We had a camp on Oneida Lake in Upstate New York. That really got me into fishing and the outdoors.
At about 13, I was in a grocery store with my parents and on the newstand was an issue of Outdoor Life. The cover had a big buck being pursued by a hunter wearing the old time red wool coat. I begged my Mom to buy it and she did. Inside were stories about duck and turkey hunting, and a great story about trapping. That was it.
I saved my paper route money and Dad signed the paper work for a used, Ithaca Model 37 16 gauge, which I still own today.
At 15, I got to spend the summer in Wyoming, and my cousin's husband was a real gun guy. I got to shoot revolvers, big game rifles, stuff that most boys from Upstate New York don't get to shoot.
At 16, my church youth advisor let me shoot his muzzleloader.
Later, I went in the Navy and was stationed in Maine. My Chief collected Parkers and raised English Setters. Just added fuel to the fire. He helped me get my first Parker, a 20 gauge Trojan which sadly I traded away for something else.
I married a Brit from Northern England and 20 years later she has become my best field partner. She shares my love of gun dogs and likes to tag along but doesn't shoot much.
Now, nearing 47 I have come full circle. I still hunt occasionally with that old Ithaca, if nothing else to remind me of a simpler time. I am also really into antique and muzzleloading guns. Have gotten to the point where I really don't care if I shoot anything, just like seeing the dogs work and being outside. I have three sons, two like to skeet shoot and the youngest likes to hunt. None show an interest in gunsmithing but thats okay. If I'm lucky, one day I will have a Grandson to pass it on down to.
Kind regards,
