SHOTGUN SHOOTING Merit Badge
THIS IS A NEW MERIT BADGE OFFERING FOR 2008, SO PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY TO AVOID CONFUSION AND DISAPPOINTMENT.
The Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge class is offered one class in the morning, and one class in the afternoon. (The Rifle Shooting Merit Badge classes are also offered one in the morning and one in the afternoon—you could register for both Rifle and Shotgun if you wanted.) Enrollment is limited to 10 students in each class. This is a hard merit badge! and it can be costly because (a) you must pay the regular Merit Badge Day registration fee of $20,00 ($25.00 with lunch), (b) a special Shooting Sports Fee of $25.00, and (c) after you shoot one box of shells, you have to start paying for shells at $8.00 per box (25 shells per box). Also, you have to come to the Range Session on May 31 from 9:00 to 5:00.
If you do not have previous experience shooting a gun, you should carefully consider whether this is a class for you. A big consideration is whether you are strong enough to shoot a shotgun. There is some recoil, but the big problem is the weight of the gun. A gun weights about 7.5 pounds. If you cannot hold a full milk jug out at arms length for at least 10 seconds with each arm without shaking, this is not a class for you.
To register for this Merit Badge, you must (a) complete the regular Merit Badge Day Registration form and pay the usual $20.00 fee ($25.00 with lunch), (b) complete and return the “Special Registration Form—Shooting Sports” and pay a special Shooting Sports fee of $25.00, (c) complete and return the special “Emergency Medical Authorization and Permission to Handle a Firearm and Ammo.” You must be at least 12 years old on May 3, 2008. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT forms (b) and (c). Fill these forms out and mail them back to register. You must also fill out and return the MB Day 2008 Registration Form (front and back) by April 19, 2008. These forms print much better if printed on legal size paper.
Send SEPARATE CHECKS for the regular Merit Badge Day fee and the special Shooting Sports Fee. If we actually admit you to the Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge class on Merit Badge Day, the special Shooting Sports Fee will become NON-REFUNDABLE IN ALL EVENTS--even if you cannot make it to the Range Sessions. If you are not actually admitted to the Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge class, we will return or destroy the separate check for the Shooting Sports fee at Merit Badge Day.
It is okay to register for both Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting; you will have to pay a separate Shooting Sports Fee of $25.00 fee for each Merit Badge. We will accept completed prerequisites for one Merit Badge for the other Merit Badge also.
You must finish the prerequisites before class and bring your answers and the Hunting Proclamation (see below) to class with you on Merit Badge Day. They must be turned in when class starts. We meet outside so be prepared for cold or rainy weather. The prerequisites for the class are as follows:
Read the Merit Badge pamphlet first, then write a one paragraph explanation for each of the following requirements in Section 1: (a) (safety with BB guns and Pellet Guns), (b)(how to react to a friend who wants to see your family’s guns), (c) (need, use and types of hearing and ear protection), (e) (hunting and wildlife resources), and (g)(proper shooting hygiene).
For requirement 1(f), bring to class a “Hunting Proclamation” for the State of California (big game, water fowl, or upland game). Obtain this at a gun store (Grant Boys, Turners Outdoorsman, Big Five, etc.). Make a list of the following that can be hunted with a shotgun: (a) three big game animals, (b) three species of upland birds, (c) two species of water fowl, and (c) four other animals or birds. Don’t ask your parent to go to the store to get the proclamation for you. Go yourself and look around the store and see what they have to offer in the way of firearms, hunting and camping equipment, and other fun stuff.
For requirement 1(h) and (i), go to the Internet or yellow pages and find (a) the name of three shooting facilities in Orange, Los Angeles or Riverside Counties, (b) the type of guns and shooting each caters to, (c) the address and contact information of the facility, and (d) whether the facility sponsors, supports or can recommend an NRA youth shooting sports club. If you do that much, that will satisfy the requirement. But, we encourage you to go one step further. Get the name and contact information of the NRA youth shooting sports club and call him or her. Find out when the group meets and what type of shooting it’s involved with. You’ll be glad you took this extra step if you have any interest in becoming good with a rifle or shotgun.
