Pennsylvania Game News - October 2011 - 26

glowing Rabar front bead, gold trigger and nicely engraved receiver. This shotgun is perfect for squirrels, and I usually select its modified-choked top barrel for the first shot to reach out while on stand, then switch to the improved cylinder under barrel for those jump shots while still-hunting. The barrel selection feature is also great for those areas where grouse can be found. Without a doubt, the one thing that keeps this particular shotgun in high regards is that it was a gift from my dad when I started hunting. Growing up in McKeesport, in Allegheny County, one of my favorite hunting destinations was Dead Man’s Hollow. Just the name of the place conjures up images of some dark, damp and haunted place where few people go. On the contrary, this 440-acre tract of hardwood valley bordering Lincoln and Liberty boroughs was, and still is, an important part of the surrounding area, as well as a popular destination for hunters, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts. In the early 1990s, the hollow almost became another victim of landfill and other environmentally destructive activities. But a scientific study showed the hollow’s ecological significance to the area. An organization called the Allegheny Land Trust stepped in, and through grants and help from concerned individuals, the hollow was purchased and has since been protected as a nature preserve. With the comfort in knowing my old hunting grounds are secure, I placed my trusted over/under in the suede case I received it in from my dad and headed out for a day of squirrel hunting at Dead Man’s Hollow. As I neared the entrance to the hollow, an old familiar sense of excitement stirred within me, and as if by reflex action I slid two shells into my
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shotgun. As memory would serve, the mast producing trees at the hollow’s entrance usually harbored a few grays, sometimes a fox squirrel, or even a grouse, so it was best to be prepared. This was also a good place to pause before continuing to still-hunt up the hollow. The railroad tracks had been replaced by the Youghiogheny Bike Trail, and my approach was a lot quieter than 30 years ago, but still I hesitated. The sounds and smells of autumn, the sight of familiar areas, and the feeling of my first gun once again in my hands brought back memories thicker than the fog now lifting off of the Youghiogheny River behind me. Before nearing the ruins of the old terra-cotta factory, I paused again and caught movement from a black walnut tree towering overhead. A fox squirrel was plastered motionless to the trunk of the tree, providing me with an excellent shot. I planted the sight pin of my shotgun on the squirrel, squeezed the trigger, and when the squirrel hit the ground I scrambled to retrieve it with the rekindled excitement of a young hunter. I admired the animal’s thick coat and long bushy tail now glowing fiery orange in the early morning sunlight. On the hillside above, the sound of crunching leaves caught my attention. Weaving its way through a stand of maple saplings, a 4-point buck, like a blood hound entranced by the scent, paid a bit of attention to me. Continuing on, I had to chuckle when I noticed an old familiar trail leading up the hill. What is now referred to as Witchhazel Trail was unofficially referred to as Squirrel Hill back in the old days. At the top of Squirrel Hill, a quote from James Earl Jones in the movie “Field of Dreams” came to mind: “Memories so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.” Sitting at this prominent spot, enjoying a snack, brought back many fond memories. My eyes kept looking down the hill, as I recalled a squirrel opener many years earlier, when I waited at this spot for my
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Pennsylvania Game News - October 2011

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