The Essays – Part 5

The last essay I chose from the 2004 classes is from Jesse Nemgar.  Jesse was 13 years old at the time he took the course and wrote the following essay.  He writes about respecting firearms, the experience of the hunt with family, and safety in the hunt.

Learning to safely handle a gun is really important.  In our house, my mom wouldn’t even let me have a BB gun without having taken the firearms safety course.  Once when my brother was in the hospital for a broken arm, his roommate was in critical condition and almost died.  His injury?  As he pumped his BB gun, holding the barrel against his stomach, the gun went off.  His inner organs required extensive surgery and when my brother was released, doctors still didn’t know if this little boy would live.  So my mom said absolutely no guns of any kind without training.  Before that, my mom used to say “you’ll shoot your eye out” when I wanted a BB gun.  Now we all knew that the injury could actually kill you, even with a BB gun.

I also really wanted to learn gun safety because my dad just bought hunting land this last year.  He and my older brother went deer hunting last fall and they really had an awesome time.  But I couldn’t go along, because I hadn’t taken the safety training.  I’d hear about the deer stand, the cold, the going in for eating where it’s warm, all that they heard and saw, the waiting quietly in the stand for the moment when that buck came into view.  It was my brother’s first time hunting and it was really exciting when he took that first shot.  I wanted to be a part of this experience so knew I had to get signed up for training.  I want to be safe not only for myself, but for all those that I am hunting with.  And even those that aren’t in my hunting party, but that may be in the vicinity, I know I need to be safe for them as well.

I have appreciated all that I have learned in this course. I feel well prepared to have my first trip to the deer stand this fall.  Lessons on the dangers of firearms have been reinforced.  The need for caution and respect while handling guns has been instilled.  When my mom was my age, her friend’s brother was killed by his own gun while hunting.  A person hears stories like this every year.  I have been learning the correct ways of safe gun handling to prevent tragedies such as this.  Tragedies to myself and others.  Also, besides safety with the gun itself, I have been learning other aspects of safety while hunting.  This would include being prepared in all situations.

I look forward to putting to use all that I have learned.

Jesse Nemgar

Copyright 2008

The Essays – Part 4

The next essay I have chosen from my student archive is also from the third class of 2004.  The writer’s name is Franklin Sawvel and he was 12 years old at the time he took the class and wrote this essay.  The perspective of Franklin’s writing is one that I have had to learn to approach from an intersecting angle.

Like many other young boys who grow up in Northern Minnesota, or many rural parts of America for that matter, he has grown up around firearms and hunting.  As Mark recognized in his essay from The Essays – Part 2, the hunting and shooting sports are not just a pastime or hobby, but a way of life.  Not to exclude the girls because they are certainly open to that exposure as well, but the boys seem to naturally follow in their father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.  For many of these youth, spending a day in the duck blind or treestand is as common as a day spent on the playground.

Consequently, some of these young veterans of the field and woods come in to the class with the perspective that they already know everything about firearm safety.  However, as Franklin points out, there is much more than what meets the eye to being a responsible, involved, safe, and knowledgeable hunter.

Why I’m taking Gun Safety?  The first thing that comes to mind when asked this question is, “cause I like to hunt” and “I like guns.”  So I thought this would be a good way to learn about them.

My dad grew up with guns and he has shown me some gun safety.  My mom thought it would also be a good idea for me to get some pointers from somebody else too.  Plus, my mom said Icould not hunt unless I took the class.

At first I really did not think I need the class.  I thought I knew pretty much everything already because my dad and grandpa have guns and they hunt every year.  But after just a few classes, I realize just how important gun safety really is.

I want to be a safe hunter.  I want to set a good example for other kids, especially for my younger brother and sister.  I know now it’s not just about hunting it’s about overall safety, this class is raising my awareness to “Be Safe!”

It’s not OK to have a gun if you don’t know how to use it!

Franklin Sawvel

Copyright 2008

The Essays – Part 3

An essay I chose from the third and final class I taught in 2004 is written by a young girl taking the course.  At the time Nicole Gronhovd was 13 years-old and her essay is unique for a few reasons.  First of all, she took the course with her dad, which made them the first father-daughter team in my course.  However, as you’ll read in her essay, she was not a born hunter.  Not yet anyway.  Not until her dad and a friend introduced her to archery.  Then, as you will see, her indifference turned to an enthusiasm she could share with her dad.

The main reason I’m taking the Hunter Safety class is so I can go bow hunting with my dad.  When ever my dad goes hunting and fishing, he usually asks me if I want to go.  Part of me wants to go, so I can spend time with my dad.  The other part of me doesn’t want to go because I would rather stay home or go shopping with my mom, that part almost always wins.  So my sister always goes with him.

But then one day my dad brought out his bow and arrow and set up our target.  I was kind of scared to try it, but I did.  And to my surprise, it was fun!  So my dad’s friend let me use his youth compound bow and I was really having fun.  I thought it was finally going to be me going hunting with my dad, instead of my sister.  When my dad asked me to go to the Hunter Safety class I said I would, and he said he would go with me.

So the first class I was at, I learned so much, and I’m so glad I’m taking it.  I really want to go hunting with him.  I want to be able to shoot my first deer.  I want to know how to handle a gun.  I want to be able to shoot a gun without being scared of it.  I want to learn how to do a lot of things, and I’m hoping this class will be able to teach me that.  And so far it’s been able to do that.  I’m really glad that I’m taking the class, and I’m really glad my dad is taking it with me.

