| The local chapter of Safari Club International used | | | | very young to get them used to firearms and |
| to hand out bumper stickers that read "Hunt With | | | | teach them respect for the weapon as well as |
| Your Kids, Not For Them". It is a very prophetic | | | | the intended target so when we left the cabin |
| statement. When I was just a boy I knew a | | | | early that October morn I knew he was ready. |
| family who's daughter went missing. She was | | | | We took about a half hour walk up over the hill to |
| gone for a couple of weeks and I got to witness | | | | be among some beach nut trees. We settled on |
| first hand the anguish this family endured as they | | | | one that had fallen and was just the right height |
| searched for their daughter. I sympathize with | | | | for a seat and began our wait. The first thing to |
| anyone who has gone through this. In this case | | | | show up was a young doe. She didn't seem to |
| there was a somewhat happy ending as the girl | | | | mind that she was sharing the forest with us this |
| returned but I know there were problems that | | | | day. She foraged a little and then kept going on |
| needed to be resolved. So when I first saw SCI's | | | | her appointed rounds. Soon I caught the sight of a |
| sticker, it hit home. | | | | big black squirrel scampering around collecting his |
| Fast forward several years and my youngest son | | | | morning feast. My son also saw it and asked if he |
| is about to make his first adventure into | | | | should shoot. I asked him if he was ready and he |
| becoming a hunter. He and a friend from school | | | | said yes. One shot later we had our first squirrel |
| signed up to take the hunter safety course and I | | | | for the day. He was anxious to retrieve the |
| can tell you my heart was filled with pride when | | | | animal but I told him to sit still and just remember |
| he went the two days and got his certificate. A | | | | where the squirrel was. About five minutes later a |
| few days later we purchased his first hunting | | | | nice gray squirrel showed up and met a similar |
| license and started to make plans for our first trip | | | | fate. We waited a while when it became obvious |
| into the woods as a father and son hunting team. | | | | that something was coming up the hill. At first we |
| Squirrels were to be our first hunt. We have a | | | | weren't sure what it was but soon several heads |
| cabin in the Allegany's and you can find every | | | | started bobbing up and down and we saw several |
| type of squirrel there . And we are also blessed | | | | turkeys having a little breakfast as they walked |
| with plenty of nut trees so finding them is quite | | | | up the hill. It was not turkey season so these |
| easy as well. We arrived at the camp the night | | | | were going to get a free pass but it was certainly |
| before and got the fire going in the wood burner. | | | | exciting to see them and to share this moment |
| October in Western New York is a beautiful time | | | | with my young hunter. We waited until the |
| to be in the woods but the nights can get quite | | | | turkeys passed through and out of sight and |
| chilly. Once the blades started to turn on our | | | | proceeded to collect our take for the morning. |
| ecofan, we were in business with plenty of warm | | | | As we walked out of the woods I will never |
| air being circulated around by the eco friendly fan. | | | | forget what my first time hunter who had just |
| If you haven't seen one of these yet , they are | | | | bagged his first two squirrels asked. He said " Dad, |
| quite unique in that they make their own | | | | what caliber of gun do you need to hunt Elk? " I |
| electricity. I have been using one for several | | | | still laugh every time I think about it. Hunt with |
| years. Back to the hunt. | | | | your children, not for them. I hunt , therefore, I |
| My son has had plenty of practice at shooting | | | | am. |
| targets with his .22. I started all of my children | | | | |