Cutline: Kristen Kennedy, 16, of Eufaula, submitted a winning essay in the Youth Writing Competition sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma Station Chapter Safari Club International.  Kennedy will receive an all expenses paid antelope hunt in New Mexico.

"Dad what should I wear this morning?" "Uh, here, wear this." Dad replied as he tossed me an old wool shirt. "Hey, isn’t that mine?" Granddad piped in as he looked it over. "Actually, that used to be my dad’s."

I was wearing the same shirt my great-grandfather had worn hunting. This made me realize how deep the hunting heritage ran in our family. Not just back to my great-grandfather, but to my great-great-grandfather who taught him how to hunt when it was a way of life.

For Native Americans, learning the hunting ways were a necessity for survival. It was the same with my great-grandfather and his family. By passing these traditions from generation to generation the native Americans became better, more skilled hunters. Americans share this hunting knowledge for the same reasons.

I started hunting with my dad, uncle, and grandpa when I was three years old. I know hunting is not a matter of survival for me like it was for my forefathers. However, because I was taught at such an early age, I am far more skilled than my grandfather was, and more educated then my dad was at this age. I know not only the important techniques, but also the important moral and ethical values of hunting. Thanks to this understanding, I can easily debate issues such as gun ownership, wildlife conservation, and hunter ethics. This deer season I have already passed up more bucks than I can count. When my dad was a teenager he would have taken the first buck he saw. My grandfather harvest his first buck at 16 thanks to his dad making the time to take him hunting. Even so he was lucky if he saw two or three deer in a season. In other words it’s a great time to share the hunting heritage in Oklahoma thanks to the Wildlife Department’s game management policies. It is so much easier to get someone excited about hunting when they have an opportunity to see game every time they go outdoors. These opportunities exist nationwide. I shoot a shotgun, muzzleloader, rifle, and a bow. I’ve harvest deer, bear, moose and geese so obviously there are weapons and wild game for all interests and hunting styles.

Sharing the heritage is not only a family affair. Anyone can help others get started. I’ve had so many people willing to help me. The way they assisted should be noted so others can see how easy it is to share the hunting heritage.-

• My mom’s father Earl Ross. He’s an avid fisherman that took me on numerous fishing trips since age 3. He shared the hunting heritage by taking the time to participate with me in a hunter education course during one summer vacation I spent with him on the lake.
• A teacher, Mr. Peterson took me shooting and hand-loaded shells for my moose hunt, as well as teaching me how to read game sign and identify different trees while on a four-wheeling trip.
• Trent, a family friend who was a Navy S.E.A.L. worked with me on my shooting techniques. He also helped me recover my deer, helped process my bear, loaded shells for me, and even took me hunting when my dad was out of state on business.
• Mr. Quesnell allowed me to write about and defend hunter’s rights during class discussions.
• Mr. Steward, a taxidermist took the time to explain taxidermy techniques in his shop. He also worked with the Boone & Crockett scorer as the measuring took place for my Shiras moose application.
• A neighbor, Mr. Burroughs allowed me to hunt on his property when dad was out of town.
• An avid waterfowl hunter volunteered to set decoys, call in geese, and provide instruction when I participated in a youth goose hunt.
• My hunter education instructor Kelly, who handled the large class well, helped me individually and answered any questions I had politely.
• A friend Mr. Kevin Bowes took me on my first pheasant hunt.
• A friend’s dad, Jason Reynolds took me on my first dove hunt this fall.

There is so much more to the hunting heritage than the harvest itself. Memories from hunting cabin, sitting at campfires, the taste of a dinner at camp, and listening to family and friends tell hunting stories. Even more obvious reasons such as going to amazing places in the wilderness and seeing amazing things: abandoned loggers camps, mountain lakes, old farm places, as well as sunsets that will take your breath away. I’ve seen animals do things that most people can only imagine: bears, moose, and deer fighting for dominance, moose mating, bobcats at dawn, a sow bear with cubs, coyotes hunting, turkey strutting, foxes scavenging, waterfowl coming to decoys, pheasants chasing, grouse exploding from cover, all thanks to the hunting heritage shared by my family and friends.

My sister Chloe was not interested in hunting as I was at her age, but to our surprise when she came to visit she wanted to go. Her weapon was a digital camera. And even though she didn’t see anything except a rabbit, she was eager to go the next morning. I am a morning person and still have to be pried from my warm down-comforter to prepare for the days hunt. Chloe surprised me when she was up and ready to go before I was. Maybe her interest in hunting will continue to grow.

As I button my wool shirt I think to myself that when I am blessed with children they might be able to button this same old shirt when they go hunting. Wouldn’t my great-grandfather be proud.