Your Personal Safety

Your Personal Safety

The world today is not lacking for news stories about violent attacks where the victims have been injured and killed by their attackers. News Stories of these attacks being thwarted by the potential victims are rarely highlighted by the main stream media.

If reading these news stories don't tell yourself it happened in another city, county or state. During my law enforcement career I heard far to often from citizens in the communities I served nothing ever happens here. Each one of them would name a neighboring community as one that they would expect to become a victim of criminal acts if they lived there. This was not true as each incident and community share similar statistics, and these folks were over looking criminals travel for the same purposes the rest of us do. In our mobile society having 30, 50, or 100 miles between you and the city you think is more violent than your own is not enough to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

If your concerned about your personal safety there are many steps you can take to keep your family and yourself safe. While each violent criminal's motivation may have been uniquely their own. Some of the traits they all share is a lack of respect for other people and our laws that prohibit the crimes they commit against their victims. Victims of violent crimes far too often wait too long to take action.

Levels of Awareness

Your safety begins with maintaining your level of awareness with the activities going on around you. Many firearms instructors and self-defense instructors over the years have written about and developed different methods to help a person maintain their awareness. The NRA's Levels of Awareness used in Personal Protection Classes by far seem to be the easiest remember and use.
This system uses four levels of awareness: unaware, aware, alert and alarm.

Unaware

Most people spend most of their lives in the unaware state, this is best described as not being aware of the activities taking place around you. This often occurs when a person is devoting their total attention to one thing, such as sleeping, watching t.v. or reading a good book. While it may not be possible to avoid being in the unaware state at times. The unaware state should be avoided as much as possible since it will slow you response to potential danger even after it has been spotted. Remember criminals act committed by these predators may be planned for times and situations in which the victim feels safe and will be in an unaware state of mind.

Aware

In this state of mind you are aware of the events and activities going on around you. In the state of general awareness you are able to identify the activities taking place around you using all of your senses. While being aware it is best to avoid anything that can impair your senses. It is during this stage you are evaluating if the observed activities demand a higher level of awareness. Once an activity or a persons actions have been identified as a potential threat you may begin to use a heightened level of awareness for short periods of time. During this phase you will be determining whether you need to dismiss the activities or move into the alert level of awareness.

It is important to remember it will be difficult to maintain this hyper level of awareness for long periods of time in environments that seem safe.

Alert

Once you have arrived at the alert level has identified a specific potential threat or threats, you must further evaluated to determine their potential threat to your safety. Not every thing that brings you to this level will turn out to be an actual threat. During your evaluation process first you will formulate a plan of action regarding this identified potential threat. Having a plan will allow you to act quicker than having to react and try to decide what to do. If this turns out to be a life threatening event these precious seconds will increase your safety. Potential plans may include: avoidance, flight, issuing a verbal warning, calling 911, using less lethal force, and when justified deadly force. Remember using deadly force to defend your life is a last resort when faced with an attacker placing you in fear of great bodily injury and death.

When making plans of action it is important to have more than one option. There are times when the best plans do not work. It is important to keep thinking ahead, planning, watching for opportunities as they present themselves, while being flexible enough to change your plans to the changing circumstances.

Response plans to a violent confrontation or attack may fall into two categories: evasion or defense. Step one Evasion - avoiding a violent confrontation is all ways the better option. Even if forced to use force it is important to be watching for opportunities to evade the situation. Remember using force or deadly force should be only used as a last resort. Step two is to establish limits that will initiate your plans of action. Once an attackers actions has crossed you will go to the next level of awareness alarm. At this point your plan may be initiated immediately.

What types of actions may elicit the plan being initiated? The approach of a stranger with in a certain distance, their refusal to leave when told to leave, making verbal threats, taking actions indicating an intention to do harm, or presenting a threat of a weapon.

Alarm

At this level a specific threat has been identified and crossed one or more limits you have established becoming a real threat to your safety. While everyone will form their own plan to fit their lifestyle and be compliant with the laws of their local. Below is a sample plan if faced with a home invasion by an attacker(s) putting you in fear of great bodily injury or death.