Nicole Gronhovd

Copyright 2008

The Essays – Part 2

In another essay from the same first class that received this assignment, the second class of 2004, the first adult student to ever take my course, Mark Wiederhoeft, wrote about a very different angle of approach to firearm safety training.  Mark grew up in a different country and had recently been introduced to the outdoors heritage that is ingrained in our American culture and how that was especially specific to Northern Minnesota.  Mark’s essay shows that, even though the course is geared toward youth, there is still plenty of room for an adult to discover the responsibilities and ethics of a true sportsman.  Though he would be the only adult in this class, there would certainly be others to follow in future classes, and his outlook on the commitment was one that showed respect for the class, laws, society, hunting community, and natural resources.  It was a learning experience for me as well.

I moved here to Bemidji in July, 2003, and got married in August.  I learned quickly that hunting and fishing are huge pastimes or hobbies here, maybe even a way of life.  I decided about October that I wanted to try hunting for the first time.  I went in to buy my hunting license with my father-in-law and that’s when I learned that I needed to have a firearm safety certificate because I was too young.  I had thought for sure that I wouldn’t need anything like that because I am 21 years-old, but I do.  So there is one reason for me to take this firearm safety course, so that I can get to go hunting.

I grew up in Brazil, in a small, rural town.  One would think that I hunted a lot or fished a lot having grown up in a tropical country where you always hear about the animals and everything, but I have not been around firearms too much.  I did get to fish some in Brazil, but not regularly.  Actually, my only actual experience with a firearm at all growing up was a Daisy BB gun that my cousin next door had.  It was always fun to go over and shoot some with him, and as far as safety goes we knew where the safety was on the gun and we knew we shouldn’t point the gun ever at anybody.  Last year I got to shoot the family’s .30-30 some, and it was very exciting and a whole new experience for me.  The biggest thing was that I didn’t know how to handle a high-powered rifle like that.  It was a lot bigger and heavier than the Daisy, and hundreds, if not thousands, of times more dangerous.  I wanted to learn more about firearms and how to handle them safely, even if I didn’t get to go hunting at all.  I have enjoyed the course a lot and learned a whole lot of new things that I had not even considered when handling a firearm and game hunting safely.  I don’t mind being 10 or 12 years older than everybody in the class.  I think it is a good investment of my time because it’s only logical that I would know more about firearm safety if I even ever plan on trying to hunt some, or even be around people who are into hunting big time and they might have a firearm around me.  I think everybody should get the chance to go through a course like this.  It would make everybody safer I believe.

Mark Wiederhoeft

Copyright 2008

The Essays – Part 1

There is no better place to start the series of posts in the essay category than the first class that tackled this assignment – the second class from 2004.  I chose an essay that exemplifies the typical student when one thinks of kids in firearm safety class and the anticipations of their first hunts.  This writer, Dan Will, was a 12 year-old at the time he took the class.

Like so many other boys his age growing up in Minnesota, he looks forward to time spent in the woods with his dad and the life affirming experiences they are sure to explore together.  But as you will find in later posts, that father figure, that mentor, can come as many different individuals - a mother, a grandfather, an uncle, an older sibling, a friend; and I am happy to say that a good portion of my classes are filled with young sportswomen as well as young sportsmen.

I myself never hunted with my father.  My dad was a huge fisherman, but never hunted.  I owe my introduction to hunting to my older brother and brother-in-law. 

However, the vision that comes to your mind, well, my mind anyway, when you think of firearm safety and a first hunt is that of father and son.  The following essay by this soon-to-be new hunter showed the enthusiasm and anticipation for that first hunt in an outdoors setting that seems to be familiar yet a thing of wonderment to him.  It is clear that he is not new to venison on the table, and that his heart jumps with the flush of a grouse in the woods of Northern Minnesota.

This is why I wanted to join Firearm Safety Class.  I really love to hunt.  I like to head out in the woods with my dad and look at the natural surroundings.  There is so much stuff to see out there.  I want to be able to sit in a treestand or walk around in the woods, hunting for deer and grouse.  I want to be able to get my own animals.  I want to do it so I can spend more time with my dad out in the woods.  I am also doing it for the meat.  I love wild game, it tastes so good.  I want to be able to eat the food that I have harvested.  I want to feel the pride of getting my first deer.  Since I am taking this class, I will be able to see new places, try new activities that I have never done before.  I will get to handle new guns.  I will be able to take advantage of my good eye to kill animals quickly and painlessly.  Hunting is a really fun sport that lets you get out in your natural surroundings, see things you’ve never seen, do things you’ve never done before.  This is why I have chosen to take this firearm safety class.

Dan Will

Copyright 2008

The Essays – An Introduction

I will be dedicating this category of posts to commentary on the essays, one of the extra requirements I assign in my classes.  To better understand this assignment and the way it is supposed to be approached, check out the essay assignment page for the student instructions.

I first gave this assignment in the second firearm safety class I ever taught back in 2004.  It is an idea I borrowed from a friend, former co-worker, and mentor, Dan Porter – or Porter, Dan as I know him.  Dan is also a firearm safety instructor through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and someone I have come to admire over the years for his dedication to the future of our hunting and shooting heritage – the next generations of hunters and shooters.

Over this series of posts, I intend to single out some of the student’s essays that really epitomize this assignment.  These are essays that exemplify why the student desires to be here in this class, and illustrates that our outdoors heritage runs strong in the North Woods of Minnesota.

Reviewing the student’s essays is one of my favorite parts of the course.  I hope you, as I have, will enjoy reading these essays.