Black Powder Rifles and Tomahawks

Oh, we had fun today.  We visited a local black powder gun range for a day of rifle shooting, tomahawk throwing, archery, and fire starting with flint and steel put on by a black powder rifle club.

We were invited (along with the rest of our Cub Scout pack) by a family that is involved with this anachronistic group.  This was right up IJ's alley.  He and one other boy from the pack proudly sported coonskin caps and vests instead of their Webelos caps.

M, S, and their group learning fire starting techniques. (On a side note-for my friends who also scout-we had "Class B" T-shirts printed for the boys to wear to activities like this so they wouldn't wear their uniforms, but still look like a group.  A screen printing place donated a part of the cost, so the shirts were only $7 each!)

D met many new four-legged friends.  And he also met an elderly man sitting by the fire with a walking stick who he called Grandad and tried to share his chips with.  Yes, I teared up.  D was only 16 months old when Grandad passed away, but he still looks for him wherever we go.

 S uses a "primitive" bow and arrow set.

You can see the tomahawk just under the Scotch broom in the picture above.

Little sisters got to participate too!  E didn't sink any tomahawks, but I hear she was a good archer and a good shot with the rifle!

My kids were in three different groups and we decided the gun range wasn't the safest place for me to be with F and D, so I stayed by the fire ring with the other women. 

M had a blast shooting the rifles and throwing the tomahawks as well!  We were one of the last families to leave.  I can see us participating in a group like this in the future!