Sample Safety Plan:

• Retreat to your Safe Room securing the door.
• Acquire your personal protection firearm if part of your personal protection plan.
• Call 911 to summon the Police stay on the line with the dispatcher. 
• If the intruder(s) attempts to gain access to your safe room at this point. 
• Issue a verbal warning for the police are on the way and tell the intruder to leave. 
• If the intruder(s) ignores warnings and enters your safe room with a weapon(s). 
• Use your personal protection firearm as allowed by your specific states laws on self-defense. 

In closing remember a defensive firearm for personal protection is a tool of last resort when no other options are available. At Schlueter Firearms Instruction we strongly encourage people to attend training on the use of a personal protection firearm.

Choosing a Handgun for Self-Defense

Choosing a Handgun for Self-Defense

By Matt Schlueter

What handgun should I pick seemed to be a common question I was asked while at the Schlueter Firearms Instruction table at the Dakota Territory gun show in Sioux Falls on February 9th. First let me start off with what works for me may not work for you, and this applies to all types of firearms.


Every citizen who chooses to carry a firearm for self-defense should have the right tools for the job. The concealed carry handgun is no different than choosing the right tool for the right job. When making the decision to purchase that handgun for self defense remember the accessories and training that go along with the handgun will make a complete weapons system which works for you.


When shopping for a handgun, remember the criteria in this section (operational, hand size, preferences, and budget). I recommend a minimum caliber for self-defense of .38 Special and 9mm. Some selection factors would include:

Gun Fit to the hand- Grip size for length and width, trigger to web distance, positioning of components and other ergonomics. Together the shooter should be able to shoot one handed.

Controllable-For precision slow fire and rapid, multiple, aimed shots in short duration. Part of this will be due to stance and training, but part of it has a lot to do with the design of the handgun, especially versus the caliber and load of ammunition being used. The idea is to get on target fast and stay on target. On handed shooting with defensive ammo loads should be done if possible to evaluate how controllable the handgun would be for a situation.

Point Ability-The handgun must point as an extension of the lower arm. With the handgun high and firm in the hand, and with a locked wrist, you should be able to quickly bring the gun up to eye level and be looking at the sights with little or no adjustments. You should be able to do this one handed and two handed.

Accuracy- For a defensive purposes and optimum distance the handgun must provide acceptable accuracy. Choosing a match grade handgun is not necessary. Most major manufactures produce a wide variety of models, which have high standards of accuracy in their designs of defensive weapons.

Reliability- A defensive handgun should be reliable out of the box; if the weapon proves to be unreliable it would defeat its purpose even if it met all of the criteria needed for a concealed carry handgun. It generally takes years for a manufacturer to get a model design right so keep this in mind when a new model comes out you are interested in.

Size and Weight- You will have to decide between the size and weight for your need for concealment, defensive needs, and mode you would carry the handgun in. Some handguns are just too light or small to be controlled easily with full power defensive ammunition, while others are so large that they either will expose more easily or will cost the owner extra effort and money to achieve the needed concealment. A heavy gun, if not worn correctly or with the wrong type of equipment, will be difficult to conceal and uncomfortable to carry.

Cost- When choosing a defensive handgun you will have a budget in mind. Remember it is easier to take the extra time while shopping and compare all the available models. If possible and you have access to ether borrow or rent a similar model and try shooting it before buying it to see if the weapon fits you and is comfortable to shoot along with meeting the suggested elements for defensive concealed carry. This is no place to cut corners or settle, in the end you do get what you pay for.

For defensive purposes there are some further considerations.

Consider a complete weapons system will include spare magazines or speed loaders, holster(s) with magazine pouch and belt, and other accessories. Your defensive system may increase beyond a handgun to include defensive sprays, tactical flashlight, and other items. Other costs could include prepaid legal self-defense insurance, handgun permits, storage containers, and spare magazines. It is not recommended to buy after market (non-manufacturers) magazines, due to reliability issues. It is possible to spend twice the cost of your defensive handgun in these areas combined.

