By Sheila Link,
Contributing Editor

"Take him!" Josh whispered, nudging Ryan.

Ryan was mesmerized, his jaw slack, his eyes unblinking. Five hen turkeys had landed right in front of the boy, the soft, whooshing, "whump, whump, whump" of their wings breaking the eerie silence of the early dawn. Right behind them two more turkeys-toms-swooped in beside the hens. Ryan stared, breathless, as both gobblers began strutting just a few yards from his feet. Unable to respond to his guide's prompting, Ryan watched the twin toms finish their display and move away. When they disappeared, he turned to Josh.

"I'm sorry..." he began.

Josh patted the boy's shoulder and said softly, "What a show! They'll come back. You just relax for a minute, then get ready to shoot, okay?" Ryan grinned and nodded. The tall, wiry high school junior from southern California was on his first hunt. An avid hiker, mountain climber and skateboarder, hunting was a new, somewhat daunting experience for Ryan.

A third person was sharing the blind that morning-his godmother, Vickie Gardner. It was her first hunt, too. People describing Vickie call her "bright" and "enthusiastic" as well as "lively," "engaging," "eager," and "generous."

Vickie, her husband Tim Gardner, Ryan Huffman and his family, live in Mt. Baldy, a tiny town near San Bernardino. Tim and Vickie own Alpen Outdoors, an optics firm that supplies binoculars for sailors, birdwatchers and hunters, as well as riflescopes and spotting scopes for shooters and hunters. Alpen is committed to encouraging young people to participate in every aspect of outdoor pursuits. That commitment has Vickie taking youngsters on camping trips and birdwatching hikes. It also prompted her invitation to Ryan to share the Kansas hunt.

When she and Tim began their own optic business, Vickie instantly immersed herself in learning all she could about the various sports in which optical equipment is used. The one that most appealed to her was shooting, so she began taking lessons in pistol shooting and found that she enjoyed the discipline tremendously.

During the January Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, Vickie met Gene Pearcy, who operates Kansas Whitetail Adventures, which outfits and guides deer and turkey hunters. Pearcy also produces a TV show for the Outdoor Channel, whose several sponsors include Alpen Outdoors. Pearcy invited Vickie to Kansas for turkey hunting in early May. Although neither she nor her 17-year-old godson were shooters or hunters, she accepted for both of them.

It was necessary for them to learn to shoot shotguns. Ryan borrowed a gun from a relative while Vickie got herself a Franchi 20-gauge autoloader and had the stock shortened to fit her. Between Ryan's school schedule and family chores and Vickie's busy days as a hands-on executive, it was difficult for either to find much time to practice in the three short months before the hunt. They took Hunter Education courses, though, put in as much time with their scatterguns as possible, and pored over articles on turkey hunting in outdoor magazines.

When the day came to fly to Kansas, they were as ready as they could manage to be. What they lacked in experience, they more than made up for with enthusiasm and a willingness to ask for and take suggestions.

Vickie and Ryan arrived at Pearcy's hunting lodge in time for Sunday dinner. They unpacked their gear, then joined Gene, his wife Terry and Josh Grossenbacher at the table. Gene had planned to guide them and also videotape their hunt for his program. Unfortunately, he had been bitten by a brown recluse spider a few days before, and was suffering the pain, swollen joints and general debilitation the spider's toxins caused.

"I'm sorry I can't take you out," Gene apologized, "but you'll be in good hands with Josh. He's a state champion turkey-caller and has hunted turkeys all his life."

"We're sorry you feel so bad," Vickie told Gene, "but we know we'll have a great time with Josh."

Josh explained that he'd knock on their doors at 4 o'clock and that there would be coffee and light breakfast foods on the table. Gene loaned the boy a shotgun and, as promised, got out some camouflage clothing for Ryan who, unlike Vickie, hadn't brought the required "uniform."

Before leaving the lodge next morning, Ryan and Vickie, following Josh's lead, crammed a couple of granola bars into their pockets. Then they followed Josh out into the cold darkness and climbed into his pickup. Both shivered a bit-partly from the cold, partly from excitement. As they drove along the blacktop roads, Josh explained that they'd be in a "tent" blind. "You can move a little bit," he said, "but you'll have to be very quiet."

By 11 o'clock they had seen six hens and heard a gobbler, but had no opportunity to shoot. "We'll go back to the lodge now," Josh said, "get some lunch and a nap and come out again around 2:30-okay?"

Vickie was bubbling over. "What a great morning!" she enthused, "We never saw a male-but it was wonderful to be out so early, to see the world wake up-and to hear that gobble! I love this!"

