Thread: reality check.

Today, even though the weather was crap, me and Burl went walkies along a bush boundary hunting birds. This is a necessary activity for both out fitness, and needless to say, we do not carry the weight of booze. Hunting in wind and rain is not much chop on upland game but we pointed and flushed several pheasants and quail, but shot nothing. On the way back to my vehicle a few km away I spotted a p[erson silhouetted on the track ahead. He turned out to be a young fellow , about 15, with rifle and a dog. I stopped and had a yarn with him.

Now this boy was in possession of a semi auto firearm, alone and said he was pig hunting. He told me he had others working through towards him from the opposite side of the forest block we were in. Now, strictly speaking, this boy was in breach of a number of laws. However, he was well presented and tidy. Spoke clearly and without rancor or bs, and had his firearm pointed at the ground and towards the rear of us. He had his single dog under control ,sitting beside him, as had I, with my dog. All in all he behaved as a responsible adult and as I departed I wished him all the luck in the world. To me, this boy demonstrated the "old school" upbringing and conduct some of us had. Good luck to him and his whanau.