Remember if you cannot afford to be without proper means of defending yourself, then you cannot afford to have the wrong weapon or be cheap when it comes to acquiring the right tools that may be used to save your life!

Factors on what handguns you may have to choose from may depend on what is legal to own in your state, some states such as CA, MA, NJ, NY, MD, and others may have place restrictions on what you can legally own and poses in a handgun. Some states will have additional safety requirements on the design, and possible limits on magazine capacities.

Originally Published in the Outdoorsmen Magazine March, 2013

BIO:
About Matt Schlueter
Matt Schlueter is a retired Deputy Sheriff from South Dakota with 19 years of combined experience in corrections and law enforcement, and held the position of Firearms Instructor and DARE officer with the Sheriffs Office he worked at till his retirement. He is also a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, and owner/chief instructor of Schlueter Firearms Instruction. Matt’s goal is to provide the best information possible for those who want to further their knowledge and skills in shooting handguns. Matt’s goals also include providing the best training courses possible for students who attended courses he is offering. For those wishing to contact him please visit his website at www.learntwoshoot.com, or www.zwarriortraining.com or you can join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchlueterFirearmsInstruction.

Choosing a Holster

Choosing a Holster

By Matt Schlueter

With Christmas passing, most of us sportsmen will inevitably have gift certificates, and gift cards we received waiting to be spent. While there are many different accessories you may want for your shooting and hunting activities, those of us who are pistol shooters should consider purchasing a holster for our pistol(s). The holster is to the pistol as a sling is to a rifle. Consider this when thinking of your pistol when combined with a holster it is now part of a system. This system will protect your pistol when holstered providing a safe way to carry it with you along with a solid platform when drawing to shoot.

When choosing a holster for your pistol, selecting the best holster possible is easy to do when keeping the following criteria in mind. A pistol and holster are a system used together. This will allow the user to safely carry the pistol on their person while moving about keeping their hands free to do other activities. What most people don’t realize is a quality holster provides a stable platform allowing the user to secure a proper grip on their pistol prior to drawing. This proper grip will later aid the shooter in being able to accurately hit the target.

When looking at quality holsters they range in designs from custom special ordered holsters to mass produced holsters available right off the shelf for your specific make and model of pistol. The materials for holsters range from traditional leather, ballistic nylon, to polymer holsters. The prices of each of these styles holsters may vary, but do not let this make you think it is going to cost you an arm and a leg to get one.

Regardless of the intended use, hunting, shooting range, competition, self-defense, law enforcement the criteria to select the proper holsters are all the same.


Criteria for Selecting a Quality Holster:

Workmanship and Materials

You will see the most differences when looking at the quality of workmanship and type of materials used. It is in this area you will see differences between manufactures and prices.

Exact Fit and Maintains its Form

Selecting a holster formed for your pistol that maintains its shape. These qualities will have positive effects on ease of retention, drawing your handgun when shooting, and re-holstering.

Covered trigger guard & Safety

A perspective holster should cover the trigger guard. Make sure none of the holster material protrudes into the trigger guard. The material should be rigid enough to ensure any object the holster may come into contact with can’t depress the trigger.

Does the holster design disengage the safeties on the pistol? If the design you are considering disengages the safeties or allows the pistols trigger to be depressed while in the holster ether of these could cause the pistol to fire while in the holster and possibly inflict serious injuries or death upon yourself and or others around you. Holsters that allow this to happen should not be considered. They pose a significant safety risk, and in my opinion you should consider another holster design.

Drawing

You should be able to draw your pistol with ease from your holster. The holster should lend itself to allowing you to gain a complete grip on your handgun and allow you to release any retention devices. The draw stroke should be a fairly straight-line draw. For some holsters this may vary if they are carried in cross draw or appendix positions.

Re-Holstering/Re-Enforced Throat

One quality to look for is the mouth of the holster should remain open and rigid when the gun is removed. A quality holster should allow one-handed drawing and unassisted re-holstering.  This is important when re-holstering the pistol, holsters that collapse after the pistol is drawn will present safety concerns during the re-holstering process.

