Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Young hunter’s story touches your heart

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2001 | 10:19 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears Thursday. Reach her at desertdenizens@aol.com.

A young man who is an eighth grader at the school at which I teach took a deer with his muzzleloader the weekend before last. He and his dad were hunting near Ely.

Theirs is a great story. No, it wasn't a great big, wall-hanging buck. It was a doe, in fact.

No, it isn't one of the stories about a buck crashing through the trees and standing broadside 100 yards from you.

It's just as good a story, though, maybe because of how it was told.

I first heard the story at my daughter's soccer game. A friend of the family and a soccer dad was spreading the good news about the young man -- Colin Seaman -- who had taken the deer.

We were happy to soak up the details of the hunt, living vicariously through the news.

Mike Saeman, a humble, polite gentleman, shared his pride in his son's accomplishment.

He said he liked to take Colin to shoot a little skeet and how Mike's brother was going to give Colin a compound bow. He looked forward to sharing that new experience with his son. We talked about the many demands on youngsters' time and attention and how few of them were taking up hunting.

Mike said that Colin thought he wanted to play football next year in high school and, with such a rigorous schedule, there would likely be little time for hunting. He was grateful for the time they had found to share this season and the fact that there was success for Colin.

Saeman shared with me how much he thought his son had matured as a hunter since last year. He was more sure of himself, less tentative about his actions when hunting and about the shots he fired.

As Colin walked over to say hello, I congratulated him and shook his hand. The changes in him are easy to see. He has changed from a young boy to a young man in the past few years -- taller, more angular, and more self-assured.

The fact that he is a polite, caring young man -- a Boy Scout, an altar server, and a conscientious hunter -- speaks greatly of the time and patience endowed upon him by his parents. The hunting community could use a few more families like this one, and those of us who are parents could take a few lessons.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the Hemenway launch ramp; the cleanup will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon. To volunteer or for further information, contact Nancy Bernard, cleanup coordinator at 702-293-8914.

NDOW biologists trapped the birds and transported them to Nevada for release. Also trapped were nearly 100 mountain quail, which are being held at Idaho State University in Pocatello for release in Elko County in the spring.

At 7 p.m. Friday there will be a reception and check-in for the fishing tournament. Saturday morning a one-fly fishing tournament will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 at Comins Lake south of Ely. A cocktail reception dinner and auction gets under way at 6 p.m.

A tour of Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area will be held Sunday at 9 a.m. Elk and trout can be observed during the tour.

The Southern Nevada Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the High Desert Fly-Casters and White Pine County Sportsmen are sponsoring the events. Fee is $50 for all events or $20 for the banquet and management area tour. Call Jack or Jennifer Coons of Henderson at 564-7136.