When I was young we moved often. So I got the opportunity to hunt and fish over a lot of different territory and terrain’s.  My dad was my first major influence when it came to hunting. He was an accomplished woodsman. He would take my brother and I hunting often.  Rabbits and coons where the main animals dad liked to hunt.

Rabbits were the first things he taught us to hunt. After that I would rabbit hunt with my friend Joey.  Joey only had 2 guns, a 20 gauge shotgun and a 22 caliber long rifle with open sites.   He kept the shotgun for himself. So I used the 22 when we went out.

After I got used to leading them differently with the 22, I would come home with just as many rabbits as Joey. Using the 22 taught me to pick my shots better and concentrate on the spot I wanted to place the bullet. Over all it helped me focus more when I was hunting.  A lesson I try to pass on to all the people I have taught to hunt.

Rabbits were fun to hunt. But as I got older, I was more interested in hunting deer, turkey, and fishing. My dad didn’t fish, but there was an older man Jerry Sipes that lived next door who loved to fish. He would take me all of the time. He would show me how it was done. Jerry  became a very good friend of the family. 

I also would hunt with another good friend of my dad, Jim Stumpf. He was the one that showed me how to turkey hunt. I never knew all those years what I was missing. When Jerry showed me the in's and out's of how to turkey hunt I loved it so much I talked to every one I could find that turkey hunted. I worked hard to perfect the things I had been taught.

Now I have become successful at all the different things I like to hunt.  When I was young I remember finding out who was known for hunting different types of game.
I would look them up and talk to them about hunting for hours.  I always appreciated their time and advice. I owe my friends and family a lot of credit for my hunting success.

 Now that it is reversed, I have people young and old coming over to talk to me looking for advice on hunting and fishing. I try to give them as much time and advice as I can. It’s my way of giving back to all those people that helped me.  It’s the best way I know of to help pass on the traditions of hunting and fishing, especially to the young ones. They are the future of hunting. So I take great pride when I am tutoring a child in the ways of the woods.

My grandfather was also a big influence in my love of hunting. He hunted till just before he passed on. When he got to the point that he couldn’t walk, we would put him in the back of the truck, on a chair, or sit him on the hood of a car and let him shoot at rabbits.
It made him happy that even though he couldn’t get around real well he could still hunt.
He hunted that way till the day came for him to continue his hunting in the next life.

If we install the love of the outdoors to our youth and stress the importance of safety while doing so, then we will give them a great life to lead and follow. A sense of pride and responsibility will help keep them out of trouble. Plus they will have fond memories as they grow up to pass to their children. 

The outdoors will always be there for the future children to love. I really enjoy taking kids and the elderly hunting and fishing. It is a hobby that can bridge generation gaps, and bring friends and families closer.

My friend Jerry Stumpf the one that took the time to teach me how to hunt. He isn’t able to hunt on his own now. So to pay him back for the time he took helping me. I take him now. I do all the heavy work, like hauling his tree stand and setting his stuff set up. All he has to do is walk in and get into his stand and hunt. When he gets a shot at a deer, I do all the tracking and field dressing.  I never mind helping him this way because he helped me so much when I was a kid. I like to help him so he can continue to do what he has loved to do all his life.

Now that I am a family man myself, I take my family out so they can enjoy the outdoors. They love and respect it as much as I do. It makes me proud to see how well my kids hunt and fish. They have been great pupils. I have 3 children, 1 boy and 2 girls.  My wife also fishes with us. We can enjoy the outdoors as a family.  I can’t think of anything better than being out on a lake with my family.  I believe that if a family does things together they will stay together. The outdoors is something that we all enjoy. It brings us all together and closer as a family.