Retention

When selecting a holster, you will want a holster that will properly retain your pistol during any activities you think you may be taking part in while wearing your pistol/holster system.

To ensure your holster will retain your pistol we must look at fit and retention devices.
Holsters that lack a proper fit with no retention device may not retain the weapon properly under strenuous activity. A poorly fitting holster may allow your pistol to dislodge from the holster and fall out.

Retention devices will vary by design, from simple thumb breaks or internal devices, to combination systems incorporation multiple systems.

Below is a list of retention levels for holsters:

Level I have a single retention device, such as a strap and thumb break.

Level II consists of two retention devices, such as a strap and internal retention device.

Level III consists of three retention devices, they are intended for Law Enforcement or Security use.

The final area of consideration will depend on the individual who carries the pistol, and where they position the holster. When drawing the pistol, does the position of the holster endanger the owner during the draw stroke. We need to remember anything the pistol is pointed at while it is loaded could be destroyed.

Some of the holster manufactures whose holsters I have had good success with are Bianchi, Black Hawk, DeSantis, Galco, and Safariland.

Originally Published January, 2013

BIO:

About Matt Schlueter
Matt Schlueter is a retired Deputy Sheriff from South Dakota with 19 years of combined experience in corrections and law enforcement, and held the position of Firearms Instructor and DARE officer with the Sheriffs Office he worked at till his retirement. He is also a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, and owner/chief instructor of Schlueter Firearms Instruction. Matt’s goal is to provide the best information possible for those who want to further their knowledge and skills in shooting handguns. Matt’s goals also include providing the best training courses possible for students who attended courses he is offering. For those wishing to contact him please visit his website at www.learntwoshoot.com, or www.zwarriortraining.com or you can join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchlueterFirearmsInstruction.

Josh Shoots his first deer

Josh Shoots his first deer

By: Matt Schlueter


I took my son Josh Mentor Deer Hunting this last weekend. I picked a new spot as our previous locations were not working out in our attempts to get a doe to co-operate with Josh’s plan to shoot one.

Once we got set up in our spot we settled back in our lawn chairs in our Ameri-Step G-3 Ground Blind. For mentor hunting this ground blind has given us an advantage for getting closer to deer this season.

We were on our stand for about an hour and a half when the doe came walking down the trail. Once we spotted her she was standing broad side looking at the deer blind trying to figure out what it was. Josh was getting his rifle up and lined up for the shot when she spooked and ran off. While talking to Josh he explained to me he could not find the deer. He described how he could not find it in the scope after bringing the gun up to aim. After listening to Josh describe how he could not find the doe in the scope. I explained to Josh first he needed to look directly at the doe focus to on her and then naturally bring the gun up and it should be in the general area of the doe and only need small adjustments to line up on the target. We continued quietly talking about our new plan, and resumed waiting.

I was so amazed 15 minutes later, I looked out the window and the same doe is walking through the tree grove to the same spot she just left. The doe stops and is staring at the blind trying to figure out what it is, by stomping her foot a couple times to get us to move. When this did not work she started walking towards the deer blind. While this is taking place Josh was getting lined up for the shot. I will tell you as a parent and a hunter the level of excitement in our deer blind probably exceeded that of your favorite deer hunting T.V. show.

Josh had his gun resting on the shooting sticks when he shot the doe. She was fifteen yards away and he hit her in the base of the neck dropping her where she stood. After the shot we went to make sure she was down. She was trying to get back up and Josh had to fire one more shot to put her out of her misery. Without missing a beat, Josh shot her exactly where he was supposed to and put the doe down. At this point I showed Josh how to approach a deer if he was not sure if it was down.

While field dressing the doe, I explained to Josh what steps we were taking and why it was important to do this to prevent the meat from spoiling. After we had loaded Josh’s doe into the pickup along with our gear, we saw a buck standing in the same spot Josh had just shot his doe sniffing the ground and looking around. I’m guessing he was late for his date with the doe Josh just harvested.