Ryan agreed. He was entranced by the whole routine. He'd never before seen a wild turkey, certainly not up close, nor had he heard a gobbler until then.

"You know," he confided during the drive back to the lodge, "We've come all the way from California for this-and this morning's experience alone was well worth the trip."

That afternoon they sat in a different tent blind, and saw a pair of tom turkeys. Josh estimated them to be at least 200 yards away, though and, while the birds looked toward the sound of the calls, the haughty pair were not sufficiently entranced by Josh's hen-calls to investigate.

"It was incredible!" Vickie enthused during dinner that evening. "We were out there for hours, never had a chance to shoot, but it was fascinating. We saw and heard a lot of different birds-crows, woodpeckers, some turkeys . . . and Josh showed us how he uses the slate and box-calls...What a great experience!"

Ryan, by nature less talkative than Vickie, quickly joined in, adding, "This is so different from what I-and my friends-thought hunting was like." He helped himself to another piece of baked chicken and continued, "I guess we thought hunters just walked out, saw an animal, and shot it. We never realized it involves so much learning about the animal's habits-or that they're not just sort of "standing around," easy to find. . . ."

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Gene asked.

"Very much!" Ryan replied, "This is just fabulous. I'm learning so much!"

The following day was a repeat of the first day's experience. The trio saw hens, saw gobblers at a distance, were unable to bring them within range, but had front row seats to watch other wildlife. Three whitetail deer slipped silently into an open field in front of them, a treat for the two Californians. Before this they had seen only blacktail or mule deer.

Despite the need to get back to the lodge by 10:00 a.m., to pack and drive to the airport for their flight home, Vickie and Ryan chose to go out on the third morning.

"Yes, we'll be pushed for time," Vickie said, "but we want to hunt every minute we can!"

"Right!" Ryan echoed, "Let's go for it!" He stuffed a granola bar and an apple into his daypack and handed one of each to Vickie. They waved a quick "goodbye" to Gene, who sat watching from a recliner.

"G'bye-good luck!" Gene called after them.

"This morning," Josh said as he swung the pickup onto the hardtop road, "Because we don't have much time, we're going to a nearby field. There's no real 'blind' there. Instead, we'll set up next to a woodpile which will give us some cover."

"We'll have to sit real still then, won't we?" Ryan asked.

"Yep, no moving around this morning," Josh answered. "And remember, if there's a bird in front of us-even a hen-hold completely still until her head's down or turned away. You can move then, but hold it if she looks up-a gobbler might be watching!"

"Okay," Vickie assured Josh, "we'll be careful."

Josh cut the headlights, eased the truck into a turn-off and shut the engine down.

"Load your guns," he reminded them in a whisper as they climbed down. "Put the safeties on. . . ." Ryan and Vickie grabbed their daypacks as Josh closed the door gently. "Can you see okay?" he asked. They both nodded "yes." The sky was still charcoal-grey, but they could make out the darker shapes of trees. A sliver of light grey was becoming visible in the east.

Silently the three hunters set off down a sandy farm road, Josh in the lead, Vickie close behind him, and Ryan bringing up the rear. When he reached the woodpile, Josh stopped, indicated where Vickie and Ryan were to sit, then slid in between them. By now Vickie and Ryan were accustomed to the routine: Get into the blind as quickly and quietly as possible, then sit without talking or moving about, as they waited for daylight. After several minutes, at some signal neither Ryan nor Vickie sensed, Josh would begin calling softly...

On this morning, however, before Josh started to call, those five hens had come down from their night-time roost to peck around for breakfast right in front of the woodpile. Soundlessly, unmoving, the trio of hunters watched as the two gobblers slipped in amongst the hens. Almost immediately both toms fanned their tails and started strutting. Although Ryan and Vickie had read about the male's display, they had never before seen the courtship performed and now here it was, happening right in front of them.

Vickie had told Josh that she wanted Ryan to have the first chance to take a turkey. "I want to get one, too," she explained, "but I want him to have the first opportunity."

So, while the toms were showing off for the hens, Josh nudged Ryan and silently mouthed, "Take him!" as he nodded imperceptively toward the nearest gobbler. Ryan, though, was paralyzed with awe. When the hens were unreceptive to the tom's magnificent display, the indignant Lotharios marched out of sight. Ryan came out of his trance then and apologized for ignoring Josh.

"They'll come back," Josh told the boy. "You get ready to shoot then ...okay?"

