Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Campfire Mickey Coleman Memorial Christmas Gift for a Deserving Youth

I've been asked to ride in the saddle on this once again, and promote another Campfire Present to a deserving soul...

We have a committee put together, of some great forum members...

This time instead of making it a veteran project, thought we'd do something for a deserving youth instead...

So if you know a young man or woman who is "deserving" of a turn key hunting set up, PM me and I will get it to the committee..

We have had three forum members who have donated some nice items for this project...

We have

1. a Ruger Hawkeye Chambered in 257 Roberts. Blued with wood stock.( courtesy of Missour Ed )

2. Included with a Pentax 4 x 12 Gameseeker Rifle Scope
( donated by a Campfire Member in Idaho that preferred to remain anonymous. )

3. Accompanied by a Browning Hunting Knife with sheath
( donated by another Campfire Member who preferred to remain anonymous)

So let us know, as I am sure there are many deserving recipients out there.. but sadly we can only award one... so the decision of the committee is final..( which isn't so easy to decide, believe me )

Thanks in advance to our contributors for candidates for the Campfire Gift, and a special thank you to the three gentlemen that are making this possible...

Best Regards
Seafire

Addendum to this: Another Campfire member has contacted me and wanted to contribute to this project. So he will be sending a Gift Certificate from Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop to cover some Ammo for the 257 Roberts for the recipient. Kudos and Thanks to a fine forum member from Arkansas on this one..

Nice gesture. Good on you.

Thanks for ram-roddin' this project.
Your work here is appreciated.

Bravo and thanks to all for being there.

Thank you, but I am just steering this thru the process..

The thanks and Kudos belong to the donors...

I'm just being Santa's Helper again...

( and NO that doesn't make me an elf....Rauncho..)

My thoughts also.

I'd be happy to throw a $10 or $20 your way to help cover some of the costs. I feel reasonably sure there are others who would participate as well.

Thanks Cliff....

despite all the back and forth on the Campfire here.. when things like this take place, there is no shortage of generosity among Campfire members....

Oh, and we already have our first candidate!

8 year old Danielle of Indiana...

You might visit with the donors to see if they would accept funds from some of us.

I agree with this. I would be happy to send 20 bucks your way also.

So...if there are lots of folks wanting to donate money, I'll bet there's also someone out there that would donate a hunt. The cash could go toward fuel and licenses if the hunt was out of state for the winner.

That is a good idea, but we are talking about this Campfire Present going to a youth... and so far we only have TWO candidates whose names have been submitted....

both of these are girls, and under 11 years old....each a deserving recipient I might add... but a hunt, fuel etc, might be a little too much.... at least at this point of the game..

but I am just Santa's Helper on this one, so if others have other ideas, please submit them...either here or via PM to me..

Situational Update....

We now have 4 prospective candidates enrolled in the contest...

Three girls and one Boy....

I am thankful for the assistance of the others who agreed to be judges....because we have FOUR highly worthwhile contestants...

What would be perfect is to be able to close the contestant entry time down.. and have forum members step up with 3 more rifles, scopes and accessories.....

but hey, I came up with that idea after watching a Charlie Brown Christmas last night, so that is the Charlie Brown Christmas influence talkin....

Proposal to the campfire....

We have 4 worthwhile Candidates at this time...

if others are wanting to donate money, what I am proposing ( and want to see support for it instead of my just assuming it) that we use funds to purchase a second, possibly a third or fourth rifle as Christmas presents for these deserving young folks.

Was think Ruger American or Savage Axis ( Choice of the receipient's dad)...

We've had a pretty impressive support for the veterans projects done on the campfire here...

What do you guys say about doing the same for 4 young future hunters?

Feel free to leave comments here...

Thank you...

I'm in favor

I'm with Keith - let's see what can be done.

Three rifles will run us a hair over a Grand...just to put it into financial perspective... ( for Ruger Americans.. and around $900 if we go with a Savage Axis... or if anyone knows where we can pick up Marlin X Series...they don't seem to stock them locally here..)

