KUDOS TO MOMS/DADS LIKE THIS ONE

I've always had a big interest in KDWPT's Pass It On Program.  Hunting and fishing have been an important part of my life since I was a youngster.  The great outdoors is indeed a great place and I've enjoyed my time there. 

My Dad was the first one to take me hunting.  He was a weekend-warrior of sorts, pheasant hunting with his buddies from work a couple times a year.  Once I got old enough at  9 or 10 years old to tag along I would get to be "one of the guys."  My Dad didn't hunt anything other than upland birds but the bug had bit me and I took it from there.  I now hunt many species near home and afar.

But the world is now full of Dads who are busy, or aren't hunters themselves.  There's no shame in the latter as some just haven't ever been exposed to it.  So what's a kid to do who thinks he or she might have an interest in hunting?  A good bet would be to check out one of KDWPT's special hunting opportunities.

Many of these are geared towards helping kids, or adults with limited experience.  The perfect example was the 13th Annual Harper County David Berry Memorial Youth Deer Hunt.  I was paired with a youngster, 11-year-old Adam Hall of Hutchinson, and his Dad, Mark.  Mark had never hunted but was intent on spending time with his son who had developed an interest in hunting after receiving a bow and arrow as a gift.  I admire parents like Mark who take the initiative to make time to take their child hunting, despite their own inexperience.  Adam had never been deer hunting and his very first hunt would go from near-tears to jubilation in minutes.

We climbed into a tower blind overlooking a crop field.  It wasn't long and we spotted several does and fawns off  in the distance.  A short time later, two does stepped out from our left.  Adam got the gun up and ready and I could tell he was excited.  My confidence was high as his shooting back at the range was spot-on.  However, Adam's shot missed it's mark and the youngster was understandably dejected. 

But I told Adam and Mark that our chances were good to see another deer before shooting time was over.  I tried to console Adam and I chatted with father and son about the highs and lows of some of my experiences to help ease the pain.  Everyone misses at some point or another and that's part of the game.  Adrenaline is a complicated beast. 

It wasn't long and four more does walked out in front.  I did a better job this time of getting Adam calmed down prior to the shot and reminding him to SQUEEZE the trigger and stay steady.  I had binoculars on the big doe when he shot and at the sound I told Adam he just bagged his first deer as she piled up after a short sprint. 

Adam was now fired up and ecstatic.  We walked to his doe and a big, wide smile on Adam's face said it all.  His Dad was admiringly proud, too.  I was glad to help Adam get his first deer and even more importantly show Mark how much fun it was to share the outdoors with his son.  My hats off to Mark and other Moms and Dads just like him.     

WHITE-WINGED WONDERFUL

The Kansas dove opener is a season I've always cherished.  It signals a time to get together with friends and kick off the fall hunting seasons.  And my anticipation this year would be no different and despite not even firing a shot it may have been my most memorable ever.

My 15-year-old nephew, Dylan, has fallen head-over-heels in love with hunting and fishing.  His parents had signed him up for a couple special youth deer hunts near their home in Topeka and he killed a doe on each hunt.  And he's killed a couple turkeys, too.  However, he's never hunted flying game but was more than anxious to try when I suggested he come down to hunt with his cousins and I. 

He didn't waste any time and started practicing his wingshooting the week before coming down.

"Hey Uncle Marc, I broke 18 out of 20 clay targets last night," Dylan said in a cell phone call. 

"Really?  Were they still sitting in the box?" I kidded him.

I told him that was a great start but warned him that doves might be just a bit more sporting.  He found out opening morning that statement would prove very true. 

Dylan and one of my boys, Cody, and I headed out to a KDWPT managed sunflower field.  My other twin, Brandon, had opted for a KU football game with one of his friends instead.  Ouch.  I mean the fact he cheers for KU, not that he didn't go with us (I'm a K-State alum if it's not obvious).  We arrived to find the field surrounded by others with the same idea so we eased into position.

I had stools for Dylan and Cody and they would sit in front of me with their 20 gauge shotguns.  I didn't plan to hunt but wanted to stand behind them and just make sure they were safe and took good shots while providing a bit of wingshooting instruction.  As it got light shots rang out and both boys got excited. 

Cody was first on the board and I held his gun as he ran to his first downed bird of the season.  He was all smiles on the way back and grabbed his gun and sat back down in the ready position.  Both boys were getting plenty of shooting and Cody managed to connect on another five birds while Dylan was still looking for his first one.  He'd never boast or mention it but I think Cody was quite proud of himself in front of his older, by a couple years, much larger cousin. 

"So how do these doves compare to those clay targets?" I asked Dylan.

"A LOT HARDER!!" was his reply laughing. 

We had been seeing a few white-winged doves mixed in with the normal mourning doves.  A single white wing came wheeling by and Dylan finally connected on his first bird and ran to pick it up.  I was probably more excited than Dylan and Cody offered his congratulations, too.  It took him about a box of shells to get his first bird, but the smile on his face was worth every shot.  I told him I'd shot hundreds of doves and never SEEN a white wing, let alone shot one.  I think that made his first bird ever even sweeter.

Dylan was a quick study.  His next empty box of shells had eight birds laying beside it and he added another white-winged dove.  He listened to what I said and learned quickly about swinging, keeping both eyes open and on the target.  I was proud of him.  Cody must have been listening as well as the most birds he'd killed prior to this year was five.  He shot a limit (15) of doves with about two boxes of shells and he, too, killed a white-winged dove. 

The boys talked non-stop on the way home and couldn't wait to call moms, sisters, brothers and cousins.  We hunted the next evening, despite the thermometer on my truck reading 105 degrees.  It wasn't near as good but the previous morning was a wonderful way to start the 2012 hunting season.  Despite never popping a cap, I'll remember that hunt forever and I'm betting my nephew and son will, too.       

 

SUMMER COMES TO A CLOSE

I don't know that you can really say anything good about the drought we've endured the last two summers.  Between that and the 100-degree days summer has been a bit relentless.  But as the saying goes if life gives you lemons make lemonade.  It's cliche, but about the only way to justify anything good about a drought.  If you're a bowfisherman, the last two summers have provided buckets of lemonade. 

Low water levels in many of Kansas' rivers have allowed plenty of access (the big three, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas) are public within the normal water marks.  Access points allow bowfishermen plenty of latitude and miles and miles of opportunity to shoot species such as carp, gar, river carpsuckers, buffalo and several species of catfish.  An ATV is helpful to haul gear, drinks and supplies.  It's not uncommon to travel miles searching for schools of roaming fish.

I've never been a big bowfisherman, but enjoyed several trips this summer with friends.  The first one found us traveling miles and miles before we ever found water deep enough to hold any fish.  One hole about knee-deep was home to a handful of carp and it was literally like shooting fish in a barrel.  Fortunately, for some of them, my aim was horrible as I hadn't practiced and many escaped unharmed. 

On another trip a friend who is an avid bowfisherman invited me along.  He and his friends had literally shot until they were too tired on numerous trips and had great action for weeks prior to my arrival.  Our action was fast and furious, too, but once again my aim sucked.  While I shot a couple dozen fish, my buddy could have filled a small pick-up with his bounty.  It was fun just watching him as he was a fish-shooting machine. 

A cooler-full of rough fish all chunked or ground up makes for great coon bait come trapping season.  Buffalo are tasty and not a bad way to feed a bunch of folks for a fish fry.  Regardless, the drought made for some excellent bowfishing adventures for many Kansans.  I hope next summer isn't like the last two, but if it happens, head to the rivers and lap that lemonade!