By Steve Comus
During the current pandemic, authorities are encouraging people to distance themselves from others to help avert becoming infected with the coronavirus. No argument here. Lock and load. Want to avoid crowds and have fun at the same time? Go spring turkey hunting or go shooting. It is always the right time to have fun with a gun.
Life goes on, even during a pandemic, and the timing right now affords a good reason to bag a gobbler. Given the fact that typically pandemics last from 12 to 36 months, now is also the time to plan more hunts than ever for this coming fall. Meanwhile, there is nothing wrong with doing some recreational shooting. This can involve any kind of gun or bow and can be done anywhere it is safe and legal to shoot.
With that in mind, I noticed that some of the images of the coronavirus were not only fantastically ornate, but that their shapes and features lent themselves to becoming fun targets to shoot at while on the range.
So, I printed out some of them and took them to the range where I blasted away with both handguns and rifles. They are kind of like shooting gallery targets, which means each one can handle a lot of bullet holes.
All this amounts to is a variation on the theme a few years ago when zombie shooting was the rage. One thing that craze pointed out is that colorful, imaginative targets are a lot of fun.
Another activity that can be fun when it is not advisable to socialize a bunch is reloading ammunition. This is something that is best done alone at home anyway – perfect for anyone who is stuck in the house for any extended period of time.
The point is that the shooting sports offer all kinds of alternatives to activities that involve large groups of people in social settings. This may be why the anti-gun folks are so effective: while we’re alone at home loading or out shooting and hunting, they are socializing and lobbying against us. Hmmm.
It is difficult to know how long the virus will adversely affect travel, but chances are it will be for a while. There is time right now to start thinking about hunts to go on later in the year – hunts that can be done not too far from home. There always is varmint hunting. It is done where there are no crowds and is as close as the nearest place where it is both legal and safe to shoot.
Of course, the dove opener Sept. 1 is prime for spending time in the wide-open spaces while hunting. The nice part about that is that there is plenty of time between now and then to get a new gun, practice with an old one or just generally blast a bunch of clay targets.
Yes, there are things to do when being around big crowds or jetting around the world is not on the agenda. When in doubt, shoot. If still in doubt, shoot more. Bang, bang.
Steve Comus is a nationally recognized hunting editor with Safari Club International and a WON Guns and Hunting Guns Editor.