On our way home we stopped at the Renner Corner Locker, and put Josh’s doe into the cooler. Josh noticed all the deer, and was impressed by some of big bucks. When we were back in the pickup Josh became concerned on how the people at the locker would know which deer was his. I told him the tag had our names on it and when they got to his deer the butcher would look at the name on the tag and then get our order form so they can process the deer for us.

Just today Josh, Tyler and I were discussing our options for future mentor hunting opportunities next year. In South Dakota, if your child is 10 to 11 years old, they have the option to get mentor licenses for antelope, deer, and turkey.

Originally Published in the Outdoorsmen Magazine December, 2012

About Matt Schlueter:
Matt Schlueter is a retired Deputy Sheriff from South Dakota with 19 years of combined experience in corrections and law enforcement, and held the position of Firearms Instructor and DARE officer with the Sheriffs Office he worked at till his retirement. He is also a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, and owner/chief instructor of Schlueter Firearms Instruction. Matt’s goal is to provide the best information possible for those who want to further their knowledge and skills in shooting handguns. Matt’s goals also include providing the best training courses possible for students who attended courses he is offering. For those wishing to contact him please visit his website at www.learntwoshoot.com, or www.zwarriortraining.com or you can join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchlueterFirearmsInstruction.

Josh's Mentor Hunt

Josh’s Mentor Hunt

By Matt Schlueter


While out with my son Josh trying to find a doe for his Mentor Deer tag, I began thinking about how in the shooting world gun safety is on the top of the list. Forgetting to observe any of these rules could lead to life altering events such as death or injuries of the shooter or other persons. The most honest gauge of a person’s safe gun handling skills is when they are hunting in the field.

During one of our trips, we had received a good tip from a friend of mine there were some does living in a shelter belt, and it was their home these does rarely ventured far from it.

When we got to the shelter belt it was just as it had been described, we found a huge Cottonwood tree along the trail the deer had been using. This tree was so wide we could both sit side by side while leaning against it. I set up the shooting sticks I had made so Josh would have a nice rest to aim from, and then we began waiting. While waiting Josh and I were quietly talking about what to expect, and how we needed to listen to all the different sounds as we might even be able to hear the deer before we were able to see them on the path. While we were waiting we could hear birds, squirrels, and the wind moving through the trees.

At one point Josh leans over and told me he thought it was raining. I looked at him and then up into the sky and saw the sunlight filtering through the trees. So when I asked him why he thought this he explains he has been getting hit by rain drops. Josh then points to some different spots on his hunting vest. I had to break the news to Josh he was not being rain drops but bird droppings. I have got to love my son as he simply stated “well it’s a good thing I have a hat on”.

When we finally had a doe coming to where we were sitting she did not follow the trail. Evidently she did not get the memo about deer using deer paths; instead she comes up behind us. We were fortunate enough to get some warning she was coming when we heard her walking through the underbrush.

Once Josh got moved so he could look around the tree, he started to line up on the doe. Josh did not shoot and eventually the doe moved back into the trees. Josh later told me he could only see her tail, while he was trying to line where he should aim at she took off and he still did not have a shot. I was impressed with my son’s explanation, and told him if he was unsure of his target then it was best to pass up on the shot.

Several days later we were back at the tree grove, after hunting all morning and not seeing any thing, we decided to go back to the pickup. While walking along the fence line a deer jumped up and into the trees to hide. Josh spotted the deer when it moved the second time, as he look he realized it was a small buck. Once again fate would have that even though he had a clear shot this time he had to pass it up since he only has an antlerless deer tag.


Lessons Learned:
Mentor hunting is the best opportunity to reinforce the four basic rules of gun safety in a young hunter’s mindset during hunting. From putting your guns and gear into your vehicle leave home, exiting the vehicle, to hunting in the field, and returning home. As a mentor you can praise good habits, along with providing instruction on proper gun handling skills as they relate to the four basic rules of gun safety. There are many variations of the basic gun safety rules, the four basic rules introduced by Colonel Jeff Cooper are listed below:
1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Keep watching for more on Josh’s Mentor Hunting Deer Season.


