Young Awesome Hunter | www.yahunter.com

Author: Irwin Greenstein

At 16, Competitive Shooter Jace Walters is Now Glock’s Youngest Certified Armorer 

Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Handguns

As Jace Walters discovered, sometimes life takes on an indirect path that leads us to where we should be – in this case a young, rising star on the pistol tournament circuit.

A native of Elyria, Ohio, Jace’s journey started when the eleventh grader, at age three, was introduced to motocross by his father. At four, he competed in his first race, moving up in classes over the years and collecting trophies in local and state competitions. But after his brother and a few friends suffered injuries in motocross, Jace retired from the sport at 16. Early bowhunting adventures led him to competitive archery. It turned out that Jace was a quick study. His natural shooting abilities – honed with the help of his family, local supporters, dedication to hard training (and YouTube videos) – scored Jace several podium-level wins in 2017 and 2018 when he was about 10 years old.

Read More

Meet Riley Motrych: The 17-Year-Old Waterfowl Taxidermist

Monday, November 04, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Shotguns

Just about every weekend around Shawnee, Oklahoma, Riley Motrych is either hunting, scouting for hunting, or bass fishing either for fun or in tournaments. And although he clearly loves the outdoors, it’s the indoors where we can express his creative passion through waterfowl taxidermy.

“I like taxidermy because I’m recreating the animal to look as realistic as possible and put it together in an artistic way and showcase the beauty of it,” he explained.

There’s that old saying about necessity being the mother of invention, and in Riley’s case taxidermy helps finance his hunting and fishing exploits.

Read More

How the 4-H Shooting Sports Program Turned Jack Rogers into a Leader

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Organizations

Ask Jack Rogers what he got most out of National 4-H Shooting Sports Program and he’ll tell you it brought the once-shy boy “out of my shell.”

Now 18, Jack was introduced to a North Carolina National 4-H Shooting Sports program at age 10 by his father, Mark, who also participated as a boy.

“The 4-H changed my life,” Jack said. “I used to be extremely shy. Now I’m running the club and helping new clubs. I’m helping other shy kids – it’s life skills, teaching people to be polite, speak properly, kind of old school.”

Read More

The Henry Lever Action .22 Youth Rifle

Saturday, October 05, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Rifles
Tags: #henry.22youthrifle, #henryrifles, #youthrifles

Written by YAH Staff

The Henry Lever Action .22 Youth rifle is an excellent choice for introducing young shooters to the world of firearms. This compact and lightweight rifle offers a perfect blend of classic design and modern functionality, making it an ideal option for both new and experienced shooters alike.

Design and Build Quality

The Henry Youth .22 features a beautifully crafted American walnut stock with a smooth, high-quality finish. At just 4½ pounds and 33 inches in overall length, it’s specifically designed for smaller-framed shooters7. The 16.125-inch barrel and 13-inch length of pull make it easy for young hands to handle and maneuver7.

One of the standout features is the incredibly smooth lever action. The short throw allows for quick and effortless cycling, which is especially beneficial for younger shooters still developing their skills. The action cycles ammo flawlessly, contributing to the rifle’s excellent reliability1.

Performance and Accuracy

Despite its compact size, the Henry Youth .22 doesn’t compromise on performance. It’s capable of impressive accuracy, with many users reporting consistent 1-inch groups at 25 yards5. The rifle handles a variety of .22 LR ammunition types, including .22 Long and .22 Short, offering versatility in both plinking and small game hunting scenarios2.

The tubular magazine holds up to 15 rounds of .22 LR, providing ample capacity for extended shooting sessions4. The buckhorn rear sight and hooded front post sight are adequate for most shooting situations, though some users may find them a bit basic25.

Ease of Use and Safety

One of the key advantages of this rifle for young shooters is its simplicity. With just a trigger, lever, and hammer, it puts the responsibility for safety squarely on the user – an important lesson for new shooters2. The 1/4 cock safety setting on the hammer provides an additional layer of security against accidental discharge4.

Loading the tubular magazine might be slightly challenging for very young shooters with small hands, but this improves with practice1. The light recoil of the .22 LR cartridge, combined with the rifle’s smooth action, helps build confidence in new shooters12.

The Henry Lever Action .22 Youth rifle is an outstanding choice for introducing young shooters to firearms. Its combination of quality construction, smooth operation, and impressive accuracy make it a joy to shoot. While it may lack some of the advanced features of more expensive rifles, its simplicity and reliability make it an excellent tool for teaching firearm safety and marksmanship. Whether for plinking, small game hunting, or just enjoying a day at the range, this rifle is sure to provide years of enjoyment for young shooters and their families. Visit https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/lever-action-22-youth-rifle/

Lipsey’s Launches New Ruger Mark IV Exclusive Benefiting Youth Shooting Sports

Monday, September 30, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: News
Tags: #counciltoadvancehuntingandtheshootingsports, #lipseys, #recruitmentretentionreactivation, #rugermarkiv

Lipsey’s, a nationally renowned firearms distributor, has launched a modern version of their classic exclusive, the Ruger Mark IV Limited Edition 22LR pistol.

This project, in partnership with the Council To Advance Hunting And The Shooting Sports (CAHSS), will donate $50 per unit sold to help the advancement of competitive youth shooting sports. The primary goal of the CAHSS is to focus on Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3), by strategically increasing and diversifying participation in and support for shooting sports, hunting, and angling. Lipsey’s is eager to support this cause, which is vital to the evolution of shooting sports.

