mine is my dad.he bought a hundred acre farm here in western,ny to raise his family and pass down is love of hunting to myself,brother,and 2 sisters.i started going with him when i was 5 years old. he would only let me go 1 or 2 times a season when i was younger. and only when he sat on stand. once i reached about 9 or 10 he would have myself and my siblings push deer for him. one of the first times i was aloud to do this he shot a 4pt and a doe that we had pushed pass him.when i was 12 years old he had broken his ankle while playing hockey, the neighbors were setting up to push off a section of are farm and dad took a stand not far from the house,as he couldnt walk to good. he told me to go to the spot where they originally wanted him. i was so excited to actually be holding a gun with 5 slugs in it. low and behold a doe came to within 15 yards or so of me and i dropped her in her tracks,and everyone was so excited 4 me. those 2 things my dad allowed me to do instilled the love of whitetail deer in myself that isnt easily explained to a non hunter. in 1998 my dad returned the favor on a 2 man push, i was sittin and he nudged a 175 inch double browtine 13 pt to me. my dad is 71 now and i thank god every year i get to hunt with him as someday i wont be able to.

i was asked to also write 1 thing iwould like to say to my father today.after thinking about this tough question for awhile 1 thing comes to mind. and that is"thankyou" . thanks for instilling the great outdoors of hunting,fishing, and enjoying what god created in this world for everyone to enjoy. without the outdoors and all it has to offer, i would definatly be a different person. its not always about shooting a deer,or even seeing 1,its just about enjoyingthis greatplay ground we live in. thats what my dad taught me,and dad THANK YOU!