Published in the Outdoorsmen Magazine November of 2012

Bio:
Matt Schlueter is a retired Deputy Sheriff from South Dakota with 19 years of combined experience in corrections and law enforcement, and held the position of Firearms Instructor and DARE officer with the Sheriffs Office he worked at till his retirement. He is also a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, and owner/chief instructor of Schlueter Firearms Instruction. Matt’s goal is to provide the best information possible for those who want to further their knowledge and skills in shooting handguns. Matt’s goals also include providing the best training courses possible for students who attended courses he is offering. For those wishing to contact him please visit his website at www.learntwoshoot.com, or www.zwarriortraining.com or you can join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchlueterFirearmsInstruction.

Handguns & Self-Defense

Handguns & Self-Defense

By Matt Schlueter

Handguns have so many uses in the shooting world, from being used for competitions at the Olympics, plinking at the range, hunting small and big game, self defense by our military, law enforcement, and law abiding citizens with concealed carry permits.

When talking about handguns and their uses in self-defense, it is important to remember whether carried by military personnel, law enforcement officers, or citizens with a concealed carry permit, a handgun is a tool of last resort and only to be used when deadly force is absolutely unavoidable.

People have taught and debated the different methods on how to teach the use of a pistol for self-defense. What is being taught as new and revolutionary today might not be as new or revolutionary as we may think. Some techniques that were developed in the past may have been put aside or forgotten. Only to be brought back later and refined by others. I go back to the time when WWII was in its’ very beginnings and people like US Army Col. Rex Applegate, British Army Captains W. E. Fairbairn and Captain E. A. Sykes were training men to go behind enemy lines to gather intelligence, and conduct other missions to aid the war effort. In addition, Fairbairn & Sykes were training the British home guard, fearing a possibility the German Army might cross the English Channel for an invasion of England. It was during this time these men developed and taught was what was to come to be called “Point Shooting” along with other self-defense techniques.

US Marine Corp Col Jeff Cooper also served in WWII, and later served during the Korean War. It was in the 1970’s Jeff Cooper began developing the Weaver Stance and refining the use of a pistol for self-defense. In this development, the move was away from one handed shooting that had been used in the past, and moving towards the use of a two handed grip. Jeff Cooper developed a technique called a flash sight picture, which enabled the user to get their pistol on target quickly and increasing the chances the rounds, would hit the intended target.

One handed “Point Shooting” and “Weaver Stances” with the two handed grip are still being taught in training to military personnel, law enforcement officers, and citizens for concealed carry. I find it interesting that Col. Cooper actually refined Point Shooting techniques by incorporating what he called a flash sight picture which increased the probability of the rounds hitting the intended target.

During NRA’s Personal Protection in the Home Course accuracy for a defensive pistol is discussed, one point brought up is most defensive shootings are at close ranges usually 21 feet or less. Acceptable accuracy for defensive pistols at these distances is being able to put as many rounds as possible into a nine inch circle in a short amount of time. A trained person may be able to use point shooting out to 21 feet with devastating accuracy for self-defense purposes. It is the incorporation of the flash sight picture that brings point shooting into the modern world.

When discussing point shooting few people out side of law enforcement officers and military personnel have the time or money to become proficient enough so they can be able to engage targets out to 21 feet with out the aid of sights. The incorporation of the flash sight picture increases the average person’s chances at being able to hit the intended target. Point Shooting and the use of a Flash Sight Picture are both taught during a NRA Personal Protection in the Home Course.

If you carry a concealed pistol for self defense, I recommend attending a NRA Personal Protection in the Home Course. The goal of this course is to develop the student’s basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a firearm for protection of self and family, and providing information on the law-abiding citizen’s right to self-defense. You may contact any NRA Personal Protection in the Home Instructor to see when their next course is being held. If you do not have an instructor in your area you can check http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx this feature on the NRA website allows you to see what courses are available, by zip code or state.

