Hunting for Memories

By Scott Reinecker - Idaho Department of Fish and Game I love this time of year. To me, nothing beats a clear cool morning wrapped in a slight breeze that entices the turning leaves to let go and freefall silently to the frost-bitten ground. My eyes and ears are drawn skyward as Canada geese rise off the lake and spread across the valley to feed in harvested corn fields. On mornings like this, my mind contentedly turns to thoughts of past hunting expeditions into the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. For many years, these have been special trips. This year, however, will be exceptionally special to me; my 12-year-old son and best friend Jacob will have the opportunity to test his skills at hunting his first deer. The icing on the cake lies in knowing that his grandpa will accompany us on this trip as well. I have encouraged Jacob to keep a journal of his adventures. Something I wish I had started some 30 years ago. Just think of the memories that he will be able to share with his grandkids. And his sister Sarah - now 10 years old - is not far behind him. I look forward to attending hunter education with her in January, the first step leading to a lifetime of hunting stories to tell and memories to share. It was roughly 30 years ago that I first ventured into the Middle Fork. By my side, coaching me through my first deer hunt, was my Dad. I remember thinking that you had to go to the highest, steepest, most far distant peak in order to find an exceptional deer. To his credit, my Dad entertained this thinking for the first few years. I know Jacob will be no different. As a matter of fact, I know exactly where Jacob will drag me that first morning of the hunt. I also know that he will awaken me several times during the night questioning whether it is time to get up. And I know that my Dad will be smiling from the warmth of his bunk as he sifts through memories of me doing the same to him. I was unsure if Dad would be able to accompany us this year. It is a shame what Parkinson's disease can do to a person's body. The desire to climb high is there, but the body simply won't cooperate with the mind. It is not unlike the old lab that sleeps deep and dreams of those many days in the duck blind and the successful retrieves in frigid water. Both hunters have the desire to continue the hunt, yet Father Time has a way of bringing reality home. But Dad will be there on the trail watching as we make our ascent. His eyes will follow our movement up the ridge. His ears will listen for that ever hopeful shot as its report echoes from the canyon walls telling the story as it fades down river. I wonder if his thoughts will then turn to his first deer hunt with his Dad. Hunting is so much more than getting meat for the long, cold winter. Hunting is about building relationships and friendships and especially about creating memories. Don't let an opportunity to build relationships and create memories slip away. If you know a young person who desires to learn about hunting, yet has no one to teach them, consider being a mentor. Idaho provides ample opportunity to get kids in the woods each fall. Whether you are a parent that needs help introducing a child to hunting or someone who wants to mentor a youth hunter, give us a call. We can give you the assistance you need to start making your own memories. Scott Reinecker is the regional supervisor for the Southwest Region.