Let the dad pick the caliber...

as far as scopes on top, there is never a shortage of Campfire members more than willing to donate a scope to the cause...

CDNN has Ruger American in Black or digital $299.99 in 270, 30-06 or 308.

They have the Marlin 336Y 30+30 for $369.99.

They have the TC Venture in Black 308 Win $349.99

Some options anyway. FWIW.

Do we care if the rifle is lightly used? Are any of them somewhere where .223 is ok for deer?

This young lady's dad is buying her her own rifle after her successful hunt this year.



It's an H&R Handi with a decent scope on it and iron sights as well.

For those of us who wish to contribute money, where do we sent it?

contact me via PM for that...

John,

Of course, I'm in. Put me down for a pair of very lightly used compact binoculars. Pm coming shortly regarding the extra rifles.

Man O Man- I leave for a few days and the Fire gets the Christmas spirit. Good on you guys, thank you for your generosity. This has quadrupled from anything I thought about back in October.

pm sent.

Making an announcement....

Candidates or contenders for this one, is NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED...

Those that still desire to contribute, please feel free to contact me via PM....

We all are always speaking of the merits of passing on to new shooters...

Minus our Veteran Projects on the Campfire, I can't think of a better endeavor than this, young shooters just starting out...

and under ObamaNomics, many folks aren't doing the same financially, as they were when he first got elected...

Was asked to post this on the open forum:

Seafire,

I would like for you guys to consider my 14 year old son Kirtus for the Campfire Christmas present. We are a one income family with seven children three of which are adopted and have special needs.I work much overtime just to meet the needs and sometimes its really hard to be able to provide the extras that I want to. We adopted the last two girls two years ago and life has been a little crazy as we have adjusted to a new way of life and caring for them and their many needs. Kirtus has always been a very laid back person who gives much and complains little. He has continued to be very laid back, compliant, and helpful so sometimes he seems to get lost in the crowd.He is focused and works hard. I in no way want to take away from a child who is in more need or deserving. I am however proud of this young man who has shown integrity and has a great interest in spending time in the woods and bringing meat home for the family. Thank you for considering him.
Blessings,Keith

An awesome looking family you have there Keith. It can't be easy, good on you.

I also was asked to post on the open forum, when the campfire gift idea came up I thought a zillion people would climb aboard but after a few days I noticed no one did so I asked my daughter if she wanted me to put her name in the hat, she emphatically said yes daddy.
My daughter Danielle (8 yrs old) is quite the little student at school she is an A+ student....takes after me.....yeah right (lol) can speak in Latin language and can play some pretty difficult numbers on the piano.
She is the teachers "little helper" too.
As any typical little girl she loves horses.
Next year indiana is supposed to be going to rifles for deer hunting only caveat is is it has to be .24 cal but regardless of what she gets it will be "hers" and she will be practicing all next spring and summer with it at the range with her brother, her mom and I making it a big family outing and she wants to get a deer like her big brother does.
She has hunted with me a few times and we've even gotten a few.
Here she is just a few short years ago.

Here she is with me last year and with a doe.

Here she is this fall with her squirrel

She sure is growing up and I don't want to miss any of it.
Thanks for considering her.

Thank you Tom and Keith.....

I have gotten emails/PMs asking me about contributions... I also decided with 4 contestants, that it would be the right thing to do, to award a Christmas Present from the Campfire for each one of our young and future hunters/shooters...

I have also asked each dad who submitted their child's name, to post it here publicly to put a face to each one... each has sent me this in Personal PMs...

We have Two Rifles donated so far... and others want to contribute money instead, so the thought was if no more rifles are donated, that with donations, we purchase a couple of rifles from say Walmart or equivalent ( Sportsman's or Cabelas etc).. thoughts are Savage Axis, or Ruger American, Marlin XS in a youth model....

