Recently, I was out hunting turkeys with my favorite hunting
companion, my wife Doris. Even though she’s been around guns since we
married some 37+ years ago, she’s really a new shooter and hunter. I
looked over at her as she was sitting against a large oak tree in full
camo and it brought to mind all those who mentored me over the years as
a new shooter and hunter.
My brothers Shelby, Charlie and Frank
were there at various stages in my life to help me sharpen my skills as
a shooter and to take me with them on hunts, long before I was able to
carry my own gun. There are pictures of my Dad holding a .22 rifle to
my shoulder shortly before he died when I was 4 years old, so I’ve been
shooting most of my life and have had help throughout all those years.
My
brother Frank supplied almost endless supplies of .22 ammo that I
burned up with both his Winchester single shot .22 and his High
Standard “Double Nine” revolver.
Shelby took me hunting and
allowed me free range to his woods to hunt and shoot. He also gave me
my first gun, a Winchester 37-A, when I was 11 years old.
Charlie
took me hunting and fishing and delighted in making me find my way back
to the truck, in a strange woods. A little scary but good experience.
The
Boy Scouts were responsible for my a portion of my marksmanship
training that included visits to Ft. Knox and the small arms range. I
have to thank Walter “Buck” Buchanan for that. Buck Buchanan was a
Master Sergeant in the army when I first met him. He was the father of
my best friend Mike and gave us access to most areas of Ft. Knox,
including Patton Museum. As I grew older, he also became a hunting
partner who taught me a lot about how crafty a grey squirrel can be.
There
were many others over they years who taught me how to shoot various
firearms. Captain Emmett Paul and Colonel C.J. Hyde were great
influences. Either of those men could fire perfect scores on the range
with a variety of weapons. There were others who guided me though
long-range rifle and combat shooting skills courses. Those men were
demanding but patient. They encouraged and corrected in equal measure.
Glynn
Shubert was my mentor and teacher when it came to turkey hunting. We
hunted together on my first turkey hunt and he was the first person I
called when I finally killed my first long-beard. My good friend Lloyd
Fowler taught me to hunt turkeys in the fall. Lloyd could find turkeys
when no one else could and never hesitated to share his knowledge with
this friends. He saw me make more mistakes than can be imagined but he
was patient and never critical of my lack of skill or knowledge. Lloyd
and I hunted together just a few months before his death.
As I
looked at Doris yesterday, all these memories came flooding back to me.
I remembered past hunts, mistakes I’d made and the patience that was
shown to me as a true novice hunter. I began to wonder what she or
others that I’ve hunted with would say when I’m gone or can no longer
hunt. Would they remember patient counseling or would some other memory
dominate their thoughts.
Maybe it’s just the fact that I’m older
and that I realize that any hunt could be my last that makes me want to
enjoy each part of each hunt. I enjoy the preparation, the trip to the
woods, setting up, calling and most of all, the companionship of good
friends, including my wife Doris.
It truly is the hunt that
matters…all the parts of the hunt. I have decided that I will be
patient and understanding with all my hunting partners, experienced and
inexperienced. I’ll try to remember the way that others were patient
with me and helped me hone my skills and increase my knowledge. It’s
really the very least that I can do to honor those folks who’ve meant
so very much to me.