BigFin Paying it Forward

[sdkhunter]

Great work all around

 

[elkrchr]

Couldn't ask for a better result! My hat's off to you, Big Fin and the mom for helping this young man reach his goal.

 

[brownbear932008]

Class act on several different levels by several different people to make that boys dreams come true.

 

[WyoDoug]

I think Randy has done a lot more than people realize. I have learned through what I read on top of his videos that he donates a quite a bit of time and money to conservation and public hunting causes. You don't see many experienced hunters in this group offering to help bring the beginners along. Most wallow in preserving their personal honey holes at all cost. Randy thinks like I do, if you don't get younger hunters into the sport, you are going to gradually begin to lose the opportunity to do it at all. Stats I looked up indicate that only a small percentage of millennials do any hunting at all.

 

[Panda Bear]

I think Randy has done a lot more than people realize. I have learned through what I read on top of his videos that he donates a quite a bit of time and money to conservation and public hunting causes. You don't see many experienced hunters in this group offering to help bring the beginners along. Most wallow in preserving their personal honey holes at all cost. Randy thinks like I do, if you don't get younger hunters into the sport, you are going to gradually begin to lose the opportunity to do it at all. Stats I looked up indicate that only a small percentage of millennials do any hunting at all.

So, so true. I agree with each and every point WYODOUG has mentioned.

First and foremost. Way to go Randy AND 406Life. Good job and thanks you!

To follow up on Wyodoug's post. We spend an enormous amount of time with young people. Not just hunting and fishing, but odd things folks dont do or even think about anymore. How to build an igloo, run a dog sled, read a compass, first aid, reading animal tracks, reading mother nature .

As 406life, stated in his post . We MUST pass our knowledge and love of the wild on to those who are interested or lose more and more of it, to the anti's, as there will be fewer and fewer supporting hunting, etc.

I know of three gentlemen on this forum, maybe more who know April and have know her for years. Five, possibly 7 years ago we saw April give rifles and shotguns to several. Even arranged hunts for them. For another fellow she arranged to have ammo sent from a company in Africa to a fellow that wanted to do an extensive study on how different bullets preform ( Barnes, Swift, Nosler, Norma, Woodleigh, Northfork, Rhino, etc ). I am looking for that test, so as to post it here, as I think some would enjoy it.

Sorry, got a bit wordy, but the type of things 406life, Randy, April, --AND OTHERS--do out of the kindness of their hearts, asking nothing in return, while doing whatever they can do to keep the industry we love alive and healthy.

Thank you Randy and 406Life and I also would like to thank the young man's mother for her willingness to help her son fulfill one of his dreams.

Good stuff, all around

 

[MT_elk]

Way cool! This is what it's all about. Very thankful for Randy's leadership. Not just with this particular story, but in all he does for hunting, conservation, etc. Keep it up!

 

[ashersdad]

Randy is probably one of the best examples of a true sportsman. I think we are all very appreciative of his leadership and passion for the public land hunter. Thank you Randy!

 

[Gerald Martin]

O bosh all around on all of you singing Randy’s praises. I was reading a thread on 24 hr campfire and finally figured out that all Randy has done is that he has ruined public hunting all over the West by publicizing all the good hunting spots.

Randy is responsible for point creep, hunter crowding, wolf reintroduction, panther predation, bad breath on dogs, and the common cold. You guys have been suckered.

Glad to hear another young hunter has quality tools for a good start.

 

[Scrappy]

Oh great now this mom and son thinks hunters are kind, generous, and all around good folks.
Bravo to all involved.

 

[marshman]

As a Hunter Education instructor we see a lot of kids come through, almost always with a parent who hunts themselves. I like seeing the future of hunting staying in the family. Those students have a mentor who will introduce them to their traditions in hunting. Most of us have a story familiar like this.

Then there are stories that stop you immediately. This year I had a single mother bring in her young son to my class, knowing nothing more than "this is where you start" hunting. He wanted to hunt, she was going to help, even though neither had any knowledge of where or what to do. He was quiet but attentive throughout the class and you could see mom was trying to take it all in. They graduated and then found me via social media. Sometimes you are presented with a situation that you know you just have to help out; this was that moment for me.

I reached out to BigFin and explained the situation to him. My question was if he knew how we might be able to start them with a rifle. He got back to me quickly and said to standby. While he was prepping for his trip to BC, he took the time to find a Howa .270 with a Leupold scope from his gun cabinet. His generosity and eagerness to help was frankly overwhelming. Anyone in the industry knows guys get hit up for stuff all the time, but to make something like this happen shows BigFin's character as well as his commitment to growing new hunters.

I feel privileged to be the middle man to watch this happen. Saying "Thank You" feels inadequate compared to the gesture, but Thank You, Randy. And thanks to Howa and Leupold, as well for investing in hunting's future.

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This is good stuff, you are more than a middle man sir - you are a facilitator of great things!

 

[TC207]

This is awesome. That is all.

 

[WyoDoug]

As a Hunter Education instructor we see a lot of kids come through, almost always with a parent who hunts themselves. I like seeing the future of hunting staying in the family. Those students have a mentor who will introduce them to their traditions in hunting. Most of us have a story familiar like this.

Then there are stories that stop you immediately. This year I had a single mother bring in her young son to my class, knowing nothing more than "this is where you start" hunting. He wanted to hunt, she was going to help, even though neither had any knowledge of where or what to do. He was quiet but attentive throughout the class and you could see mom was trying to take it all in. They graduated and then found me via social media. Sometimes you are presented with a situation that you know you just have to help out; this was that moment for me.

I reached out to BigFin and explained the situation to him. My question was if he knew how we might be able to start them with a rifle. He got back to me quickly and said to standby. While he was prepping for his trip to BC, he took the time to find a Howa .270 with a Leupold scope from his gun cabinet. His generosity and eagerness to help was frankly overwhelming. Anyone in the industry knows guys get hit up for stuff all the time, but to make something like this happen shows BigFin's character as well as his commitment to growing new hunters.

I feel privileged to be the middle man to watch this happen. Saying "Thank You" feels inadequate compared to the gesture, but Thank You, Randy. And thanks to Howa and Leupold, as well for investing in hunting's future.

I used to teach hunter safety in Colorado along with NRA pistol courses mostly for armed security guards. Might be something fun to get back into with G&F once I am fully retired.

 

[MNHunter]

Very cool!

 

[grizzly_]

Great job everybody. Especially Mom for going out of her comfort zone for her son. I can't think of a more under-appreciated segment of society than a single mom who is just trying to do her best to raise her kids!

I wonder if somebody in their area has a little land where that young man could get himself a doe this fall?

 

[JLS]

You don't see many experienced hunters in this group offering to help bring the beginners along. Most wallow in preserving their personal honey holes at all cost.

That’s a pretty brash statement. Did you substantiate this?

 

[JLS]

Thank you Big Fin and 406.

 

[rmyoung1]

Good work, guys. Such a great story!