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11 - 14 Year Old Girl Group Winner
Student Name: Brianna Sawyer
School: Boone-Apache Public Schools
Grade: 9
Age: 14
Teacher: Lesli Metzger
Hunting Sharing the Heritage
My heart is racing with submerged excitement as my dad
says, “Shhh, be quiet.” Then, I see them; the string of
turkeys is walking so close I could have tossed a rock and hit
one. My dad and I count over eighty turkeys on the roost
after hunting that evening making this hunting trip quite
memorable and an amazing experience. Although I was only
five, I still remember that hunt vividly.
I began hunting with my dad when I was three years old. I
remember sitting next to a tree and pretending to play the
quiet game so I didn’t make noise. At that age I didn’t care if
we even brought anything home. I loved getting all dressed
up in my camouflage and spending time in the woods with
my dad. Not much has changed over the years. Hunting
with dad is still one of my favorite pastimes and
opportunities to learn more from him and continue the
family tradition. Sharing the hunting heritage isn’t
something I do only with my dad;
many people encourage me and provide the hunting
knowledge I have today. Their help they have bestowed
over the years deserves recognition to educate others
about the hunting heritage and how to continue passing it
down through the generations.
Different family members play important roles in my
hunting experiences and heritage. My grandfather provides
a plethora of family hunting heritage. He lets me borrow his
guns contributing many stories and histories for each
individual gun I use. It’s interesting knowing how family
items pass down through the generations and their histories
give a sense of connection to the previous generations and
their hunting experiences. Along with my grandfather, my
uncle Allen also impacts my hunting heritage. Uncle Allen is
the one who took me turkey hunting for the first time. My
father has also been extremely influential to my overall
hunting experiences and heritage. It’s amazing to have such
people to help continue the family’s hunting heritage and
share incredible experiences and lessons.
Although my family plays quite an important role in my
heritage and knowledge, other people have contributed as
well. My dad’s boss, Mark Conklin, often takes me hunting
when my dad is not able to or is already taking my brother
hunting. Family heritage is important, but having the
opportunity to learn from others is just as important to
developing one’s own individual hunting skills as well. I can’t
forget to mention my teacher who taught me how to shoot
a shotgun this year so I would be able to go dove hunting. I
learn so much from the wonderful people that take the time
to share their hunting knowledge along with their own
stories about hunting.
Hanging onto one’s hunting heritage is important not only
to help develop hunting skills and family heirlooms, but also
to help maintain a family history throughout the
generations. One’s hunting heritage is not only derived from
family, but also through experiences and knowledge passed
between comrades.