| Sam was the youngest of our children. I had | | | | One day he was handling the rifle in our |
| begun to expose him to the outdoors and the | | | | cabin and it came apart. He brought me 4 or |
| shooting sports at an early age. What other | | | | 5 pieces and the gun. He did not have a clue |
| youngster could say that he had shot his | | | | on the procedures required to put the pieces |
| daddys pistol at age six? Every time that | | | | back together again. My wife took the rifle |
| Sam touched a gun he was under intense | | | | and extra parts to the local gun smith. It |
| scrutiny. Safety was the primary concern. | | | | would be 4 months before he would have time |
| He began to accompany me on my deer hunting | | | | to repair the Marlin. She brought the rifle |
| trips. We had a cabin located in prime | | | | home and I repaired it myself.I had booked a |
| hunting territory where deer were abundant.. | | | | hunt at one of the local game ranches. The |
| The usual things happened on those occasions. | | | | reasoning for this departure was that I did |
| Sitting in a tree with his dad was not | | | | not want Sam to sit in a stand for days and |
| enough. He would talk and use the tree trunk | | | | lose interest again. We were at the ranch |
| for a drum set on most hunting trips. | | | | before day break. I had booked a hunt for |
| Singing was his number one priority on these | | | | axis deer and hogs. The hunt was to last two |
| excursions. I never saw any deer on my trips | | | | days. My aunt died and plans were changed . |
| to the deer stands with Sam. It really did | | | | Extra time was needed to go back to the big |
| not matter. Time well spent with my son was | | | | city for the funeral. We began to transverse |
| far more important than venison.School came. | | | | the ranch. A big ram came into view. Sam's |
| Sam developed other interests. I volunteered | | | | first shot was low. The second shot was on |
| for coaching duties in football and baseball. | | | | the money. The ram went down without taking |
| He belonged to the band for a short period. | | | | a step, succumbing to a single shot. We |
| There was school work and athletics. The | | | | next approached a beautiful 8 point white |
| spare time that he had left was devoted to | | | | tail buck. One shot and the buck was down. |
| fishing. Fishing at dads stock tank was a | | | | Sam's confidence was growing in leaps and |
| number one concern for him. Time flew . The | | | | bounds. The hog never knew what hit him. |
| next thing I noticed about Sam was that he | | | | Sam and the guide approached the downed hog. |
| was growing into a young man.A very good | | | | The guide put his boot on the neck of the hog |
| general purpose deer rifle was given to him. | | | | without interference. The hog exploded with |
| It sported a scope that matched the integrity | | | | an intended end run to the safety of the |
| of the rifle. We made a trip to San Saba to | | | | trees. Sam's shot was true. The hog was |
| hunt deer. He had the opportunity. He told | | | | stopped in it's tracks. Sam walked up to the |
| me later that when the deer came into his | | | | hog and the hog jumped up and tried for the |
| sight picture he began to shake. Welcome to | | | | forest again. Sam's third shot was terminal. |
| deer hunting. Sam lost interest to a degree | | | | Hogs are tough critters to bring down.Sam |
| after this hunt.Sam's rifle was lost. I | | | | has the meat. The ram and 8 point are at the |
| loaned him another. I had obtained this | | | | taxidermists. His new wife is undecided |
| rifle in a purchase over the internet. It | | | | about where to put his trophies. She |
| was a good and sound used Marlin in 30-30 | | | | mentioned something about me storing them at |
| caliber. Sam became interested in going on a | | | | my house. It is all in the right training. |
| hunt one more time. I gave him about 100 | | | | She will eventually come around.Stephen |
| rounds of ammo that I had hand loaded. | | | | Graham- Writes articles from his own life |
| Practice sessions began in earnest. When he | | | | experiences. |
| shot up the given ammo I loaded him more. | | | | |