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Shooting For A Hundred

by Maxie Wright :: Featured: April, 2003

To me, nothing is more enjoyable than getting out in the fields and woods rabbit hunting, except maybe for seeing someone else do the same.

I have a very good christian friend that just turned eighty four years old  a while back.  We've been friends for years, since we used to work in the same pest control industry.  Both of us are retired now.  I'm fifty seven and he is eigty four, but the small generation gap has never become a problem, because we help one another any way we can.

When I started back hunting last year after a long sabatical, I could hardly wait to fill my buddy in on the latest.  Little did I know that he would be interested in getting back into the hunt after about fifty years of not even shooting a gun or hearing a race.  As soon as I mentioned to him that I had bought me a pack of dogs, I could just see something exciting exploding in my friend... brother Adril Haney.  After the excitement leveled off, he began to tell me of the old days, when he was growing up back on the farm, when he would have to get up early in the morning to kill a rabbit or two for breakfast, before school.  Today we say 'we bring home the bacon'.  Well, he 'brought home the rabbit', every morning.

At a very young age, before anybody else got up he had killed and dressed the main course for the a.m. meal.  I think he told me he lost an appetite for rabbit.  However, he hasn't lost the hankering to go hunting.  Oh, by the way he has a workshop at home that he piddles around in, or helps me put together a few projects, every now and then, so its not like he's bedridden or anything near that.  So we had promised one another that before the season was out that we would get together for a hunt.  He usually naps every day for a few hours, but never misses praying first thing upon waking up.  He's a strong believer in God's word and teaches a sunday school class regularly; doing a wonderful job along the way.  He and his dear wife ministered for over 42 yrs.  Back last year he was stung by over 100 hornets while mowing the lawn, and just sat down and told the Lord that he was accepting it as a trial of his faith and asked to be delivered from all the venom.  Within a few moments all the swelling left and even the tremendous pain as one of the stings was right under one of his eyes. All the pain went away just a few minutes later.  Now most folks, even younger folks, would probably have died upon an impact such as this.  I thank God for people that can reach the throne of Grace, even in an emergency .

O.K. I will get back to the subject at hand...

He and I were talking seriously about going almost 80 miles, and getting up really early to get there.  So, finally all our little 'honey do' jobs were over and we took off to meet another friend for the hunt.  Upon arrival, we all get out and unload the dogs, load our pea-shooters and brother Haneys face seemed to brighten up from childhood memories; in a few minutes just being there was a ton of fun to him.

One of the dogs jumped a rabbit and off we go across a field and cross over into some very thick stuff that would almost stall some bulldozers.  It was burned over some time ago and had a vast array of outcropping rocks everwhere you stepped.  We probably had 10-12 dogs running a hard running type rabbit that didn't have quitting sense -- a 'no holer'.  After several hours of beautiful running, I hadnt had a decent shot.  Not to say that I didn't shoot, because I did, but I missed them all.  If we had been deer hunting I would've been wearing a bib by then.

We had bonus rabbits going in every direction.  I shot four times non-stop, but the sucker kept going and the barrel on my 12 ga. pump was smoking.  No rabbit but the fun was just piping hot.  I laughed hard and bidded the poor, old rabbit farewell.  But I think my other buddy Don Layton stopped him dead in his tracks.  We call Don 'The Terminator' -- he hardly ever misses.  He can tear a few up occasionally in the process though.

Meanwhile brother Haney heads back in the direction of the van and I do likewise.  He gets in, lets the seat back and catches him a siesta.  I go back out hunting more rabbits to reprieve.  I sure do love to scare them every chance I get, just so they'll run better.

After a few more races, I head back to check on my pal Haney.  When I got there we sat around talking as I field dress the three or four rabbits that The Terminator put to rest.  As we wait for Don to come on in, directly we see him crossing the field and the dogs jump one and take it back into a swamp like area.   Meanwhile, senior bro Haney gets his composure together and walks back down a way towards the branch that runs through the field.  I was up above him a ways when I heard his .410 single barrel crack -- he shot all the way across the field and killed the rabbit from an unbelievable distance; using 7-1/2 size shot.  I do believe he must have put in a request to the Lord when he got out of bed, because surely that was a most miraculous shot, and it made his day, as well as allowed him bragging rights to be able to say he hadn't been hunting in well over 50 years.  He still can "bring home the rabbit ".

Now remember, my opening statement started by saying I get such a satisfaction knowing that if there is anything better than going rabbit hunting and having fun outdoors, its taking along a good friend or two and seeing them bask in the fun-shine also.

Happy Hunting and keep your powder dry.     Maxie

P.S.  Brother Adril Haney tells everyone that he is shooting for a hundred years old, if the good Lord tarries.  But, either way he will be living on in glory.