About 30 yrs ago, I was out in the fields w/ grandpa. The farm dogs were barking treed and grandpa says to me " Go shoot that groundhog out".
I skip up the wooded hillside adj. to the beanfield to were the dogs were barking. They had some critter up a cedar tree. As I closed the distance the dogs came towards me.

Still about 20 yds. from the tree and out comes the critter, I shouldered the gun and let fly w/ my one and only shot. The critter crumbled and lay still. The dogs and I were stumbling over one another getting to the kidding animal.

My 1st crat, struck behind the left ear. It was a large feral tom and in death I was struck by those large glowing green eyes.

Into the holler he went. At 12, I didn't know if killing crats was OK w/ grandpa. He was my ammo supply after all. I didn't say a word about the crat, didn't want to risk it. As I now had a new found obsession to pursue.

The rifle was a Savage model 3 single shot, which I still have.

Rooster Cogburn Sir! Very welcome and let me say that I am delighted to see that you make your very first post in this forum, and with such an appropriate subject!

Regards,
Marterius

Sniff... I just couldn't help but get all "teared up" during that sweet story... And it had such a happy ending....

Rooster, welcome aboard! We like such tails for we are equal parts and . Hang around and have some fun.

We share a common trait you and I, we don't have all our parts. Therefore, when somebody calls you a complete idiot remind them that you're not, because some of your parts be missin'.

Dan

Pres., TYHC

www.Witty.Reparte'