Kids' first birds

[Blind Dog]

My two youngest grandsons came from MD for Thanksgiving. For added activity, I put 3 pheasants out in the 30 acres of CRP behind the house. The boys, ages 13 and 10, had shot at hand thrown targets once before. We used my open choked VH 12 with 1&1/4 oz. of 7.5 shot, a stout load but they are "big boys" and there was a better chance for a hit. Well, Pete, the pointer, found the first bird and I gave Garrett, 13, who was first gunner a shell for the right barrel, and I flushed the bird. The boy shouldered the gun and as the bird was rapidly gaining distance, I told him to shoot. He did, and the bird folded at about 45 yards; should have seen the look on his face. Pete retrieved the bird and it was James', 10, turn. After about 15 minutes, Pete located another bird and as we approached from about 20 yards, the bird blew out and I hadn't given James a shell yet. The bird flew about 170 yards to the wood line and landed in a tree. We moved toward the tree and at about 40 yards, I gave James a shell. We carefully moved in another 10 yards or so and I told the boy to go ahead and shoot. He did and the bird flew about 20 yards and dropped dead and the awkwardly held gun just about put James on his butt. It was a more successful hunt than I had expected and we had two proud boys. Each got his first pheasant, and with a 100+ year old Parker to boot.

[Dave Miles]

Wow, that's really cool Fred.
The boys will remember that for the rest of their lives. Job well done.

[Double Play]

You did good Fred. I love to hear stories of parents, grandparents, or even unrelated adults introducing kids to hunting and the outdoors. Thanks for sharing that story with us.

[Dean Romig]

A great start for those boys and it will only get better. What memories they'll have!

[Parkerman]

Who got bird #3?

Great story, thank you

[Autumn Daze]

Thanks for the great story Fred. It made me remember the first time Danny dropped a pheasant at a preserve we were hunting years ago. In fact he was 9 or 10 at the time also! Thanks for the trip down memory lane....

[John D.]

Simply a great story and pics, Fred!!! Many thanks for sharing both.... As well, when I read your story and looked at the pictures - it simply is another confirmation of everything PGCA & forum is all about: lazy days hunting & shooting with 100 year old Parkers and involving the "next generation" into that same legacy - and allowing the "rest of us" to participate through your words.

Simply a terrific post, Fred... Thank you for sharing it....

John

[Blind Dog]

Thanks guys for the reps. Linn asked about No. 3; it wasn't found and most likely left the field before we started out. Scott enquired by PM as to the fate of the birds with a most kind offer and I replied to the effect that they wound up in a kitchen in MD and tried to attach a pic to prove it but couldn't figure how to make such an attachment on a PM. So, here's the pic, Scott. Also, Larry mentioned the desireability of getting youngsters going on "our thing" before it becomes obsolete (I inferred some of that from Larry's statement). We have a great PF chapter here in Ashland County and each year for the past 12 of so years we have sponsered and carried out a "youth hunt" a week or so before the regular opening (all ODNR legal). I have usually performed as a dog handler (though kid handler would be more like it, the dogs usually know what they're doing). We have had 40 to 60 yungsters a year get his or her toe in the upland water this way. An old pic below of a happy hunter with his dad and old Ring who found the bird for him.

Fred

[ch]

calvin's pics 059.jpgA couple more keeping it alive during KS youth hunt. Jett on right Will on left. ch

[Dean Romig]

Reminds me of my pheasant hunts when I was about the same age. I didn't have a fancy hunting vest though, just jeans, boots and a cheap red & black plaid wool jacket. What memories those young men will have!