The new Lipsey’s Exclusive Ruger Mark IV Limited Edition pays tribute to one of Lipsey’s all-time best sellers with classic features on the newer Mark IV body. At first glance, the Rosewood grips inlaid with red Ruger medallions jump off the blued frame along with the newly added gold bead front sight. Lipsey’s kept with tradition with the non-threaded 4” bull barrel and rear adjustable sights. The top is drilled and tapped for optics and each pistol will have a specialized “CAHSS-” serial number.

Jason Cloessner, Lipsey’s Senior Vice President and Product Development Manager, on the new exclusive collaboration: “The MK4BL model Ruger is one of our all-time classic exclusives. Using this platform to create awareness for the great work CAHSS is doing for hunting and shooting sports makes it even better.”

“I am thrilled to tell you that a portion of the proceeds from every sale will be dedicated to promoting participation in and support for competitive youth shooting sports,” said Dr. Steve Leath, Executive Director, CAHSS. “This exclusive firearm bolsters the Council’s ability to provide crucial support to state and federal agencies, organizations, and industry initiatives that safeguard our esteemed shooting heritage. I hope you will join us in championing this pivotal work and elevate your shooting experience with the Ruger Mark IV Limited Edition.”

Lipsey’s Exclusive Ruger Mark IV Limited is available immediately to Lipsey’s dealers. For more information on the Council To Advance Hunting And The Shooting Sports, please visit: www.cahss.org

Celebrating over 70 years in business, Lipsey’s was formed initially as a wholesale hunting and fishing distributor in 1953 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Today, Lipsey’s is one of the country’s largest independently owned firearms distributors, offering a complete catalog of firearms, NFA items, and accessories. The company mantra, “AIM HIGHER,” focuses on innovative product distribution and dedication to family and community. Lipsey’s industry-leading exclusive firearms and relationship commitments provide unmatched value to federally licensed dealers and top manufacturers.

Please visit www.lipseys.com or follow at facebook.com/lipseysguns and Instagram @LipseysGuns.

2024 SSSF National Championship Continues to Break New Records

Sunday, August 11, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: News

The 2023-2024 season for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation’s (SSSF) youth development programs has concluded with another record-breaking National Championship. Hosted at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, the annual youth shooting sports competition once again set the mark for the largest shoot in Cardinal Center history. Between the SSSF’s clay target and action shooting youth programs, 40 states were represented at the National Championships, which saw over 3 million rounds safely fired without incident.

Action shooting sports participation continues to grow throughout the nation for young athletes and had a strong showing at the SSSF’s Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championship. Once again in 2024, the SASP broke the world record for the largest action shooting event in the world, all by youth athletes. With over 2,600 entries, athletes safely fired over 565,000 rounds of ammunition in competition without incident, along with side matches, sponsor demos, and practices tallying in additional hundreds of thousands of rounds. SCTP participation surged as well with over 3,100 athletes and over 9,000 event entries during the twelve-day event schedule. This marks the largest national championship the SCTP has ever conducted, with over 2 million White Flyer targets being thrown in competition, side matches, and practice.

Read More

17-Year-Old Air-Rifle Phenom Kenzie Kring Has Her Eyes on the 2028 Summer Olympics

Tuesday, August 06, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Rifles

You might call Kenzie Kring an accidental air-rifle star. It wasn’t as though she’s been wanting to compete in air-rifle tournaments all her life. In a way, you can say that air rifles actually found her.

Kenzie’s air-rifle journey started with a pragmatic introduction into the sport. Nearly four years ago, when she was researching college applications, she felt that a scholarship was somehow achievable, but wasn’t quite sure how until she noticed something particular on the applications. 

“At the bottom of every page of the applications was someone shooting an air rifle,” she recalled. “So I went to the local shooting club and picked up an air rifle. It felt like a natural for me.”

Read More

18-Year-Old Lilli Holt Will Be Happy to Teach You Fly Fishing

Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Angling

At age 18, having just graduated high school and with an eye on medical school, Lilli Holt finds that fly fishing is an important component in achieving her life goals.

“Fly fishing has changed my life in helping me know how to overcome problems,” said the Wyoming native. “It’s improved my mental focus. It’s a relaxing thing that helps me focus, learn new skills. Learning fly fishing was difficult and challenging, and sometimes it would get frustrating, but it taught me help over coming challenges in life, to relax and when overcoming the big things.”

Read More

Trulock Makes Affordable Bespoke Chokes for Collegiate Competitors

Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Shotguns

The four lanes of U.S. Route 84 cut through rural South Georgia. You’ll pass churches, body shops, gas stations, convenience stores, tired farm houses, old double-wides, acres of agriculture, Dollar General, skirt the downtown Cairo (home of the Syrupmakers high-school football team), before reaching Broad Avenue and the town limits of Whigham – population 428 as of the 2020 census. Having driven through the town several times over the years on my way to someplace else, and with Whigham’s total area of 1.2 miles overshadowed by a few blocks of derelict storefronts, you’d think it would be pretty easy to find a business that is still in operation.

Read More

Archery Becomes a Lifelong Winning Passion for 16-Year-Old Grady Kane

Monday, July 08, 2024
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Bows

Sometimes, we never know what’s going to grab us for the rest of our lives until we get a little nudge in the right direction.

For Grady Kane, that nudge from being an archery spectator to a committed, trophy-winning athlete came from his grandfather.

“I was wanted to shoot a bow from watching bow hunting on TV,” Grady recalled. “Then my grandfather showed me videos on USA Archery of a pro shooting, and it looked like it was fun and cool. That got me involved in target archery.” 

As is often the case of youth participation in the hunting and shooting sports, an organization helps participants find their own path to success. With Grady, Explore Archery, which is operated by USA Archery, supplied the necessary resources.

Read More