Hunting Antics in Plumas County

Over the years of our friendship, Hugh Riddell and I went many times to hunt in Plumas County. While game bagged was scarce (for me) many shooting contests were held and countless cans died at our hands. Miles and miles of Plumas County were scavenged and explored and artifacts by the score recovered and treasured. However, the trip most dear to my heart was in November of 1985, when almost five year old Daniel came along.

Hugh was like a kid with candy, or a grandfather with a new grandson. He was forever telling Dan crazy and untrue things about me and giving me a bad time. Both Hugh and Conrad Lahr, our friend and resident state water master there, taught Dan the fine art of pistol shooting…something they told him I had never learned. We roamed through Oldhouse Canyon and I have a wonderful picture of the three of them clowning in an old shack. Hugh took Dan in his truck and all I saw of him was a little face looking back at me laughing at how slow I was driving. In truth, Hugh was on his best behavior that day…a miracle.

We explored Walker Mine, a Mecca of memories for me. Dan delighted in the massive and rusty ore cars that had been pulled from the mine before the bore was forever closed with cement. He waded in the aqua blue–green waters that came out of the shaft, tainted with minerals from inside. We shot every pistol and rifle that we possessed and several old fifty-five gallon drums looked like colanders after our tender treatment. Dan, and all of us, had a blast. Conrad taught Dan the “Coyote Wave”, a combination of flapping one’s hands at one’s ears. This was allegedly to bring the coyotes close in to us. It worked just once, and I dropped one at an impossible distance…something I regret to this day; however proud I am at my marksmanship. Conrad and Hugh dismissed it as a lucky fluke and an old, decrepit, slow coyote. Dan found an old cow skull, not quite bleached clean and insisted on bringing it home, much to everyone’s olfactory distress.

Over the years Dan and Hugh have kept a warm relationship, much to my mistreatment. Those sunny late fall days, filled with wonder and friendship, reside warmly in my heart and memory.
9-15-2010