On Merit Badge Day, we will discuss all the requirements of Section 1 of the Merit Badge book, and then quickly move to Section 2. We will do a lot of practice shooting with mock shotguns so you will be ready for the range.
To pass the shooting requirements for this badge, you must break 12 out of 25 clay pigeons. We will require that you do this only once. The birds will be flying straight away from you at moderate speed out of a mechanic, portable trap machine. The path of the birds will be very predictable and consistent. We prefer you use our guns; you can use your own gun only if it is fairly new, a recognized brand and an adult can vouch for its safety. For safety reasons, we require that you use our shells only. Our guns are (a) three Benelli Super Black Eagle auto loaders, (b) a Charles Daly auto loader, (c) a Beretta Urika auto loader, (d) a Remington 870 pump, and (e) a Winchester 1300 pump. All are 12 gauge shotguns. There may be some other nice guns at the range depending on who is assisting that day. We provide safety glasses and hearing protection, but you are welcome to bring your own.
There will be one Range Session to pass off the shooting requirement at the Romberger Shooting Facility at Firestone Scout Reservation in Brea, California. A map and directions will be passed out at Merit Badge Day. Firestone Scout Reservation is reached from the 57 Freeway and the Tonner Canyon off ramp. The Tonner Canyon off ramp is accessible going north on the 57 Freeway only and is ten minutes north of the Anaheim Pond (now, the Honda Arena). From the bottom of the off ramp to the Romberger Shooting Facility inside Firestone Scout Reservation is 15 minutes. Speed limit inside Firestone is 15 mph.
The Range Session is Saturday, May 31, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each Scout will be fitted with a gun, given a short refresher safety lesson and a technique refresher course, outfitted with a shell belt, and receive a warm up round of 6 shells. Then, each Scout will be given a box of shotgun shells. Those who qualify with one box of shells (we have had several Scouts who have done this) can leave as soon as they pass. If you do not qualify with your first box of shells, you can work on Rifle Shooting (if you are enrolled there) while you wait for another turn, or get back in line to shoot again after all other Scouts have had their try with their first box. We don’t know how long this will take and can’t guarantee how many turns you will get. But, after your first box of shells, the shells cost $8.00 per box.
You can sign up for both Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting on Merit Badge Day.
Some parents and Scouts ask if it is realistic that a Scout can pass off the shooting requirement for the Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge. Yes. If the Scout is strong enough to handle a shotgun and pays attention, the answer is definitely yes. But, it will probably take the whole Range Session to do it. We have excellent instructors and top notch equipment and a beautiful shooting range. We should be able to help everyone succeed—if they have the basic strength required to shoot a shotgun and are serious students.
At Merit Badge day you must bring a Blue Card signed by your Scoutmaster. Come prepared for wet or cold weather, both to Merit Badge Day and to the range. Bring a snack and water to the range; there are no vending machines or water fountains at the range. Wear a hat to the range. If you are an observer bring your own chair (parents are welcome to sit in on both Merit Badge Day and the Range Session). Observers at the range might be required to pay a $3.00 Firestone day use fee (we will pay any fee for Scouts enrolled in Shotgun Shooting for May 31). DO NOT BRING ANY AMMO TO MERIT BADGE DAY OR TO THE RANGE! DO NOT BRING ANY AMMO TO MERIT BADGE DAY OR TO THE RANGE! DO NOT BRING ANY AMMO TO MERIT BADGE DAY OR TO THE RANGE! (Is that clear enough?) You may bring a gun to the range, but not to Merit Badge Day. If you bring a gun to the range, it must be cased and you are solely responsible for transporting it in a manner complying with California law. If you violate these rules or any safety rules, we reserve the right to immediately dismiss you (or an observer).