So putting a face to this, I hope other campfire members will step forward so we can make this all happen.. each of us have plenty of firearms on our own.. but it is time to pass on a little bit to our future....whatever anyone can feel they can afford to donate...PM me for an address to send it to..

I'd also like to bring to the campfire's attention some of the fine gifts that have also been donated from fellow Campfire Members who have desired to remain anonymous...

We have a Browning Hunting Knife, a Pentax 4 x 12 and a Bushnell Trophy 3 x 9 donated, a parachord sling, a pair of binocs and more are pledged and are on the way...

So my personal thank you to each and every forum member who is making this a reality for a worthwhile cause and a Budding young hunter's Christmas dream...

Merry Christmas to each of you and your families...both near and far...

And thanks to Rick Bin for allowing us to make this a sticky...

Posted is on another Topic but this sounds like a good deal to me , If you want these PM me where to send them ..

Due to a Good Guy helping out me find a clip for my SIL for a T/C Classic I am offering to a youngster that is getting into reloading a set of dies and a box a bullets.
Here's what I have ..

RCBS 243
Remington Power Lokt 80 gr Hollow Points

Just send me a pic of the first yote ,fox,puddy cat ,hog or whatever you shoot .

MERRY CHRISTMAS ...

Steve

Is this suppose to be for someone who can't afford to outfit their kid or for whoever can post up the cutest kid pictures?

Mule Shoe..

It is for those in need... I think the dad's submitting their kids names are being honest, and not just trying to save a buck just so they don't have to spend their money on it..

doing this a couple of times, It is usually easy to pick out the scammers..

but you can't deny, some pics of a cute little girl sure got submitted...and I have received some in PM of some other cute girls and handsome young men...

John I have a takeoff Simmons 3-9 wide view in excellent shape, cash if needed and a few other goodies.....W

Thanks Woody... will let you know..

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

best regards
john chr.
seafire

Status UpDate....

Okay Ladies and Gentlemen....

here is what we have so far.. minus the extras being donated..

1. we have 4 candidates
2. for presents we have
a.) Ruger 257 Roberts ( Hawkeye)

b.) NEF Handi Rifle in 223, along with a Choate Youth sized stock.

c.) Ithaca Model 37, 20 gauge shotgun

d.) Model 70 Push Feed Chambered in 30/06

also :

1. Cabelas Gift Card
2. Pentax Rifle Scope
3. Bushnell Trophy Scope
4. Browning Knife and Sheath
5. Offer of 243 Die and box of bullets
6. Cash offerings, $80 in hand so far, with more pledged..but not received yet.
7. Simmons 3 x 9 Scope available

A special thank you to those generous folks that are making this happen.... I'd like to mention names, but their requests were to remain anonymous...

I have a take off Simmons 4x scope with rings from a rimfire I'd be happy to contribute. Let me know if it can be of use for anything here.

I'll substitute set of 223 dies and box of bullets instead of the 243 dies n bullets for the Handi rifle recipient if that will help in.

Thanks Windy...that'll work just fine...

Seafire,

I let my daughter type up her response. Can send a pic or 2 to someone that can post them.

Hi, my name is Zoe. I looked at the other kids they seem very deserving of a gun to hunt with their mom or dad. I am 10 years old, in the fourth grade. I volunteer in my past teacher's classes during recess and in the morning. I get good grades, and all of my teachers seem to really like me.I am often chosen to help out with grading papers or to deliver things to other classrooms.

I love to flyfish and have caught many fish. I also love to hunt with my parents, and look foreward to hunt birds myself over my canine best friend, Stan, a chocolate lab. I also hunt grouse with my other dog, Belle. Sadly, her hunting days are pretty much over. ( She is 14 years old ).

I love to dance. I used to be in dance class, but this year I am not doing it. I have been doing it since I was 4 years old, and loved it. Now I still dance at home, and I like to make up songs to go with them. I make up dance moves too.

