Fall has always been my favorite season as both hunting and college football seasons begin. At Riverview, one can now hear the sounds of shotguns being fired as dog conditioning and brush up training begin. Rumor has it that SOME of our guides are no better shots than SOME of our guests. We may need some of you to kill a few quail in order for our English Cockers to get enough retrieving practice.
Without a doubt, my favorite fall was the year I turned 9 years old. My Dad was somewhat of a renaissance man. He could do almost anything. He built both boats and shotguns in his shop. Pop was also an excellent dog trainer, and one of the best wing shots I ever saw. I walked along with him, and was in awe of him. If one of his dogs went missing, he would tie the other dog up, and say to me, “Son, we need to go find old Ben because he is on point somewhere, and will hold that point until hell freezes over.” Sure enough, we always found the missing dog on point.
Finally that magic day arrived in my 9th year. The two dogs were on point at a fence row. As Pop began to walk up behind them to bag his expected double, he suddenly stopped and backed up. Turning to me, he said, “ Do you want to shoot on this covey rise?” Those were the magic words that I had been longing to hear, but was afraid to ask since Pop trained his children much like he did his bird dogs with TOUGH love.
Well, he handed me his 12 gauge, double triggered LC Smith shotgun and instructed me to walk up slowly behind the dogs while always being ready to place my left foot forward prior to shooting since I’m right handed. I was so nervous that I couldn’t even get spit in my mouth. I wanted to make Pop proud and kill a quail. I also wanted to make damn sure that I didn’t injure one of the two dogs since the consequences of that had been explained to me in vivid language when the shotgun was placed in my hands.
I slowly walked up behind the dogs when the covey exploded. Somehow I don’t recall the sounds of a covey explosion being that loud during my years as a spectator and bird marker. At any rate, I managed to get that heavy gun to my shoulders, and pick out one bird as I had been taught. What I was NOT TAUGHT was not to pull both triggers at the same time.
As you can imagine, the kick from both barrels planted me squarely on the ground, and knocked my front two teeth out, BUT I bagged my first quail!! Pop told me that I was laughing and crying at the same time. Following that experience, Pop homemade me a little 410 and allowed me to begin hunting with him. I will share the details of one of the more memorable quail hunts with Pop in a later blog post.
As I’m now right at the ripe old age of 75, those memories become more precious with each passing year. Riverview will have everything in A+ condition and readiness for the coming season. The guides, dogs, cooks and facilities will be spit shined. We invite you to come make your OWN memories this fall and winter with us!
May God bless you and your families.