Changed Views
What happens when a dedicated archer picks up a gun for the first time?
It was my first hunting trip, I bought my license a few days before and finally had a chance to play hide and seek with the local groundhog population. I looked over at friend and fellow staff writer Justin Lancaster, he was already sweating from the heat. �We should do pretty well today.� he said, and with that we began the hike to find a good spot. Hopefully we will do well, but if we don�t I won�t mind nothings better than spending an afternoon hunting with a good friend.
My weapon felt heavy, awkward and out of place. Nothing compared to the compound bow I shoot so well, the bow feels like an extension of my body, but this was new to me. I looked down at my brand new Marlin 880SS, a nice gun I thought. It was given to me for my birthday by my uncle who also gave me my first bow and taught me all he could about guns and gun safety. The .22 was topped with a Bushnell 4-power scope, I had everything I needed but it still felt alien to me. We found a good spot and settled down. Justin and I talked about different things while waiting for my first shot opportunity. Half an hour had passed and I heard something moving through the brush right behind me. I looked at Justin and he motioned that I should get ready.
The groundhog stuck its head out of the brush a mere 6 yards away. I took aim and fired and the groundhog simply rolled over dying instantly. Justin jumped up and ran over before I could move a muscle, perhaps even more excited than I was. Then it occurred to me that in my excitement I had forgotten all about which tool I had in my hands. I realized that hunting is hunting and while I�m still an archery addict I found a new love for gun hunting. I finally realized what everyone was so excited about when the firearms season came in. If we happen to cross paths in deer season I�ll more than likely be accompanied by my faithful compound bow, but don�t be surprised if I have a rifle over my shoulder. Thanks Ken, and thanks Justin. Thanks to you I�m no longer the stubborn archer of the magazine staff.
