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.54-caliber Thompson Cen- rifles. He enjoys the planning as
ter sidelock black-powder rifle much as the hunt itself. With
down to me. that old muzzleloader, he is es-
My great-grandfather, Pawpaw pecially careful. He makes sure
Bill, lived for the outdoors. His we have the right patch and
best days were spent taking my ball, the right powder, and the
grandfather, Pawpaw Reggie, right caps, and he never lets us
and my Uncle Benny hunting at forget to clean the bore or clear
his uncle’s place in Antlers, Ok- the nipple after every shot. To
lahoma. They traveled as far as him, this is more than mainte-
New Mexico in pursuit of deer nance; it is respect for the rifle
and bear. Often, the hunt itself and for the men who carried it
was not his main focus; he was before us.
the man behind the scenes, Reggie eventually passed the
setting up camp, fixing what rifle to my dad, and with it came
broke, and keeping more than wood and steel.
the whole trip run- What they handed down was a
Cooper Davidson ning smoothly. Paw- way of life: a love for the land,
paw Reggie loves to early mornings in the woods,
Senior Division Boy tell the story of one and the bond that grows
New Mexico trip when through time spent outdoors
Grade: 11 Teacher: John Lastley they were towing a trailer together. My dad taught me
Age: 16 School: Eglin High made from an old pickup how to hunt, but he also taught
bed. Partway down the me how to appreciate the quiet
Hunting, Sharing highway, a wheel came off and beauty of the outdoors and to
rolled right past them. Without feel connected to something
the Heritage: panicking, Pawpaw Bill pulled larger than myself.
over, figured out the problem, Now, when I carry that rifle, its
Fred Bear says it best: “A hunt and had them back on the road. stock worn smooth by genera-
based only on trophies taken That was who he was: steady, tions, I feel the weight of its his-
falls far short of what the ulti- resourceful, and always ready tory. Every hunt becomes part
mate goal should be . . . time to to solve whatever challenge of a story that began long be-
commune with your inner soul came his way. fore me. Those memories and
as you share the outdoors with When he grew too old to hunt, traditions will always hold a
the birds, animals, and fish that he passed his black-powder ri- place in my heart, and one day,
live there.” For many of us, fle to Pawpaw Reggie, who has I hope to pass them on as well.
hunting is not simply an activity; always shared his father’s love Fred Bear says it best, “ I come
it is part of who we are. It is a for the outdoors. He is the first home with an honestly earned
tradition carried through gener- to suggest a hunting trip and feeling that something good has
ations, preserved with the same the last to complain about early taken place. It makes no differ-
pride my great-grandfather mornings or long days. He ence whether I got anything; it
showed when he passed his helps us prepare for deer sea- has to do with how the day was
son, checks stands, and tunes spent.”