I hope that whoever gets one of the guns will appreciate it.
I thank you for considering me for a gun.




[/quote]

Thanks Tom for the help posting pics. My daughter says she would love to get a squirrel like your daughter. We will hopefully get out to chase rabbits this winter.

Now everyone can see why Muleshoe asked this question...

What a cute pair of little girls...right guys?

Kid in need and cute as hell, now we can have the best of both worlds!

Thanks to Tom and Mac for posting...wanted others to see who the candidates are...which shows why this is so worthwhile of an endeavor...

And if No One Objects, I'd like to rename this thread in honor of a great guy, Mickey Coleman...

I second the motion

Absolutely..no better way to honor our friend.

I for one think that is a fantastic idea.

Good to see this named in honor of Mickey.

Thrills my heart to see this named after Mickey. I know he would be thrilled as well.

Not that it matters what I think, but I approve.

^^^^This^^^^

Seafire, If there's need for a scope for one of the rifles, I have a NIB Burris FFII 3-9x40 Ballistic Plex I'll donate in Mickey's memory. I have an extra sling as well.

PM sent

Seafire, what's the story with the boy in the family of seven??? Is he one of the candidates?

yeah Roy, he certainly is... no one is getting left out on this one...each 'candidate' is getting supplied with something of their own to further their hunting pursuits as they grow...

It'd be nice if this was done yearly as a memorial at Christmas time in honor of Mickey.

I know administration of it might be difficult......just a thought though.

Seafire-I'll be sending the binoculars with Goalie as discussed. I'm hoping to have more to contribute shortly here. When do you plan on distributing this stuff?

Jeff,

when I get stuff together... sadly this got a late start, so this stuff being under the Christmas tree before Christmas is not going to happen... What I am hoping to do is let the dad's know what will be coming their way as soon as possible...

pledges have been made but has been slow in coming... and until it is in hand, it is just a pledge not a donation... sorry to look at it that way, but plenty of folks have something financially show up and send your plans south... we all should understand that...

the positive thing is that EACH kid is going to be taken care of... I am sure they can forgive us being a little tardy.... if we get this going earlier next year and if we chose to do it... then we'll get the stuff under the tree...

I call this a real success when we had started out with one kid getting a nice present, and suddenly 3 more are going to be experiencing the same thing... its nice not having to choose...

hope this answers your questions...

best regards
john chr.
seafire

Seafire,

How many hunting knives are needed to round out the package so each child gets one?

Let me know how many you need and I will send them to you

Nice job, Seafire. I'm in with a donation.

PM to follow.

donsm70

Giving one youth a gun is a nice gesture. Setting up a Mickey Coleman Scholarship Foundation would be another excellent gesture to remember Mickey as well as to offer scholarships to deserving kids.

g

Seafire-I met up with Goalie today at the Flave-a-thon get-together and passed the binoculars off to him. He is going to include them in the box when he ships the gun out. I'm hoping to do a Wally-World run on the 26th to take advantage of the price cuts on the left over gift packs. I also plan on getting some headlamps, survival stuff, etc. to make up some nice care packages for the kids. How many kids are we doing this for as of today?

I closed it off at four Jeff...

If/when we get this together, we need to get the word out. I definitely want to contribute. Would we be doing this for a gunsmithing student, or for any area of study?

$$ on the way John. Thanks for your work here.
P

A big continuing thank you to Seafire! He must be hundreds of PMs into this thing. Great service for a great cause.

Let's keep it going! What else is needed?

Right now it is waiting to see what shows... lots of pledges, but their receipt isn't happening as fast with the holidays...but that is normal...

when things are received I am trying to make sure I get the sender notified that it got here....

I am in for a donation or for a scope if one is still needed

Gopher got me the binos. I just need to know where and who to ship my stuff to.

Getting the answer to those kind of questions together at the immediate moment Goalie... will follow with a PM.. securing FFL info needed at the moment....

