I grew up deer hunting, first with my Dad just for an afternoon. Later I got my own “stand” at Uncle Adolf’s place. I had the campfire. Uncle Adolf, my Dad and Uncle Andrew and various cousins would show up to check on me and warm up their sandwiches in the fire. At the end of the day Dad would show up and unload my rifle and count the bullets…you only got so many. Even with the shotgun I got three shots that’s it.
One year..I was old enough to have a Driver’s License and I was supposed to drive back into the farmhouse with Dad’s pickup…not sure why? I cased my rifle and put it in the bed of the pickup. Along the way I ran onto my cousin Hilda who was hunting squirrels. I asked her if she wanted a ride..she did so she put her 22 in a case in the back of the truck.
I didn’t drive very far when a Game Warden stopped us. The questions began. He checked my license and questioned Hilda at length about small game. Then he wanted to see our weapons..fine…the only thing is they were loaded. (Ditzy girl hunters anyways.) He gave us tickets and took our guns. Oh boy…we had to show up at his office in Park Rapids a few days later with a parent. He let us off easy with a warning and gave us our guns back. He said “I hate to discourage young ladies from hunting…but next time unload your guns” Ya…thank goodness we got off without a fine and the rifle I was using was my Mothers…I knew it would be back to the old shotgun for me.
In later years I would hunt with Far Guy. We loved to be in the woods and we appreciated the venison. Now we live in the woods and I hunt only with my camera.
Me and my Dad’s deer during hunting season about 1953.
My father was a deer hunter but I never had the desire to go hunting. Too much of a city girl I guess. That is funny about the loaded guns in the truck.
ReplyDeleteI can barely kill a spider! (To be honest, I don't. I escort them out of the house. But I do draw the line at mice in the basement.). But deer hunting is such a part of Minnesota culture and I married into a family that provided most of our meat that way when my kids were growing up. In my early years of teaching, the boys' seats were always pretty much empty for a couple days after deer season opened.
ReplyDeleteCute story. I'm sure it has never been forgotten in your family!
My hubby, son-in-law and now my grandson are all hunters. We kill only for food, and that is such a treat. My husband recently had a chance to show how well he was following the rules for our grandson, when they were questioned by a game warden. It was a good lesson for Carson.
ReplyDeleteI learn something new every day, Connie. I had no idea you had actually killed any of those pesky deer. I've never tasted venison, is it good? :-)
ReplyDeleteVenison is good if it is butchered correctly and prepared well. Personally I like it canned, the meat is put in jars and salted and then put in a pressure cooker...it will melt in your mouth :)
DeleteMy Dad was a deer hunter and I went with him once, strictly as the camp cook.
ReplyDeleteDeer is tasty, but I prefer elk.
ReplyDeleteLove the memories you shared in this post.
I wish I would have learned to hunt as I love venison and I think the meat is healthier than what you buy at the store. I'v never had elk but Nancy says she likes it better than deer. Good for you learning to hunt and go off by yourself. More young girls need to learn to be independent and self-sufficient.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if I should be out walking during rut and hunting season although technically I am in town and no one should be hunting out there and I haven't heard any guns going off at all but I know we surprised a bunch of deer as I heard them crashing through the woods but also don't want to run into any of those nutty bucks. I did hear of a lady in Iowa that got attacked by one while walking her dog. They get crazy...the deer that is. I walked in Iowa all year long but on the gravel roads and the deer usually kept to the wooded areas but now here in AR it's all woods!
Your picture is so darn cute with you next to the deer that's so much bigger than you. Have some deer sausage for me and oh how I miss the Hunter Breakfasts they used to have at the American Legion. I wasn't a hunter but I went as it was all homemade and a great fundraiser for the Legion. Do you have those up there? Did you get lots of snow?
My mom was very anti-guns - I wasn't even allowed to have a toy cap gun.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed! Your brush with the law cracked me up!
ReplyDeleteMy dad taught me to fish, but only a few of my brother's hunt.
ReplyDeleteWonderful story, Connie. Have a great day.
At a very age I had to go with Dad several times with an empty gun to learn the safety rules...but I had my Barney Fife bullet in my pocket. If I broke any rules, we started all over. Dad did not allow a loaded gun in the hands of an untrained girl. I am glad I was taught safety first.
ReplyDeleteWild game has been a main staple for us and hopefully will continue to be. It's hard work but it sure it cheaper.
We can carry rifles in our truck but the loaded gun rule still applies.
What a wonderful story.
What a story! I'll bet that was told over and over.
ReplyDeleteMy dad and I deer , duck and rabbit hunted a few times together when I was a youngster on our farm and also did a lot of fishing ,we lived off our farm land and livestock way back then ! Lovely post and photo ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteWow, I am glad I wasn't you when you got home! Glad you were able to get your guns back! I love the picture.
ReplyDeleteMy dad did like to hunt duck and pheasant, but.....my mom was so lousy at cooking it that it would be inedible. I guess my grandmother didn't cook game so my mom didn't have a clue. She would fry everything in a skillet and that was the extent of her cooking of wild things. A pressure cooker might have helped make it work but that didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was a hunter, and the one and only time he took us duck hunting, we disgusted him by crying each time he shot a duck. Sat in the boat stroking the feathers, and saying poor ducky....still feel that way, LOL.
ReplyDeleteJen
Good memories. I never hunted or fished. Guess I'm kinda wimpy!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know girls hunted back then. Gosh, that makes it sound so long ago. I thought just recently had girls started hunting and wearing pink camo outfits.
ReplyDelete