Ryan nodded with a shaky grin, as his breathing slowly returned to normal.

Vickie let out her long-held breath, shoulders slumping for a moment as she, like Ryan, recovered from the excitement of watching nature's astounding show.

When his companions had settled down, Josh began calling with soft hen's yelps, then stopped to listen intently. After several minutes, Josh shrugged, put his box call down and said, "We'll try another place-we're running out of time." He stood up.

Ryan and Vickie, welcoming a chance to stretch, began to get up, too, when Josh pulled on Vickie's jacket.

"Shsshh!-sit down!" Josh gasped, dropping back down. He raised his hand and pointed a finger toward their left. He touched a finger to his lips, nudged Ryan and indicated for him to bring his shotgun into position. When Ryan's elbows were on his knees, shotgun braced, Josh gave one soft mouth-call yelp. The pair of toms were running toward them,
"Flat-out, like NASCAR racers," Vickie said later.

As soon as the first tom was in view, Ryan put the shotgun's bead on his head and pulled the trigger.

"Good boy!" Josh yelled. "He's down!"

After returning to California, Vickie said that the hunt had exceeded all her hopes and expectations. "The experience was not only wonderful and unforgettable," she told Tim and her friends, "it opened the door on a world neither Ryan nor I had seen before."

Few youngsters today get an opportunity such as Vickie provided for her godson. Ryan entered a world he and his friends misunderstood. Ryan's description of his hunt has caused many of his friends to reassess their attitudes toward guns and hunting.

How to Take a Youngster Hunting
10 Ways to Ensure a Family Friendly, Can't-Wait-to-Go-Again Experience

Courtesy of the National Shooting Sports Foundation

About half of U.S. hunters live in states where parents-not politicians-decide when their sons and daughters are ready for big-game hunting.

These family-friendly hunting states are at record number.

And many other states are inching their way toward such freedom, creating smaller opportunities to introduce youngsters to the rewards and values of America's traditional outdoor lifestyle.

"Most adult hunters say that learning to hunt was an essential step in their lives. They learned responsibility, discipline and respect for nature and cycles of life. Invariably, hunting also has given them a lifetime of wonderful memories of being outdoors with family and friends," said Melissa Schilling, manager of hunter recruitment and retention programs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

But what's the best way to start (or strengthen) your own family's hunting tradition?

NSSF's Step Outside® program, which encourages hunters to introduce newcomers to the sport, offers parents the following tips.

1. Instill safety, etiquette and ethics. Teaching safety standards gives youngsters the responsibility they'll need to enjoy a lifetime of great hunting experiences. And by teaching etiquette and ethics you'll be showing what the traditional lifestyle is all about.

2. Keep it fun. Don't get too serious or competitive. There's no need to turn novices into pros on their first outing. It's far more important to just have a good time.

3. Start with basics. If you learned to hunt when you were young, today you likely perform the whole process automatically. Make a conscious effort to explain and demonstrate step-by-step what newcomers should do, so they will feel comfortable later doing these things on their own.

4. Create instant success. Recognize small accomplishments. Shooting game is always a bonus and helps them appreciate the experience even more. Youths also enjoy the pride of having provided a meal for their family.

5. Be positive. If you build a youngster's self esteem and confidence, it is more likely they'll enjoy hunting and want to go again. A well-timed compliment can go a long way.

6. Share your love of the outdoors. Help your young guests notice things around them. Stop and listen to birdcalls and sounds of a rushing stream. Draw their attention to signs of wildlife. Help them understand the important role that hunters play in the conservation of natural resources.

7. Provide appropriate equipment. Make sure the equipment you use is the right size and weight for a youngster.

8. Hands-on instruction helps. Everyone learns best by doing. Lecture is necessary, but as much as possible, intersperse the talking with doing.

9. Create a feeling of independence. Youngsters want to become increasingly independent. Having youths develop new skills and then giving them the freedom to practice those skills on their own will prove very rewarding for you both.

10. Choose the right location. Convenience is a consideration. Whether on public or private land, NSSF offers online resources to find great places to hunt through www.huntinfo.org and www.wingshootingusa.org.

Since its inception, Step Outside has helped introduce thousands to target shooting, hunting, fishing and archery by encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to invite others to share in their outdoor experiences. The program has assisted state fish and wildlife agencies, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, hunting clubs and conservation organizations in providing first-time experiences for newcomers through grants, workshops and other sponsored events. Learn more at www.stepoutside.org.

To learn more about national efforts to expand family hunting opportunities, a program called Families Afield, visit www.nssf.org.