I was born and raised in Grand Rapids MI. My dad only deer hunted and I picked up bird hunting from my Grandfather and Godfather. Back in the 50's the area had a great number of pheasants and we had a cottage in northern MI where I hunted grouse and woodcock. My grandfather had a number of doubles and that is what I learned to hunt with. My dad bought me my first 22 when I was 10 or so and I still have that Ithaca. I never enjoyed deer hunting but I got hooked on bird hunting at an early age.