doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Does it belong?

We are.

First, that is a very nice stirrup cup set. Love it.

Second, IMHO, there is a real difference in culture when it comes to both hunting/shooting and to alcohol between the US and most of the rest of the world, or at least Europe.

In the US wearing of camouflage type clothing is more or less a "lifestyle" expression, expressing a love of the outdoor sports, while in much of Europe it seems to be taken as a statement of membership in the Nazi Party. Very strange to an American.
Meanwhile, regarding alcohol; in Europe, it is quite normal to have a glass of wine or a pint with lunch. Maybe 2. In the US, people seem to either get blasted at lunch or not drink at all. Over the years, it seems to me, the number of people getting blasted and driving or going back to work blasted has resulted in the "zero tolerance policy" which is spreading to typically ridiculous US levels of stupidity that people who have simply driven by a bar are being charged with being drunk and children with pictures of shotguns on their shirts are being treated as if they had a real gun by idiotic US schools. Und so veiter.

Shooting men (and women) in the UK and in Germany seem to understand without being lectured or having to sign a 45 page legal form that having one sloe gin or one or two pints of bitter with lunch is not a real problem but that consuming, say 10 cans of lager or ale during a shoot would be.

Its maturity, thats all. Most of us understand that we are there to shoot, not to drink and so we leave any drinking for after the shoot. Too many Americans just do not seem to understand that. Search the coolers at any private Texas dove shoot and about half of them will be full of beer, with not a single bottle of water.
Maturity.

Cheers!

The subject of the post was "Does it Belong?"

My buddy's wives used to all think we went out drinking and carousing when we were off duck hunting. I finally explained to them the slippery muck and freezing conditions we were hunting, and what the end result would be if their hungover husbands shot a hole in the floor of the aluminum boat. We never got drunk the night before hunting, and for certain never drank while hunting. And we never went hunting after a night of carousing. Obvious gun safety reasons aside, the thought of walking the upland woods with less than optimum balance is a serious injury miles from the car waiting to happen.

As for drinking with friends afterwards, or even when hunting wasn't part of the equation - the answer is YES, and I've had way too many. Funny enough, someone usually makes jokes about masturbation, or boning someone's wife. A girlfriend would really catch some heat, or better yet someone else's sister if he proved to be sensitive about the subject.

In elementary school I was suspended one time for punching a kid who had said something about my mother. I had to, otherwise what he said might have been true.

Is there a consensus if you know you are with responsible persons---to know from experience they are reasonable, trustworthy---it's okay to have a drink at an appropriate time: four, lunch or sun over the yardarm at 11?

It is absolutely amazing what grown men can convince themselve's of.
My former friend and colleague that shot me believed he too was responsible, and enlightened about the effect of alcohol on his judgement and firearms safety practices.

You men may do as you please, but when the lids start popping, I'm headed home.

Clapper, no truer words.....but if you you need that drink...that is another story...lol....having a couple AFTER you have shot is no big deal...unless you can not drive...I remember hearing " hot Damn" after a swig, while guys sitting waiting for birds in SC.