Wildlife | Landscapes | Westward Bound | Cityscapes
The art of the hunt is passed down from generation to generation. For me, putting food on the table is important but there’s more to it than that. Instead, I enjoy the camaraderie of the hunt and spending time with family and friends.
With most hunting families there is a heritage of the sport. My family is not dissimilar to yours in that our heritage is rich. I have been fortunate enough to have a blood line of English Setters that runs for close to 40 years in my family and four generations of Labrador Retrievers.
When I think of my childhood hunting experiences, the first thing that comes to mind is quail hunting. From the age of a young boy I can remember hearing the Bobwhite’s distinctive whistle and the heavy, fast beat of their wings thunder through the air as a covey rises. I can imagine the sound of Jack, the Godfather of my family’s English Setter bloodline, running past panting as he did so. Even in his older years he managed to stay fleet footed while in hot pursuit of the scent of a covey. I feel the weight of my old .410 side by side youth model shotgun in my hands as the sound of broom straw rustling in the wind fills my ears. I notice the bump of my grandfather’s dog whistle lightly tap against my chest as it loosely hangs from the rope around my neck.
Since my early days of quail hunting I have stemmed out into waterfowl and other upland game such as turkey and pheasant. I have created my own memories and experiences that I hope to one day pass on to my children. The heritage will continue.
Please contact Austin Kiker at 704-474-4052 ext. 228 if you’re interested in prints.
Disclaimer: these photos are the property of Austin Kiker. The pictures on this website are low-res images that are not of print quality.