My Dad took me on hunts with him before I ever put my first baseball glove on. Before I could hold a gun my Dad had me out with him on almost every hunt.
Dad passed away in 1999 at the age of 69, he was a major influence in my life in every way. From the way he treated people, conducted his business, loved my mother, sister and I, the respect he had for the Lord, and most definitely for how and why he hunted.
He was my mentor and the best example of a responsible outdoorsmen that any child could ever have. He is the reason I passionately love, respect and support the hunting and shooting sports as I do today.
My dad was an Italian immigrant and grew up innorthern Italy, about an hours drive from the Swiss boarder. He was born and raised in the small cobbled stone town of Ferno Italy. Dad was an only child and his father was not present for most of his childhood, but he was fortunate to have two uncles, his mothers brothers, who raised him on hunting. His Uncles were Game Wardens in theprovince of Veresa Italy. Not like game wardens here in the states, that are employed by the state or federal government. Although they were licensed by the province, they worked for private land owners as well as looked over what little public hunting land there was.
Dad grew up hunting waterfowl, pheasant, grouse, deer and his very favorite game of all, Pheasant. At the age of 20 my Dad immigrated to the United States in 1950. First to New York for a brief time then on to San Francisco. He worked for an Uncle in the janitorial business, while going to night school to learn English. While attending classes he met my Mother Chelestina Stoia, and just a few years later they were married. Dad started his own business soon after getting married to Mom, and with several years of hard work and the support of my Mom, he built a very successful retail grocery business. He then began to rekindlehis childhood passion of the hunting and shooting sports.
I can remember all the hunts I went on with dad. They were all such great learning experiences as well as bonding times. All that he taught me and all that we experienced together is what influences me today to want to continue on with the hunting and shooting sports and to passionately share them with anyone that has any interest, specially with the younger generation. Dad was the perfect example of what a hunter is, a conservationist first and foremost, but as a hunter he was also a mentor, a friend, a partner and an encourager. Dad taught me the importance of respect for the game I hunted and the properties in which I hunt them and for the people that owned or manager those properties, whether they be privately or government owned. He taught me how to respect my weapon and my fellow hunters as well as to respect the opinions of those that did not hunt or understand or share our passion for hunting.
The stories I could tell of our hunts would literally take days to tell. From the challenges, to failures, successes and the laughs, I was exposed to it all and I loved it all. My dads hunting buddy’s were all great mentors and examples as well. They did have a good laugh at my expense from time to time, but the fact that I was one of the guys, was so much fun and meant so much to me.
While writing this article, I have gone through the gamete of emotions, from tears to outright laughing out loud, due to all the wonderful memories from all our hunts and hunting trips together. I don’t have a Son, but instead I have two beautiful daughters. They tried their hand at hunting, and although they have no objections to my passion for hunting or for hunting in general, they did not follow in my footsteps. I do though, have a few hunting buddy’s that have Sons, Daughters and or Nephews that they share their passion of the hunting and shooting sports with. I’ve hunted with all of those young people, and because I’ve been blessed to hunt with them, I do know how my Dad felt when he hunted with me, and for that I am very blessed and thankful to be able have to shared the legacy Dad left with me, with those young people.
I close by saying this. Take a kid hunting, and if you do, and you give them the opportunity to grow up with the sport, then just watch a young person grow up with a mature respect for the outdoors and the creation that God has made for us to rest in and enjoy.
God bless
Gian Rossini