I almost did put a seatbelt on it!
DeleteI don't know why, exactly, but the two of you in this post remind me of Anne Lamott and her son, Sam. Something in the tone of the relationship.
ReplyDeleteI'm ging to assume that's a compliment?
DeletePumpkins are good targets; some people like to launch them ballistically as well. But there are always the naysayers ... :)
ReplyDeleteWe have a catapult we could have used.
DeleteAnd wow, there is a website for everything!
pumpkins are good for strength training too. we used to use pumpkins at bootcamps during halloweens.
ReplyDeleteI guess that adds a little novelty.
Delete