For some the very act of hunting can be competitive. A race to the top, see how many I am able to get, and it has to be the biggest and the best. Thank goodness in my circle of hunting friends that is not the case. Yes, we pursue game with vigor and passion, but not with an attitude of keeping score and letting the day’s harvest determine who wins or comes in second best.
My brother and I really like to hunt together. We enjoy each other’s company and the fun derived from the adventure. We also enjoy the times when others join us.
Over time a number of our hunting partners have become regulars. And there are others that join us on an infrequent basis regardless of age or skill level.
Some are seasoned veterans that have impeccable skills, while others are in the early stages of developing woodsmanship and hunting knowledge. The main thing is all are welcome to become immersed in what we enjoy.
Often we relive our hunts involving others. One such hunt that came up in conversation recently was Steve’s fall turkey hunt.
It was mid-afternoon when I scattered a flock of turkeys. There was plenty of time remaining ahead of quitting time for the birds to be called back to the break site. Sure enough, with a little encouragement from the turkey call, several birds were heading in my direction.
Some distance away my brother, along with his good friend Steve, were also in pursuit of turkeys as well. Steve was not new to hunting; he enjoyed hunting pheasants and deer and began hunting turkeys later in life.
A demanding job, coupled with limited weekends on which to hunt, helped prolong the effort when it came to putting a bird in front of Steve’s shotgun barrel.
Disappointments also had their effect, but yet Steve kept coming back. It’s hard to describe just how hard Mark and I worked to put Steve in the right place at the right time. Nothing seemed to work out right. But that was about to change.
This time Steve’s shotgun rang out and another bird was taken. But this would not be just another turkey harvested from the field. No sir, this bird was special. After thirteen years of turkey hunting, Steve was able to put his tag on a bird.
It’s hard to say who was more excited about Steve’s bird, Mark and I or Steve. After all, thirteen years is a long time.
In detail we talked about the hunt and Steve said, “You guys have had me in training all this time. Finally I was able to take a nice young gobbler.” In a nutshell, the years of hunting boiled down to fifteen minutes.
In all, we estimated that from when the birds first came into view until the time Steve shot, it was a span of not more than fifteen minutes. That short quarter of an hour out of thirteen years of hunting for turkeys will be a snapshot in time that will never be forgotten.
While reflecting on the day, Steve put everything in perspective. Steve chuckled as he said, “While it’s taken me quite a while to put my tag on a bird that is not the only thing I’ve enjoyed. It’s been the hunts and the fun we have had. There’s no dollar amount you can put on that. Sure it was great to take a bird, but it was a whole lot of fun getting to this point.”
Several years later a similar situation occurred, only this time the focal point developed while hunting black bears.
This time my brother, Mark, and I shared the hunt with Joe Kelly of DuBois, Joe Kelly Jr. of Curwensville, and Joe Logsdon of Natrona Heights. All the fieldwork had been taken care of. There were hours of preseason scouting, along with setting plenty of boot tracks on the ground in an isolated area of Potter County. With all the preseason scouting complete, we were confident that our chances of at least spotting a black bear were at least favorable. Upon heading out on opening day, little did we know just how good our chances would be.
With three watchers on stand and two drivers moving in their direction, our hunt was underway. It didn’t take long for the action to begin.
At about 8:20 am a shot rang out, then a second followed by a third. Then a familiar voice came over the two-way radio. “I think I’ve got one down, I’m down by the corner of the field.” It was Mark, and sure enough a lifetime dream of taking a PA Black Bear became reality.
The group converged to recover the bear. It was a beautiful animal and one that was treated with dignity and respect.
The bear would go home with Mark, however the hunt was a group effort and a shared success. As we discussed the hunt I looked at Mark and said, “Remember what we did for Steve helping him to tag a turkey on the eve of his retirement? Well, this is our retirement gift to you.” All that Mark could do was smile.
Moments in time are remembered in many ways. No doubt most can say where they were when the planes hit the twin towers on 911 or when JFK was shot.
For five hunters on the third Saturday of November of 2011, a time and place in God’s County will always be remembered. Times like these shared with good friends are memories that will last a lifetime.
And consider this. PA and New York State provides the opportunity to mentor youth hunters. The one on one time will pay off in memories and fun that will last a lifetime.
And for those who live in PA don’t forget about the adult mentored hunting program. The opportunities are out there, all you need to do is to take the initiative.
Hunt to honor military vets
In 2017, a special pheasant hunt was held to honor military veterans. The event was so well received and a huge success that on November 6th & 7th, 2018, Pheasants Forever #630 will sponsor another.
The event will be held at Delp’s Hunting Grounds in New Bethlehem, PA. The hunt is open to local veterans in within Elk, Clarion, Clearfield, Forest, McKean, Cameron, and Jefferson counties.
Registration is open to all veterans; with a limit of 50 participants each day.
Veterans, regardless of any physical limitations they may have, can be accommodated. For those who cannot walk or participate in a pheasant/chukar hunt, will be provided the opportunity to do a duck blind hunt on the same preserve.
Blaze orange as required by law. No Pheasant Stamp is needed. A limited number of shotguns will be available for use.
When registering let the chapter know if a shotgun will be needed. Also ammunition will be supplied for 12, 16, and 20 gauges. Lunch, gifts, and door prizes will be available.
The application form provided via the online link is
Applications must be completed and received no later than Saturday, October 20th, 2018.
For any additional questions, contact Tim Rowan (Youth & Veteran Activities Chairman) at 814-715-2754, or email at ltr247@windstream.net
Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors e-mail is GWOutdoors@comcast.net
