10/16/2025
Here is an awesome story written by Dave Todd. Thank you to our members that welcomed them to our club.
My enthusiasm for anything shooting related has long since given way to other interests. Career, kids, life in general quieted my guns decades ago. My dad, a WWII vet and former fi****ms instructor had made a pretty decent child marksman of me in the fifties and sixties. Fond memories, but old and fading ones. Fast forward fifty or sixty years and I'm in the truck with my 14 y/o enthusiastic grandson and a brand new rifle that needs to be sighted in; a task I'm not 100% sure I can pull off. Been a minute, as they say. Somehow life has made us members of the Portville Conservation Club and we are on a mission. I had hopes of blowing off these cobwebs in a reasonably private setting and admit that I was at least somewhat disappointed to see many trucks already in the parking lot. While I was sure that Miles and I could eventually get through this process, I was not expecting to interrupt a range filled with expert marksmen in an obvious good-natured long range competition. What followed is heart warming to say the least. We made a hasty apology for interrupting and began our about-face and retreat when a resounding, "Come in!" stopped us in our tracks. "We have room. Find a bench." Handshakes all around. Warm introductions. Even a couple old familiar faces. Lots of help. Good help. Expert help. Big-time support for the young newcomer in the room, who instantly became the priority. Everything he needed appeared before him. One gentleman even set his targets for him. Coached him up better than his grandfather ever could have. Call it hospitality. Call it humanity. Call it whatever you will. It was warm. It was good. I'm old; my memory isn't great. I know that some of the names will fade. We left with so much more than an accurately sighted rifle. Miles learned a lot that day. And not just about shooting. If I never give my grandson another thing, I thank God that I was able to give him a glimpse of true American sportsmanship. It happened at The Portville Conservation Club. Thanks again guys!
