WHY DO YOU HUNT?

Hunting has always been a family activity for me. As far back as I can remember i have been told stories of my grandfathers and uncle's hunting. Back before I was born in Kentucky on Saturday

nights they would get together with the neighbor's and go fox hunting . They would meet on a ridge

turn the dogs loose , build a big fire, throw some potatoes in the coals to cook and pass a jug around.

As they listened to the dogs and told tall tales.

As a child Labor day weekend was a big event as we would go back to Kentucky to visit but mainly to squirrel hunt, for three days they would hunt and dad would take me with him. I can remember like it was yesterday . My grandfather or my dad were always in the lead. In the evenings they would play cards or my uncles would break out the guitars and play sing most of the night. But as the years went by it slowly ended , it became extinct as they all got old and life became to hectic. For a few years a while back my uncle Ken ,Dad , my cousin Lester and I went back for about 5 years in row we camped at the old home place, we ate told stories and hunted. My dad loved to coon hunt, it was nothing for my dad to have four or five coon hounds around even though we lived in the city. He and my uncle Grover

would go just about ever night when season was in. I can still remember going along and listening to Gypse tree a coon and my dad say tree my dog.

In my twenties my uncle Ken retired and moved to Bainbridge

I had not hunted in several years , and a funeral my uncle asked me to come down and deer hunt

with him a day and i agreed. When I got down there we got into the woods and he said Beach why don't me and you just sit and talk and so we spent the morning just talking, 1 month later we were partners in a pair of beagle hounds. Some of the best day's of my life have been spent with my uncle Ken , rabbit hunting, eating dinner in the cab of a pickup,laughing ,telling stories.

I still hunt with my cousin Lester , as my uncle can not see very well now, and i am teaching my son to hunt , but I do most of my hunting alone now and I reflect back in time and remember all the stories of past hunts they make be both sad and happy.

Hunting is never about the kill for me . It is about relationship and time spent with my family. The animals in my trophy room it is not the animal that i am proud of as much as the story that it reminds me of.

KENNY RAY'S DAY

On September 18, 2001,I took my 4 year old son squirrel hunting for the first time.I have been hunter all of my life as was my father and grandfather and it was time to teach Kenny Ray.My wife Tari and I had been married for 15 years before the Lord blessed us with a son, so i had many years to imagine my son hunting and fishing the woods and ponds of southern Ohio. In early September the woods are still green and just starting to turn into Gods coloring book,coupled with a warm breeze it brings a comfort to weary souls. As i gazed upon my son and his shinning hairand the comfort of the woods, I thanked God for a wonderful day as life was indeed good.

These woods that we hunted today belonged to my namesake uncle ,he had bought them many years ago with plans to move there when he retired.My father located here just a couple of years ago.Time just moves by a little slower and life is so much sweeter. The pressure of life can make you forget just what really is important in life. As Kenny Ray and I crossed a deer trail and followed past a group of hickory trees. I watched my son try place his feet in my own footsteps ,just as I had my father's many years ago. Kenny Ray began to whisper."Daddy what do squirrels eat?" , "Daddy what was that noise?" "Daddy I am hungry."

I quietly tried to explain to him that we had to be quiet when hunting. And with a gleam in his eye he screamed Aaaahhhh!!! to let the world know he was there. Shh, I urged he looked at me with those smiling eyes of his and and yelled again sending i an echo thru the late summer woods. All that remained was for my voice to follow as i screamed also we fell in the leaves and laughed together.

Perhaps a change in tactics. We moved to the tree house that my cousin Lester had built in the woods for deer hunting, it is not really a tree house just a shed on stilts.

It was one of Kenny Ray's favorite place's to go into the woods and play. As we neared the tree house the questions began a new.:Daddy what are green briars?". As we climbed into the tree house Kenny Ray spotted a box turtle. Look Daddy it's a turtle catch him. So i caught the turtle and brought him into the tree house with us for Kenny Ray to play with.The turtle was not much of a playmate and the questions began again"Daddy what do turtles eat?" "daddy doe's he have a mommy?" He soon became restless again and asked if he could shoot the 22 rifle. I said ok but tell your mom and after a few rounds he was satisfied. We continued to talk quietly for a while but he soon became restless ,and said he was ready for lunch. so we headed back to the truck,

and had a picnic on the tailgate.

We did not get a squirrel or see a deer as i had hoped, but it was one of the best day's of my life. I pray that someday my Grandson will give Kenny Ray the same

gift.