For most Aroostook sportsmen, warm summer months are primarily dedicated to fishing, kayaking, canoeing and cook outs. Some outdoorsmen, myself included, can’t seem to go more than a couple of weeks without being exposed to the aroma of Hoppe’s gun cleaner and the smell of burnt gun powder.
Be it plinking cans at the neighborhood gravel pit, bench shooting targets at the local gun range or pulverizing flying skeet targets at the area fish and game club, hunters need to shoot.
I have friends who meet at the local trap and skeet range and fire three or four boxes of shells through a favorite shotgun almost every Sunday, even during the winter months. Other acquaintances set up metal knock-down targets or spinning targets and enjoy challenge matches with handguns or short range .22 rifles, and even BB or pellet guns. All of this off-season practice generally pays big dividends when bird and big game season rolls around in the fall.
Growing up in a small Aroostook town in the 1950s and 60s offered neophyte shooters a few opportunities not readily available today. Every village and most farms had an open dump, and most households took full advantage to deposit rubbish from home regularly. The downside to these dump sites was a substantial, healthy population of large, hungry rats which weren’t very frightened of the humans visiting with a supply of more food.
It was commonplace for Dads to take their sons and even some daughters to the dump on an evening or weekend to shoot rats with a .22 or .410 shotgun. Not only did we offer cheap pest control, but we honed our shooting and hunting skills as well. For a youngster these vermin control hunts were greatly anticipated and created much the same excitement as going to deer camp for the adults. Even with a wide array of more modern plinking and shooting opportunities, I still think of those rat hunts and feel a bit nostalgic.
Nowadays with landfills, firearm regulations, and concerns about firing guns near communities, new shooting options must be pursued. For many sportsmen quick moving, sharp-eyed groundhogs have become a spring and summer target. Since these woodchucks are plentiful and widespread all over Maine, and much regarded by farmers, homeowners, and gardeners as a nuisance, more folks are hunting them. Another year around target small game animal is the squirrel. These pesky animals are very populous and often cause damage to property and homes, so squirrel hunting hones not only shooting skills, but keeps the population in check. In many states there are seasons and limits on several species of squirrel and I’ve talked to many sportsmen who enjoy a tasty feed of fried squirrel.
Wing shooters who seek to keep their skills fine tuned need only take advantage of crow season. These black, noisy varmints tend to be tricky targets to call into range and shoot, therefore test several outdoor skills. Since these scavengers wreak havoc on eggs and newborn of many other local bird species, crow hunting serves a dual purpose. While crow and groundhog don’t offer much in the way of tablefare taste, the feathers and fur are very useful as fly tying components, as are much sought out red and gray squirrel tails.
For those sportsmen more into shooting than hunting, there are still hundreds of gravel pits to visit. High banks offer a safe, bullet-backstop and balloons, paper targets on tin cans make great aim testing targets. Avoid using any glass containers and carry out refuse from any targets used on site. If you own a large rural back yard or have a farmer friend with a field not being planted, how about an informal skeet shoot? A portable thrower that can be anchored in the ground or even a lightweight hand-thrower and a box of targets provide a couple of hours of sling and shoot fun.
Bench rest long range target shooting is another style of improving big game hunting skills. It’s also an essential part of testing loads and matching the best cartridge with your favorite long gun or handgun. By yourself or with friends, personal challenge or group contest, shooting provides stress relief as a hobby while also improving chances of putting game in the freezer — a very satisfying combo.
Whether you’re a rifleman, hand-gunner, scattergun enthusiast, archer or pellet gun user, summer practice leads to autumn perfection. These practice and plinking sessions also improve safety awareness and instill good habits with any weapon. Hobby, pastime, or serious practice, each and every outing offers its own rewards. Even mediocre results offer the gun and powder smells that make shooting, and shooters and hunter special breeds. Take advantage of a warm, sunny weekend afternoon or a calm, cool evening, bring family or a friend and enjoy a hour of firearm fun. Plinking provides a great pastime for summer shooters.