Seafore: I will give $100 cash to the second place guy/or gal decide on. let me know.

Your friend,
10

Recipients, I have sent each parent a PM for the need of an FFL to be emailed to me...

please check your PMs... posting it here also so it stands more chances to be seen...

thank you...

best regards
seafire

seafire,

email sent with FFL attached

thanks

Email sent to Seafire with attachment.

Okay Gentlemen,

I am going to give a rough update here and ask folks for some patience, as I know a lot of folks are anxious...

Local stuff with Scouts and my business have had me busy with not a lot of free time during the worlds business hours since right before Christmas...

I have received many donations, the vast majority of them after Christmas...and despite the postmarks on them, more than some of them have taken 2 weeks from the post marked date to get here...
so we can thank traffic volume with the Post Office...

Donations in the way of checks, I have tried to acknowledge the receiving of them to the senders, but many folks have not put on their Campfire Handles...so it is hard to match up the names and addresses, having to wade thru emails and PMs for that...

and as always, same as with the Veterans Projects, all pledges are not received and I can only assume not sent...

will try to compile a list of what has been received and the cities they came from, and post it here... that should protect the identity of the campfire members, many desiring to remain anonymous...

I am also trying to make the packages to be received by each youth, equal to the others....with things coming in from all directions, this takes a little time to coordinate...

with the Veterans Projects, we did not have a time line... with this one, it is a Christmas thing, so we do have a time line, yet 90% of the stuff received is showing up after Christmas...

FFLs are getting rounded up, and each firearm will be sent by the donor, to the recipient directly, and we will reimburse shipping charges....

one is being special ordered, so we can give a young girl EXACTLY what she wanted, and I found ONE dealer in the country, after a lot of internet searching, and had to order it locally...
so it is being shipped from Ohio, here to Oregon, and then shipped to Indiana....by me..

I won't bore the audience with the rest of the details, as it just goes on and on...I don't mind doing this (for a good cause that it is) at all... Sadly I don't have a controlling handle on the time frame as the stuff and donations roll in...

so please know, this has my available attention, but it takes some time to orchestrate...and I appreciate those that can bare with me..

any questions, please feel free to PM me still,.... I am trying to answer those as quick as possible, but I know one or two have been overlooked...

thanks for everyone involved, and their understanding... and their patience...

best regards...

Seafire,

I know I and many other here are very grateful for the amount of effort you have put into these projects. Timeline is a fine thing but the fact that these young people are getting something very special from a large group of people who normally can't start a thread with out bickering is amazing in itself.

I am sure everyone can muster up enough patience to see this through for the great cause and for the fine gentlemen whose memory is now attached to it.

Mack

Thanks Jim! Appreciate it...a LOT

+1 - It is the end result that will be remembered and what matters most.

anyone have any 257 Roberts Brass that they would part with so we can get one of the recipients a rifle he can start shooting?

either donated or will purchase for right price...

I have 20 Virgin 257 Bob brass, if I can find them. May be a start.

Seafire, have you been able to secure enough brass?

had about 8 PMs on it...

can't count on how much we are talking.. I am having each donor shipping it to the recipient's dad...and then asking if they want reimbursed at all to let me know...

in campfire tradition, each one has said "don't worry about the shipping'....

so sorry, that is the best I know as of this morning...

Not a worry. Thanks for the follow up. Keep posting if more is needed.

Sea fire,

I noticed that little girl a few posts back with the fly rod in her hand? Is this just a hunting thing or could she maybe use some fly gear?

PM her dad... I am sure he's open to receiving some fishing gear for her also..

Thank you Seafire, I'll do that, but would be happy to help in the general sense as well...

Good evening Gentlemen....

I have tried to line up the donations received with who sent them, to let them know it has been received...

however two problems have been presented...

