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January 17 2005
Last week, Buford Meany of The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shut down our clubhouse and shooting ranges complex.
He took this action, because Joe Cap, in the process of removing an unsightly bullet-riddled tree from the edge of a shooting range, inadvertently killed three ten point bucks when a dynamite blast had an undesired effect.
It was an accident that could have happened to anyone.
When it was explained to Buford that members of our club accepted the risks that attended the sport of drinking beer and shooting guns, Buford said it was the craziest thing that he had ever heard of. At which point he was invited to a beer tasting party and shooting competition in order to better understand the sport, and to have an informed opinion.
Well, everyone who attended the affair knew that Buford would be there, and why, so the quality of the home brew was absolutely top shelf.
After a few beers, and the gang treating Buford like he was a long lost brother, Buford accepted an invitation to join in the shooting competition.
Now Buford was a pretty good shot, so it wasnât hard for everybody to miss just enough to let him win.
After having won, he expressed interest in Harry Boomerâs 50cal. Rifle. Harry handed Buford the big rifle and said," Go on, try a couple of shots. Be careful, sheâs got a hair trigger."
Buford stood at the shooting bench, facing the targets a hundred yards away. He looked down at the big rifle. He was going to try an off hand shot.
Still looking at the weapon, he gently slipped his finger into the trigger guard. But not gently enough.
With the roar of a field piece, the great rifle went off. The heavy bull barrel flew up and back, giving Buford a smart crack on the forehead.
When Buford came to, he was praised by all at having brought down a huge fourteen point buck that had been crossing the range about two hundred yards out.
"The greatest snap shot from the hip Iâve ever seen in my life!" said one of the boys.
"Hit him low on the neck!" said another. "Heâll make a nice mount, and none of the good cuts of meat were ruined by that nasty 50cal. Slug!"
Buford was handed a fresh beer. "how do you go about joining this club, anyhow?" he said.
Everybody grinned.
We just may be announcing a meeting pretty soon.
Till next week
Helga Biermeister
Secretary