Cyclops313 Loc: Alabama

When I was a kid I used mint to keep birds from eating the figs. My mother made wonderful fig preserves.

Clappy Loc: Michigan

Started with a Crossman 760, to a 20 gauge single shot, to a 12 gauge Savage Arms double barrel, to a Savage Arms Lever Action .300 Model 99.

NorthMoccasin Loc: SW Virginia, sometimes east central Florida

Spoonbills need love too! They are smaller, but they still eat good IMNSHO. I was hunting on a WMA out of my canoe and heard a shot late in the morning as i was returning to the boat launch. When i got there, i saw a fellow holding a shotgun, and the area manager. The AM asked me to retrive a "duck" floating 50 yards away. I did as requested, handing him a kingfisher! I'm not sure what the limit was on them at that time, but I think it was 0!

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

I have always wanted a .300 Savage Model 99!

Ted A Loc: Eastern Washington

My first big game rifle that I got when I was around 12 was a 300 savage caliber German bolt action Mouser 98. I shot many deer and elk with that rifle.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

My dad, an army lifer felt the same way, so my older brother started with a 22. two years later, my brother got the ok to get a bb gun. I believe the cost of ammo had something to do with it, being a sergeant with four kids. At any rate, by brother somehow convinced dad to let me also get one as my brother would always be with me when I used it. Long story short, my brother and his friends taught me how to have bb gun wars. All went well until my brother had a bb under his skin get infected. I will not go into the gory details or the rath of a military parent.

My first real gun was a 410 single shot bolt action that now belongs to my Godson's son. Most of my early deer hunting was on Fort Ord, so it was shotgun with slug or a borrowed 30-06 rifle if we went elsewhere. My Alaska rifle was a weatherby 300 mag. Since I came back to the lower 48, I have hunted pretty much with a bow or 44 mag pistol, except ducks with an 870 12 ga. I have a Rossi exchange barrel (22 243 20 gage) single shot put away for my grandson. but although 12, he is not quite ready yet. I have seen to many safety mistakes with his bow to feel fully comfortable. Not yet, but soon. I hope to get him in a required hunters safety course this upcoming year.

Ted A Loc: Eastern Washington

Bapa,

My brother (older than I) and I ran around with 22's years before we went big game hunting. I got my first deer at age 9 and first elk at age 11. We were well versed in proper firearm handling by then. My father watched us and decided when were ready. One has to realize that we grew up away from other children and their influences that might not make us safety conscious. No phone, no radio, no TV and neighbors a couple miles away or beyond. The nearest children my brother and my ages that we related to were over 6 miles away. All the roads to town were gravel. Children now days have many bad influences that they must mentally deal with. It was a different time.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I believe my brother got his 22 on his ninth birthday. I was not much older, as I am three years behind him. I still have not gotten an elk, though I have gotten deer, moose and a charging bear in Alaska. Due to location in my teen years, I mostly shot blacktail, but moved up to mulies when stationed in Colorado. I hunted there with a bow. I got my first whitetail, also with a bow, just a few years ago near Lake Curlew.

Have you always lived in Easter Washington? What general part?

Ted A Loc: Eastern Washington

I grew up in western Montana on 640 acres. The Vietnam war chased me out of Montana. I shot 12 elk 12 years in a row there plus many deer. After the service I stopped in Seattle for 2 months on my way to Alaska. 38 years later I retired and got out of that rat race and moved to 20 acres south of Cheney Washington. I finally did make it up to Alaska and went there by all land routes and by air. I'm hoping to go up the inside passage some time.
I no longer hunt as seriously as I used to. Shooting an elk gets to be lots of work especially from the places I hike into. Now that I'm 80 I suppose I shouldn't be carrying such heavy backpacks. I'm still active in backpacking trout fingerlings into the Cascades high lakes and expect to do some more this coming summer. If you're interested in a hike you're welcome to join me.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Sorry, but I've never been to Washington state. The furtherest I've been was to visit a cousin and his wife in Oregon. I was stationed at Cheyenne in the U.S. Air Force. I was never able to hunt elk due to the expense of out of state license. Just Sayin...RJS

Ted A Loc: Eastern Washington

I understand. At that time frame Montana had the highest license fees in the nation for out of state hunters. When I started it cost $5.00 for a hunting and fishing license. That included deer, elk. Bears were not considered and were often treated as vermin.

An interesting note: most of the bears shot per year were by women with a 22. I think the wife would be up in a cabin while her husband was off at work. When the bear came in to check out the garbage she would shoot it with the available gun.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I would love to do that, but with multiple surgeries on my left knee, along with 7 damaged vertebrae, hiking is a thing of the past. Just getting from an RV sight to a boat slip can prove an effort. So glad you can still hike at 80. I could renew my disability crossbow permit for archery season, but I tried it one year and it just doesn't have the satisfaction of bow hunting.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I read way back in the Anchorage News paper that a bear attacked a person down in Juneau. Not that uncommon, but when it was shot, it had (excuse the memory loss, but I can not remember the exact amount) pounds and pounds of 22 bullets in it.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

wow! Pounds of .22 slugs and he keeps coming back? Give those gals a shoulder weapon with a .40 or .50 caliber. That should 'settle his hash'!
Somewhere here I have posted an article I wrote and got published in an archery magazine. A couple in Arkansas were going hunting with just bow and arrows. They drove out to a remote area, parked near a remote creek. The husband went down stream and the wife, up.
Almost immediately, the husband looks up and there is a wild boar about to jump down into the creek with him. He only has time to grab the animal by its ears. He had to hold on for dear life and scream for help of his wife. She finally comes and shoot the hog with her bow. I write a note to the magazine publisher and commented on the fact they should never go into the bush without a backup weapon, preferrably with a caliber whose size equals or exceeds one's age. Like .40 or .50. When you are living in a state whose animal representing the state as a razorback, you had better be well armed! Just Sayin...RJS
Just Sayin...RJS

Bobfromfremont Loc: Fremont Ca

Or darts I had one too