Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
50 years ago today, an excited and happy boy received his first hunting license as part of his 12th birthday present. The rest included a brand new hunting vest, a couple boxes of shells, and a brown Jones style hunting hat.
Pop and I went after dove that day, and more the following days after school and work. We took some, Mom cooked them up, and a few life habits began well.
Of course, I had shot shotguns before. We did for sport and for keeping pigeons out of the barn and starlings out of the cherry tree. A 16 gauge H&R was kept behind the kitchen door, for pests and protection. I learned early that a load of sixes through a full choke at 20 yards was good for anchoring a groundhog. And groundhogs taste good but are rough to skin.
I bought a hunting license last week. I've no major plans to hunt, recognizing reality and that all flesh gives way to Time.
But, I like the idea of giving back to something that for decades nurtured me, healed me and to an extent defined me.
I am or have been a husband, a father, a firefighter, a teacher, a damn good Correctional Officer, a shooter,a musician, a citizen, a role model and many other things.
But I've been a hunter for 50 years and more. It's a family tradition. We've hunted for more than a million years, and been molded by it. Everything about us from our stereoscopic vision to our adaptability to our wonderful ability to co-operate in time of need has predatory roots.
Doubt that? Watch small boys of any culture play chase down and ambush games that mimic the play of lion or wolf cubs. Lions and wolves are also social predators.
But back to shotguns.
There's been lots of them over the decades, and I've liked most of them. With a couple exceptions I can now trace to bad fit, I shot them all acceptably and enjoyed doing so. I've come to a few conclusions about them.
Thanks to good friends and a generous helping of Chutzpah, I've handled and shot lots of shotguns, ranging from Purdeys to H/S bullpups.
There's been....
Berettas,Benellis, Kolars, Kreighofs, Mossbergs, Winchesters, Remingtons, Parkers, Elsies, Savages, Stevens's, Ithacas,Purdeys,H&Rs, NEFs, Woodwards, Churchills, W&C Scotts, and more past memory and measure.
I've enjoyed them all, and feel that fit and balance are much more important than the names on them.
I'd rather have a Mossberg that fits to shoot than a Purdey that doesn't.
Your comments are welcome.
Just don't call them "Shotties".
After all, it's my birthday.....
Pop and I went after dove that day, and more the following days after school and work. We took some, Mom cooked them up, and a few life habits began well.
Of course, I had shot shotguns before. We did for sport and for keeping pigeons out of the barn and starlings out of the cherry tree. A 16 gauge H&R was kept behind the kitchen door, for pests and protection. I learned early that a load of sixes through a full choke at 20 yards was good for anchoring a groundhog. And groundhogs taste good but are rough to skin.
I bought a hunting license last week. I've no major plans to hunt, recognizing reality and that all flesh gives way to Time.
But, I like the idea of giving back to something that for decades nurtured me, healed me and to an extent defined me.
I am or have been a husband, a father, a firefighter, a teacher, a damn good Correctional Officer, a shooter,a musician, a citizen, a role model and many other things.
But I've been a hunter for 50 years and more. It's a family tradition. We've hunted for more than a million years, and been molded by it. Everything about us from our stereoscopic vision to our adaptability to our wonderful ability to co-operate in time of need has predatory roots.
Doubt that? Watch small boys of any culture play chase down and ambush games that mimic the play of lion or wolf cubs. Lions and wolves are also social predators.
But back to shotguns.
There's been lots of them over the decades, and I've liked most of them. With a couple exceptions I can now trace to bad fit, I shot them all acceptably and enjoyed doing so. I've come to a few conclusions about them.
Thanks to good friends and a generous helping of Chutzpah, I've handled and shot lots of shotguns, ranging from Purdeys to H/S bullpups.
There's been....
Berettas,Benellis, Kolars, Kreighofs, Mossbergs, Winchesters, Remingtons, Parkers, Elsies, Savages, Stevens's, Ithacas,Purdeys,H&Rs, NEFs, Woodwards, Churchills, W&C Scotts, and more past memory and measure.
I've enjoyed them all, and feel that fit and balance are much more important than the names on them.
I'd rather have a Mossberg that fits to shoot than a Purdey that doesn't.
Your comments are welcome.
Just don't call them "Shotties".
After all, it's my birthday.....
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