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Sunday, January 14, 2007

New York State Newspaper Gets it Right!

The Star-Gazette in Elmira, NY published this article by columnist Jeff Murray. This is exactly the type of reporting that is missing in most news publications these days!


From the Star-Gazzette
By Jeff Murray
1/14/07
www.star-gazette.com

Some old stereotypes die hard, such as the notion that hunting is a man's sport.

Somewhere along the line, someone forgot to mention that to Pat Space of Rathbone in rural Steuben County.

And Space, a single mother of two girls, wants to make sure her young daughters know their place isn't just in the home, but in the tree stand, a bass boat, or anywhere else they wish.

Space set quite an example for her daughters when she tagged a dandy 11-point buck Nov. 27. And the circumstances of the kill make it even more impressive.

Hunting from a tree stand, Space shot the buck on the run with one shot from her 20-gauge Remington Model 1100 shotgun.

Even though the slug hit the deer squarely in the lower ribcage, it still managed to run off. Space followed the blood trail for a while but had to suspend the search when it got too dark.

"I still wasn't sure how big he was, only that he was the biggest deer I ever saw," Space said.

Space had to go to work early the next morning, but her brother and sister-in-law volunteered to look for the buck in the meantime. By the time she returned home from work, they had found her trophy, and helped her drag it out of the woods.

Space had her buck officially green scored at 125 1/2 points, and the rack had a 21-inch inside spread. Despite some overnight predation by coyotes, the deer still tipped the scales at about 160 pounds field dressed.

Her buck was only the second antlered deer she has shot -- her other was a four-pointer taken about three years ago -- but Space is no newcomer to hunting or the outdoors.

"I have five older brothers. The boys always hunted. This was all my parents' farm," she said. "I grew up on a farm, so there were always animals around."

Space said her brothers rarely invited her on their hunting trips, and she wants to make sure daughters Cheyenne, 12, and Shannon, 9, don't get left behind because of their gender.

"It didn't matter to me that they were girls," she said. "When I was young, I kept up with my brothers."

The girls often tag along on their mother's hunting and shooting adventures and are eager to follow in her footsteps. Cheyenne has been practicing with her own Daisy Red Ryder BB gun and Shannon will have her chance once she is mature enough to handle the responsibility. Safety is the first priority, Space said.

Cheyenne will be old enough to hunt turkeys in the spring, but she is anxious to get right to the main event.

"I can't wait until I'm 16 so I can get (a deer) that big," she said with a big grin.

The girls also go fishing with their mother, and both girls are learning how to bait their own hooks and remove fish from the hook, something that gives Mom a chance to fish a little more for herself.

"We go up to the St. Lawrence River. They have huge big bass in a pool up there," Shannon said.

In addition to hunting deer in the fall, Space pursues turkeys in the spring and woodchucks in the summer. She also shoots trap on a regular basis, and believes the practice shooting fast-moving clay pigeons came in handy when she had a running deer in her sights.

Space hopes she can be an inspiration to her daughters, and to other women who might want to venture into the outdoors.

"I have a group of guys that I trap shoot with. When I shoot with them, I'm just one of the guys," she said. "I try to encourage my female friends to go hunting and shooting.

"Basically I've always enjoyed the outdoors and I really hope my girls will continue to enjoy it too. I think it's very important for all kids to enjoy the outdoors," Space said. "Unfortunately, today a lot of kids never get outside to enjoy it or to learn about hunting and fishing."


Let the Star-Gazette know how much we support this article!


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Postal Mail

Star-Gazette
PO Box 285
Elmira, NY 14902

Phone

NY - (607) 734-5151

Customer Service

(866) 254-0173

Fax

(607) 733-4408

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