Hunter or Conservationist?

Grandpa Shoaf is definitely both.  Paul cares about animals of all kinds.  For as long as we can remember, Paul has hunted everything from squirrels to deer.  He has also rescued everything from skunks, quail, pheasant,  foxes, to deer.  Last year after the floods of spring, Grandpa brought a fawn home that had been separated from its mother.  He bottle fed it and raised for a few months.  It finally jumped the enclosure and took off to freedom.

 A couple of weeks ago, someone called Grandpa Shoaf for another rescue.  A young deer tried to jump a barbed wire fence and got its hind leg tangled in the wire.  It was found dangling and just barely holding itself up by its front legs.  Grandpa and Grandma Shoaf went to free it.  Grandpa had to try to release the wire while Grandma got the leg loose.  It couldn't stand so they brought it home and wrapped the leg and are keeping it in the barn until it can walk.  Grandpa said it was Grandma's 'first deer' (her first catch) and Grandma Shoaf just rolled her eyes.   Grandpa won't let it out until hunting season is over to give it a fair chance at recovery.

 Diane (Beth's mom) couldn't wait to see it and we were surprised it let us touch it.

The deer was old enough to no longer have spots but it was still every young.

We have learned a lot about caring for animals from Grandpa Shoaf and we have lots of fond memories of seeing and enjoying wild animals close up.

A true outdoorsman will always be the first to be a real conservationist.