This is a lot of information, but read it all carefully. If you have specific questions, please Email us at warren@warreninouye.com or terryp500@yahoo.com. See you at Merit Badge Day. Ask your Scoutmaster to contact us about a Fun Shoot for the whole troop.
SPECIAL REGISTRATION FORM—SHOOTING SPORTS
1. Name: ___________________________________ Birthday: __________
Address:_____________________________________________________
Rank:_____________________ Troop No:__________________________
Email Address:________________________Telephone:_______________
2. Describe your experience with guns:__________________________________
3. Register for other classes just in case you don't get into a Shotgun Shooting class:
2nd Choice:____________________ 4th Choice:______________________
3rd Choice:_____________________ 5th Choice:______________________
4. Return this SPECIAL REGISTRATION FORM--SHOOTING SPORTS to Troop 22 Merit Badge Day, 3137 Yukon Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
5. Send two separate checks: (a) Registration Fee for $20.00 (or $25.00 with lunch) and a (b) Shooting Sports Fee of $25.00. If you register for Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting, you must pay a separate Shooting Sports Fee for each. The Shooting Sports Fee will be refunded at Merit Badge Day if you are not admitted to the class.
6. Fill out and return the "Special Permission and Emergency Medical Authorization" form.
7. Fill out and return the regular Merit Badge Day 2008 Registration form (front and back).
8. Return all three forms with your checks. We cannot register you if any form is incomplete.
9. The adult signing below is a parent ____ or legal guardian _____ (check one) of the Scout and agrees (a) he or she has read and approved this form, the special instructions on the website and the attached Emergency Medical Authorization and Permission to Handle a Firearm and Ammo (with releases of liability), and (b) he or she agrees to take the Scout to the Range Session on the appropriate days.
Date:_______________ ______________________________________
Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian
Print Name:_____________________________
______________________________________
Signature of Scout
Print Name:____________________________
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION
AND PERMISSION TO HANDLE A FIREARM AND AMMO
I request that (Name of Scout) _____________________________ (the "Scout") be allowed to attend Merit Badge Day. The Scout is in good health and able to attend Merit Badge Day with no special health concerns (if not shown below). Should any illness or accident occur, please attempt to contact the contact or the alternate as soon as possible.
Any special health concerns (e.g., required medications, allergies, asthma, physical limitations, etc.) ________________________________________________________.
If the contact or alternate contact shown below cannot be reached immediately, the Scout may___ may not___ be admitted to a hospital and given aid by a licensed physician without the undersigned's written or oral confirmation. This authorization is given pursuant to California law and remains effective while the Scout is participating in Merit Badge Day or the Range Session. The contacts will be contacted as soon as possible.
I understand the handling of firearms is inherently dangerous, but I request that the Scout be allowed to participate in Merit Badge Day's Rifle Shooting class and Range Session. Should any illness or accident occur, I will not bring an action or claim or otherwise participate in or cooperate with the bringing of an action or claim of any kind against the Boy Scouts of America, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the gun range at which the Range Session is conducted, or any of the officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, directors, leaders and advisors of any of the same. I hereby release such persons from liability. I will also reimburse the appropriate persons for expenses incurred in the aid of the Scout.
Under the California Penal Code, I hereby specifically consent to the Scout handling and using a gun or guns and handling and using ammunition in conjunction with the Range Session(s) of Merit Badge Day. The undersigned is the parent or legal guardian of the Scout and is legally authorized to sign this document.
Name of Scout:________________________________________________________
Check One: _____ Parent or _____ Legal Guardian of the Scout
Dated:________________ Signed:________________________________________
Print Name:__________________________________________________________
First Emergency Contact:____________________Telephone___________________
Alternate Contact:__________________________Telephone___________________
Attach Copy of Proof of Insurance (Very Important for Admission to Emergency Facility)