Must Have Outdoors

We took the 20 gauge Winchester Model 1300 out of the safe last night to pattern it in for Turkey Season.

It was the first time I had shot that gun since Les had passed away. It is his old gun that I will be hunting with this turkey season. Les was a very influential person in my life when it came to hunting, and he is the one that encouraged me to go turkey hunting in the first place.

Last night my father told me how another one of Les’ turkey guns had been given to my brother. When they gave it to him, Les, in his witty and quick humored way told him “That gun has never missed a bird.” My brother took it hunting last spring and was able to double with my dad. My brother looked at my dad, smiled, and said “It still hasn’t.”

As I patterned in Les’ shotgun last night, and hit the target at 20, 30 and 50 yards, I became more and more confident in myself and my shooting ability. Much of that can be attributed to the quality Winchester gun, the Hunters Specialties Undertaker Choke, and the turkey Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C Targets, but I know much of it came from knowing that I was using a gun of an old friend.

Les has touched the lives of many in our home town, and he and his family are family to us. His encouragement to hunters, especially young women, has always been inspiring to me. Whenever I see his gun, or remember his stories, it helps remind me to pass it on.

Dad looked at me last night and said, “You know, that gun has never missed a turkey either.” Time will tell, but I hope to hold up to that tradition.