Hunting With Pop

[Stan Hoover]

I didn’t grow up a hunter, my father tried deer hunting when he was a teenager but decided it was not for him.
My dad’s father, (Grandpa) was an avid outdoorsman, hunting and fishing were his favorite pastime, for sure after retirement. He taught me and my brothers all about trout fishing and fishing in local ponds when we were young.

Probably what comes to mind first when I think of fishing with Grandpa was fishing Pine Creek here in Pa. While at his small cabin in Cedar Run with family every year in June, we would wake up early and leave as quietly as possible with Grandpa to head down to the creek. When we returned with the mornings catch, learning how to prepare them properly for the pan, great memories.

So I never received a squirrel rifle or shotgun for Christmas, but maybe a fishing line that I’m probably forgetting. When I was a maybe in my late teens or somewhere’s around there, I decided I would like to try dove hunting.

I went to 2 local gun shops , no idea what I wanted . The 2nd shop, Kerper’s Gun Shop, they had a 20 gauge Ithaca Model 37. It is a King Ferry Ithaca 2 3/4”-3” and it has an English Stock. That was my first gun and it sparked an interest in Ithaca Gun and it’s history.

[mobirdhunter]

Sweet memories. Thanks so much. This all hits me at the right moment in my life. Please keep them coming, and know how much I enjoy reading these posts.

[Bill Murphy]

My two posts were about "hunting with Dad" and I left out the first gun part. My first hunting gun was a 20 gauge Model 24 Winchester. I used it just for the 1958 season before I realized that the cylinder right barrel was not good pheasant medicine. Yes, prewar short barrel Model 24s were bored cylinder and modified. My next "first gun" was a 28 gauge VH Parker with modified and full chokes. Best $130.00 I ever spent. I bought it from another kid my age (14) I met on our gun club's skeet range. I still have it, 64 years later. When dad bought a Matador 12 gauge, I took over his Model 12, his first gun in the early 20s. I guess I was about 15 when I took over the care of a retired Army Colonel's collection of liberated guns from his time in Germany. During that time, I used a different gun every week for a season or two. What a treat that was, but only one Parker in the mix. Most were German combination guns and doubles. The Colonel's collection got sold off out of my earshot. It didn't matter because I had no money anyhow. I was still a bit miffed.