For years, I did not take a camera into the outdoors.  As a result, I will regrettably never reminisce over pictures of quail hunting with Mr. Forrester or dove shooting with Johnson, Stanley, and Mr. Onley.  I don't have a picture of Rex, the finest bird dog I ever hunted over.  And I can barely recall what Fast Delivery Bob looked like ... liver and white, I think.  

The one time I did take a camera along during my childhood resulted in substantial disappointment. 

Teddy Bear was the ignoble product of a pointer, a setter, and a used car salesman, my Uncle Wendell.   Uncle Wendell had the only pedigree.  As the final bargaining chip in a car deal, Teddy Bear hung out at the car lot long enough to earn his name,  from the local term for a cream puff of a used car … “it’s a Teddy Bear”, Uncle Wendell would say.   Teddy Bear was my 13^th birthday present. 

After Ted moved in, I commenced his training by the wing and string method well known to country boys.  In a few weeks, Ted had a PhD in wing pointing and was deemed fully trained, meaning I could lay the pole down for a few seconds.   

On opening day, Teddy Bear and I wrangled an invitation to hunt with my father and his hunting buddy.  Only a few minutes into the hunt, Teddy Bear struck a pose.  Pride welled up in my heart and the men advised that I should shoot his first bird alone.  Striding unconfidently into the picture, I desperately hoped to scratch feathers.   Just then, there was slight rustling, followed by a strange guttural sound.  Close inspection of the nearby brush revealed a young piglet, awakened from his slumber and unconcerned by the shaggy statue standing over him.   The picture my dad took of that first point occupies an honored position in my scrap book and I frequently enjoy lying about the covey rise that ensued.

A camera is now standard equipment among my hunting and fishing gear.  The memories seem so much better now that I can remember them ... huh???  

I'll eventually get around to putting some more pictures here, but for now, here's what I've got ...