The Pinnebog Shoreline

It was late spring and it was unusually warm.  my dad had taken my brother and me to go fishing for the day.  as we rode in the truck up to the river, my brother and I fought and argued.  This was normal for us when were were younger.  I was about 14 for this trip.  We finally made it to where the river was and we started to unload our gear.  That old, red Chevy truck had always got us to our destination.  

We started to head out on this old trail down to the river.  The trail was covered in leaves from the previous fall and old sticks blocking the path.  We walked for what felt like hours, when I finally saw the shoreline.  We had made it.  I set down my pole and bucket to look for a stick.  We always used sticks in the shape of a Y to hold our poles.  This made it easier for us to tell when the fish were biting.  After I found my stick I started to set up my spot.  I got by bucket for my seat and baited my hook.  It was a beautiful sunny day and I began to fall asleep.  All of a sudden my dad had hooked a monster.  We had been catching sucker fish all day long and my dad was on a roll.  He finally got this fish in and I couldn't believe how big it was.  We quickly filled a bucket and put the monster in there, but he didn't fit.  My brother quickly ran to the truck to get the fishing string to keep him in the water.  While we were waiting the fish started to flop around splashing water out of the bucket.  Then he jumped out.  I ran over to try and catch it and somehow managed to keep him in my hands.  I could not believe I had managed to save this fish.  When my brother returned we told him the unbelievable story.  

Fishing was always something fun and relaxing I would do with my dad.  I always enjoy going out and enjoying the scenery.  The peacefulness is enjoyable but its always nice to throw in a little excitement.  I never would have imagined how that day would have turned out, but I wouldn't change it.  The memories I was able to make with stay with me forever.

     It's 6:30 in the morning and I receive a phone call from my dad.  I had had plans to go to Lansing that morning but the snow storm had changed my plans. I was sleeping in bed when he called me to see if I wanted to go rabbit hunting with him. It was the first time he had asked me to go and I was excited. I got ready and found my camo and rushed out the door on my way over to his house. The roads were drifted over and the snow looked like that from a snow globe. Once I got there we took the quad and went back the trail to look for rabbits. It didn't take long before I took my first shot. I was so excited when I saw I had gotten my first rabbit. 

     As the day continued we went all around the 40 acres behind my parents. I had once incident where my hair got stuck in a tree and I couldn't move. My dad just laughed and left me there.

We got a total of nine rabbits and I was able to out shoot my dad. I'm not sure if he let me or if he was just shooting that bad that day. I will never forget walking the trails and hunting with my dad and the rabbit stew that came with it. 

Rummy and the Deer Blind

     It had been 10 years since I last shot a deer.  I had gone out multiple times over those 10 years but never took a shot.  My dad and I would go out and sit, play rummy, or watch movies. If anything it was good father-daughter bonding time. 
     This last November was different. I had gone out earlier that week with my dad's crossbow but all I got was rained on. The next time I would go out would be different.   My dad had called me the night before to tell me he had seen a really nice buck go into the woods. The next afternoon we went out to the hunting shack. 

     It started out like every other time. We sat there playing rummy while I kept score on my phone. We were playing for about 15 minutes when we happened to look up. There he was. My hands started to shake as I reached for the bow. I took the safety off and took aim.  I squeezed  the trigger for the crossbow and all I hear is my dad telling me to watch the deer to see where he went. I was on such a rush.  As we sat there for what felt like an eternity I asked my dad if I made a good shot.  He laughed and told me the deer was dead.  We then went and found the deer in the brush. He was a monster eight point with a 16 inch spread.  It took me 10 years to shoot my second deer but he was well worth the wait.