Sources: Kill or Get Killed by Ret. Col Rex Applegate written in 1943; Shoot to Live by Captain W. E. Fairbairn & Captain E. A. Sykes written in 1942; NRA Personal Protection in the Home Instructors Manual Second Edition 2000, revised 8-11; NRA Website: http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx 


Matt Schlueter is a retired Deputy Sheriff from South Dakota with 19 years of combined experience in corrections and law enforcement, and held the position of Firearms Instructor and DARE officer with the Sheriffs Office he worked at till his retirement. He is also a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, and owner/chief instructor of Schlueter Firearms Instruction. Matt’s goal is to provide the best information possible for those who want to further their knowledge and skills in shooting handguns. Matt’s goals also include providing the best training courses possible for students who attended courses he is offering. For those wishing to contact him please visit his website at www.learntwoshoot.com, or www.zwarriortraining.com or you can join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchlueterFirearmsInstruction.

Originally published in the Outdoorsmen Magazine October, 2012

South Dakota Mentor Season with Josh

South Dakota Mentor Season with Josh

By Matt Schlueter

With the passing of the hottest temps of this summer, and now the cooling nights and much needed rain to these parts of South Dakota, the hunters in my house begin to plot and plan for this year coming deer seasons.

The deer season will begin with my son Josh’s mentored hunt. Josh has been hunting with me during black powder seasons since he was five years old. So this Mentor Season will be very exciting for him as he will be the hunter, and I will be the guy to help carry gear and make the needed arraignments.

I will say with Josh’s experiences of Muzzle loading with me, I am not worried about him suffering from any disappointment of missed shots, and long days on the stand without a deer in sight. For my Ten year old apprentice, this has all been suffered in good stride during previous seasons. My son will tell you when dad shoots his Muzzle loader most of the time the deer just jump and run away. His only concern was would he have to use a Muzzle loader; when I broke the news to him he was going to be using my Remington 700 in .243 Win., it was almost funny to watch the look of surprise come across his face.

The first step to beginning the preparation process for Josh’s Mentor Season began back in March. We talked about where we should be hunting at for his Doe. Before we made it to the range to begin practicing, Josh helped me load up some practice ammo for his up coming range sessions. Once we had loaded up a sufficient supply of ammo we were off to the range.

Prior to going to the range, I made it more interesting for Josh by making a “Deer Silhouette” for him to mount his Shoot N See target too. After a warm up session with his Savage Single shot .22Lr with Peep Sights at about 10 yards, Josh moved onto some practice with the Ruger 10-22 with the scope out at about 25 yards. This range session was his first time shooting the .243 so I moved the silhouette out to the 75 yard line for the last leg of our range session. I watched him load the rifle up with some parental suggestions to make it easier; once he was ready to shoot, I stood behind him and watched. I hate to say it, but I held my breath longer than he did both before and after that first shot.

Once Josh squeezed the trigger, I watched his ten year old body absorb the recoil. This was the moment of truth on how he was going to react. He turned and looked at me with a grin that went from ear to ear, I asked what he thought of the shot. Josh made the announcement he hit the target, but he wanted to go and check. I suggested he look through the scope again. After he checked he turned and said “I hit it in the middle.” I looked through my binoculars and saw he had hit just below the bulls eye.

By the end of our range session Josh had made a nice group with the .243, and posed for his photo by his Deer.

Please continue to follow along with me for more adventures in shooting and up dates on Josh’s 2012 Mentor Season.

About Matt Schlueter
Matt Schlueter is a retired Deputy Sheriff from South Dakota with 19 years of combined experience in corrections and law enforcement, and held the position of Firearms Instructor and DARE officer with the Sheriffs Office he worked at till his retirement. He is also a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, and owner/chief instructor of Schlueter Firearms Instruction. Matt’s goal is to provide the best information possible for those who want to further their knowledge and skills in shooting handguns. Matt’s goals also include providing the best training courses possible for students who attended courses he is offering. For those wishing to contact him please visit his website at www.learntwoshoot.com, or www.zwarriortraining.com or you can join him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchlueterFirearmsInstruction

Originally published in the Outdoorsmen Magazine September, 2012