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Every now and then you have an experience that you talk about for a long time, well just last Sunday I was fortunate enough to have a perfect hunt. I had spent most of the morning cutting and splitting wood ( getting ready for old man winter ). After spending most of my day working - I decided to spend a little quality time in the woods looking for grouse. I drove to a trail near my home and as I get out of my truck and was checking over my gun when a man and his daughter drove up asking " do you know a good spot to grouse hunt near by - we have been looking for some time?" I replied, " Yes - right here and you are more than welcome to join me! Best decision I ever made!

Steve and Kelly introduced themselves to me and as they were getting there equipment from the truck, she explained to me that this was her very first grouse hunt. The gun she had was her grandfathers and he had passed away this year, leaving it to her. This was a simple 12 gauge pump and by looking at it was easy to tell that the grandfather (Walt) had used this gun allot. She went on to tell me that her grandpa always wanted to take her hunting but had pasted away  soon after teaching her how to shoot. She had spent time with him at the shooting range and seem to have a very good knowledge of safety in the woods. Steve on the other hand, had spent little time in the woods and openly admitted that he was a very part time hunter. He spends most of his time at a computer screen working and had not been in the woods for over a year. After looking over the map of this trail with these two - we all entered the woods. As we walked along and they told me more about their lives, it was easy to see these two enjoyed spending time together.

Kelly was so happy to be on her first grouse hunt, she told me about every hunt her grandfather Walt had told, almost as if she had also been with him on these adventures. As we walked along the trail talking, a grouse got up next to her, she took a shot and missed. We all decided to go deep into the woods for another try at this bird and as we entered the edge of the woods a group of four birds got up and Steve and I both dropped a bird. Kelly fired at one more bird but with no success. We spent some time attempting to get a couple more from this group back up for a second try but never got them to fly a second time so we moved back on the trail to look some more birds.

After walking for some time we stopped on a small hill next to a creek to clean the birds and take a little break. Kelly watched me clean my bird and then cleaned her father's just like a pro. As the two of us walked down to the creek to clean our hands we saw a 8 point buck standing on the edge of the water getting a drink. She had never been this close to a deer in the wild so we sat down behind a fallen tree to watch. Just then not more than 20 yards from the buck, a doe and her fawn came to the creek. We watched these three until they walked off. I wish I would have had a camera, with the fall colors in full, this would have made a perfect picture.

Kelly was pretty excited to continue her hunt so we continued down the trail until we got to the end. As we worked our way back to the trucks she stayed in front of Steve and I as we were talking and she wanted to hunt as hard as she could. As we neared the top of a large hill, I could see two grouse ahead of us on the trail. So I explained the best way to get these birds to her and down the hill she went on her own with Steve and I watching. She went as slow as possible working herself within range, and as if on queue both birds flushed from the trails edge. We watched as she took her first attempt - nothing. Then she fired her second shot and down came a bird. I am sure people miles away could hear the joyful cheers coming form these two as Steve ran down the hill to give his daughter a big hug. This was truly an experience I will share with all who will listen.

We then finished hunting all the way back to the trucks no seeing another bird. Still this was a perfect hunt!

Enjoy the Experience
Randy Man 

In memory of Walt