Lessons on hunting — and a whole lot more

The leaves were clinging to their branches in defiance of the upcoming autumn, trying to prolong their time, swaying to the melody of summer's last breaths. The last year's fallen crop was still scattered below and the dry weather had left a few able to crunch underfoot as I tried to shuffle silently behind my dad. "Pick up your feet and step easy," he explained. I began to quietly march like a slow-motion soldier in a parade. This squirrel-hunting safari was my very first time hunting and I was trying to figure things out. The adventure had started with an interest in going hunting, something that came naturally to a rural upbringing and with a father who enjoyed the field as much as his easy chair. After tagging along on long walks and getting to shoot a little out back, Dad declared that I was ready to attend a hunter safety class. "A class about hunting? Could there be an entire school like that?" I'd wondered. The course was led by a volunteer instructor at a Scout camp near New Waterford, Ohio. I had never listened to any teacher more intently as I scribbled copious notations in my work book. I circled gun part names, animal tracks and safety hints and glared at any kid trying to look over my shoulder. My plan: get the best grade in the class. Dad, who had volunteered to sit in and keep an "eye on the kids," sat in a corner nursing his pipe, the cherry blend tobacco mixing with the gun oil and solvent-infused shotguns and rifles on display. The class was to last most of the day and at about midpoint, a local club hosted an outdoor picnic of hot dogs, Wise potato chips and cider donated from a nearby orchard. As we were munching down the best-tasting hot dogs ever, another car pulled into the lot. A man dressed in green and tan climbed out and all chomping stopped. It was the game warden! I'd never seen one before, but I'd heard the stories. I couldn't remember his name, but I did recall a few of the descriptive adjectives. My dad looked at him and said, "That's how you bait a game warden … free food." I was mortified. To my surprise, he went straight to MY dad and the course instructor and shook their hands — then he got the free hot dog. Soon, we were back in class. I learned that the proper name for an Ohio game warden was game protector. He carefully walked us through the ideas of being an ethical hunter. He told us that while part of his job was to catch bad guys, his most important task was to keep people out of trouble. I remember that he held up the rules pamphlet and said that "Anybody can make a mistake, but don't make it because you're lazy. Read your laws every year because they change. And don't be crooked, either. You may not get caught right away, but people will know. Eventually, I'll come knocking." I believed him! He then took us outside for a shooting demonstration before returning to take the final test. The game protector and the instructor walked around the room, glancing over shoulders. At one point, I felt the uniformed sleeve brush my arm as he reached down to tap on one of the questions. "Think a little more on that one," he said quietly, then walked on to stop at another bowed head. In the end, I'd passed the test — just not at the top of the class, but that was OK. The game protector took his place at the front of the room and handed out an iron-on patch and our hunter safety card, shaking each of our hands. One lone boy sat alone, silent tears rolling down his face. He hadn't made the grade, but the game protector and the teacher called him up front and gave him a safety patch and a study book. They announced that this kid had worked the hardest of all and would easily pass the test "next time." I remember the boy smiled wide as they took a group photo with him in the center beside the kneeling officer whose hand rested on his shoulder; a photo destined for the sportsmen's club bulletin board. The next morning, Dad took me to buy my hunting license. He told me to remember the number in case I lost it so I could get a new copy. Then it was to the mushroom hunting woods which had magically transformed into a squirrel woods. That's how this young marching soldier ended up following along to look for fox squirrels on a waning summer day during a long-ago September. Two squirrels later, we were done and I was happily exhausted. "Next time we'll bring Cricket," he said as he stoked up his old briar and began our drive home. As I leaned back and daydreams drifted, I thought about the little black spaniel — and of schools that teach hunting and what it might be like to be a game protector. While that old hunting license is long gone, the number was BZ1484. Dad told me to remember it — and I always will. I also found out a lot more about being a game protector. "So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." — Christopher Reeve Along the Way All first-time hunting license buyers, except apprentice license buyers, must successfully complete a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license. The course is designed to instill a code of ethics and responsibility, as well as provide instruction on gun handling, field care of game, wildlife identification, hunting regulations and wildlife management. Statistics prove that hunter education has helped reduce the number of hunting-related injuries and incidents. To find a course, check online at www.wildohio.gov or call 1-800-WILDLIFE. Licenses and permits can be purchased at www.wildohio.gov or at license agents. Locally, Meijer, Walmart and the Division of Wildlife Headquarters (952 Lima Ave.) have them, as well as the latest regulations brochures. It's also time to verify that you're still welcome on the property where you hunt. Never assume that because you've hunted in a location that you can still enter the property. Ownership can change or the landowner may have reconsidered or added other hunters. Step Outside • Follow the "Your Wild Ohio Hunter" Facebook page for hunting tips and useful information as you get outside this season. • Hunting seasons now open: Sept. 1 to Jan. 31, squirrel (red, gray, black, and fox); Sept. 1 to Nov. 7 and Dec. 11 to Jan. 1, dove (mourning and Eurasian-collared); today to Sept. 12, Canada geese; today to Sept. 19, teal (blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon). • Sunday: Muzzle Loader Competition, patched round-ball only, 1 p.m., Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders, Portage Township 19. Public welcome. Contact Kevin Thomas, 419-722-5063 • Sept. 7: Fall Trap League, UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243. The five-person team league will last for six weeks. For information or to sign up, call or text Sandy Thomas at 419-722-2441. • Sept. 11: Black Swamp Bucks Fall Classic, 4-8 p.m., Ghost Town, 10630 County Road 40. Features live music, food, drink, games, raffles, guns, ammo and outdoor packages. Visit blackswampbucks.com or email info@blackswampbucks.com • Sept. 14: 50-Bird Fall Trap League, six Tuesdays in a row, Mount Blanchard Gun Club. Contact Bob Yoder at 419-273-5057. • Sept. 25 to Feb. 6: Deer archery season. • Sept. 30: Sporting Clays for Scouting, Elkhorn Lake Hunt Club, 4146 Klopfenstein Road, Bucyrus. Shooting, friendship, fun, food and prizes, with 100% of funds staying local to support the 5,000 Scouts and Explorers in our area. Visit donation.scouting.org/#/council/449/events or email JimMason@scouting.org Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com