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