1. Many folks desire to remain anonymous

2. People didn't exactly list their handles from the campfire...

so what I am going to do is list what has been received by me... leaving out first names and the donation... will list last names and towns the post mark or return address was listed on the envelope...so if yours was missed, please bear with me... I think it is a common courtesy that each folks is notified that their donation or gift has been received....some of you have been notified as I was able to line up your name with your handle... some not...

so here goes...

1. Fleming.. Plattsmouth Neb
2. Lengkeek, Douglas WY
3. Custer, Dayton VA
4. "Dave" postmarked Rochester NY
5. Yeager Littlestown, PA
6. Hager, Richland WA
7. Cross Timbers Management Services, Edmond OK
8. Swanson, Camas WA
9. Walker, Quemado NM
10. Boenker, Floresville TX
11. Lyle, Edmond OK
12. Mischke, Fairfield OH
13. Custer, Dayton VA, 2nd one
14. Townley, Vashon WA
15. Roberts, Lincoln NE, both an envelope and a box..
16. Glandon, Loveland OH
17. Cea, East Quegue NY
18. Whisler, Hutchinson KS
19. Parson, Dunedin FL
20. Doty, Proctor VT....
21. Shrawder, New Wilmington PA

There has been a few others... that have been notified via PM..

two more donations showed up in today's mail...and the big part of these was received AFTER Christmas and some after the 1st of January....

if any questions or you don't see your name here, let me know via PM...

I want to thank each and every one of you that has made this all possible...two firearms are on the way now, and the others are coming...

we have a 257 Roberts in a Ruger 77 going to Lolo Montana and a Model 70 in 30/06 going to Toccoa GA...

will be notifying the other donors of firearms with the appropriate FFL contact info later this coming week...

thanks for everyone's patience with this...to get it done before Christmas, if we are going to do this again, we'll have to get started substantially before Christmas, vs this time...

hopefully the recipients will post some pics once there goodies are received and set up by Dad the way they are desired to be...

Thanks for the update. I appreciate your hard work in organizing this. God bless you.

Thank you, but it is more a labor of love than anything else...

it is both a privilege and blessing to be able to do this stuff..

minus our veterans, what better cause can there be...

Seafire-This project kinda went awesome great. My personal thanks to you and much appreciation to all donors of gifts and cash. Thank you again.

Thanks, but no thanks needed for helping out Santa here this year...a young 12 year old is looking forward to having his very own "first rifle".. which should be at his Dad's FFL in a day or two...how much better reward than his excitement does one need in return? If only everything we did in life felt this good.

Thanks for getting this whole thing started...

best regards
seafire

While many of our donors desired to remain anonymous, I did get notification, after taking them up on their offer...

But Vortex Optics is donating TWO requested ( by a pair of youth's parents) 2 x 7 Crossfire Scopes with the BDC reticles...

A very big appreciative THANK YOU to VORTEX for this generous donation and support of the Campfire, and our Mickey Colemen Memorial Youth Christmas Project...

One will be sitting pretty on top of a Ruger American Youth chambered in 243, with a Muddy Girl Camo Stock on it, which will light up the eyes of a young lady in Indiana, and give her something she will be very proud of.

The second will be sitting proudly on top of a Ruger Hawkeye in 257 Roberts for a 12 year old boy in Lolo Montana.

Thanks Vortex, and the next time you boys are looking for a new scope to put on top a new rifle.. or even an old favorite, remember the generosity of Vortex and give them a look see....

best regards
seafire

Thanks to all of you.

add;

22. Cooper, Machesney Park IL.

Kirtus has reiceved his gun, scope, and sling. We purchased rings and mounted the scope. I was only able to find one type ammo which was Remington. We hit the range today with a 22 to start with then on to Kirtus' 30/06. I sighted in the 30/06 and then we shot the 22. Kirtus shot the 30/06 and did very well. Thanks to everyone for bringing this all together. The range was crowded and we did not take time to make pictures but Kirtus did make a picture of his rifle and target. I will post better photos of Kirtus and his gun in the next few days.


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