Gained a new hunting pardner

[Harold Lee Pickens]

--but lost a whole lot of hunting gear. My son Jeremy has shown a strong interest in getting back to his roots and hunting this year. His father died when he was 2 1/2, and I married his mom when he was 5, he is 32 now. His dad was an ardent hunter, who loved to bow hunt, and had an Irish setter that he field trialed and hunted. We had all his bows--stick bows, Black Widow's, and I got Jeremy set up shooting them this summer-gave him my block target cubes.
He has been wanting to bird hunt, so we went out for a Thanksgiving pheasant hunt today. He came over last night and I gave him a new pair of hunting jeans I had never worn, a new upland shirt, orange vest, and hat. I had given him a 20 ga Zoli OU with double triggers earlier this summer, and of course shells. The dogs did a great job finding birds for him, and he did manage to scratch down one out of 4 shot at. Jeremy was state champion tennis player in singles and doubles in HS, played D1 tennis at the #1 position, and later on the Futures pro circuit. He is now nationally ranked in platform tennis. He is left handed and left eyed, but is more comfortable playing tennis and shooting right handed. This gives him trouble being left eye dominant and shooting right handed. Tried putting a dot over L lens--I really think he just needs to shoot more, on clays to practice.
He is going out to the farm Monday for deer season, but I am going to work. The surgeon I work 2 days a week for came down with Covid , and I am needed in the office Monday.
So I gave him a scoped 20 ga slug gun and sabot slugs, and all my good deer hunting coats, gloves, thermals, etc. So my hunting room is noticably cleaned
out, but am glad to be getting him out into the field with me.

[Dean Romig]

Looks like the start of something really good. Congratulations Harold - you’re doin it right.





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[Andrew Sacco]

That's just great for the both of you. My son is 18. Great kid, but zero interest and I try not to let it bother me. You don't love them any less. But that's a fine outcome you have there : )

[Brett Hoop]

Glad you guys got out together. Having watched Jeremy shoot sporting clays I am certain it’s just a matter of burning some more powder and he will be leaving us behind. Too much athleticism for me to believe otherwise.
Hope a good buck comes his way Monday.

[Cameron Thraen]

Harold, great story. Be aware when he says "hey dad, I will take it home and clean it for you". My son has cleaned a number of guns for me after using and these somehow migrate to his gun safe. I do not mind as it opens up a slot in my safe for a new acquisition.

[Cameron Thraen]

Andy, my son played HS soccer and who knows what in college. He could not be bothered to hunt or fish with dad during those years. Then... In his late twenties he came back and has been my constant hunting and fishing companion for the past twenty years. Stay patient and always be ready.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

We hunted deer in Ohio today at my farm, in an all day mist. No luck but I took that gun back with me to clean, he doesnt have a cleaning kit, yet. But Christmas is drawing near, so will be a good present.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Well, in the last few minutes of legal shooting time, on the last day, last hour, I saw a group of does coming down the farm lane toward Jeremy, who was sitting in the "Island Stand". It was getting so dark, but he made a nice shot on a big doe--"makin' meat". The 20 ga H&R single shot, rifled bull barrel put a devastating hole in that deer--never had an easier blood trail, ran 40 yds and piled up just inside the woods. Really didnt want to mess with a deer in the dark, but turned out ok. Of course, he has to work in Pittsburg tomorrow, so good old dad will take it to the processor--dont feel like butchering it myself. Ive passed up several small bucks, and would have taken a big 8 yesterday, but just didnt have the shot I wanted. There is still a weekend gun season in 2 weeks and muzzleloader season to fill my tag.

[Andrew Sacco]

Thumbs up!!!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thanks Andy, hope evrything is going ok, and this damn Covid doesnt shut you down again. I'm temporarily off as all elective surgeries have been shut down--dont know when I'll get back, Jan would be fine with me.

[Andrew Sacco]

Hey Harold, we're busy as ever with my next opening in April. Doesn't make sense, people knocking the door down to get in, new patients at that. I don't really care much what Cuomo says, we don't plan on shutting down again as long as we practice in a safe manner and keep clean/distance..etc. Stay safe!