- Joined
- Mar 11, 2001
- Messages
- 70,011
- Reaction score
- 1,003
Hunt for old time's sake
Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle
November 6, 2003
At 85, John Reginato has few opportunities to take part in one of his life's passions, bird hunting, with his best friends.
Reginato, once a mountain of a man who worked out as a 240-pound lineman with the 49ers in the 1940s, can barely walk. After a long stint this past year in the hospital with multiple surgeries, he weighs only 160 pounds.
But he is back on his feet.
"The mind is willing," Reginato said, "the body not so much."
On Monday, one of Reginato's wishes was granted by his best friends and a skilled, supportive hunting guide: a trip to Northern California's finest game bird club to hunt bobwhite quail.
After heavy rain Sunday night, the dawn brought a fresh crispness to the air as we ventured to the foothills west of Red Bluff, under the guidance of Brian Riley, owner of Red Bank Hunting.
"Look at that," Reginato said, scanning a meadow on the edge of a riparian zone, "look at all those wild turkeys." He smiled. "I remember when there were no wild turkeys at all."
We counted nearly 25. This is another credit to Riley. He manages his 1, 700-acre ranch expressly for wildlife, fishing, hunting and youth camps; it has become one of the best hunting experiences on private land available to the public anywhere in the West.
To make it work for Reginato, Riley drove a 4-wheel-drive ATV with Reginato sitting alongside in the front seat. They headed out in the field, amid oak, manzanita and grasslands, driving slowly to quiet the bumps.
Eventually they found guide John Talley, out with Reginato's pals, Bob Simms of Sacramento and Thom Gabrukeiwicz of Redding. A pointer was roaming the field, trying to pick up the scent of quail.
Suddenly, the dog locked in on a point, staring at a manzanita clump. Riley helped Reginato out of the ATV and handed him his old 20-gauge shotgun.
The covey flushed, the quail rocketing out, and Reginato, trying to turn, lost his balance and fell slowly. Riley rushed in.
"I'm OK," Reginato said. "I'll be fine, I'll get 'em next time."
"When he fell, it scared me," Riley said. "But then I could see that the experience, being in the field, out with his buddies, was very special, so we kept on."
Shortly, the dog again riveted on point. Reginato moved into position, 20-gauge in hand. Out flushed a bird like a little brown rocket, directly away from Reginato: He measured, swung and fired.
Over the course of a few hours, Reginato managed to bag four quail and a chukar, Riley with him at his side for every shot.
Back at the lodge, a beaming Reginato was talking about his favorite hunting spots. Then, in a moment of euphoria, he said, "It is just so nice being out here, with my friends, watching the dogs work, getting a few shots . . . ''
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to go
Cost: Quail hunt with guide, dog and 20-bird limit, $435; lodging and meal, $95; fishing & lodging, $150; one-week summer kids' camp, $500. Hunts available in season for deer, wild pig, turkey and waterfowl.
Licensing: DFG hunting license required.
Directions: Take I-5 to Red Bluff and the Central Red Bluff/Highway 36 exit west. Drive west 0.5 mile to Main Street. Turn right and go two blocks to Walnut. Turn left and go 2.5 miles to Wilder. Turn left and drive 1.2 miles to Live Oak Road. Turn right and go 1 mile to Red Bank Road. Turn left and drive 3.5 miles to the club entrance on the left (signed).
Contact: Red Bank Hunting, Box 8295, Red Bluff, CA 97080; (530) 529-9435; http://www.redbankhunting.com; http://www.wheretoshoot.com
Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle
November 6, 2003
At 85, John Reginato has few opportunities to take part in one of his life's passions, bird hunting, with his best friends.
Reginato, once a mountain of a man who worked out as a 240-pound lineman with the 49ers in the 1940s, can barely walk. After a long stint this past year in the hospital with multiple surgeries, he weighs only 160 pounds.
But he is back on his feet.
"The mind is willing," Reginato said, "the body not so much."
On Monday, one of Reginato's wishes was granted by his best friends and a skilled, supportive hunting guide: a trip to Northern California's finest game bird club to hunt bobwhite quail.
After heavy rain Sunday night, the dawn brought a fresh crispness to the air as we ventured to the foothills west of Red Bluff, under the guidance of Brian Riley, owner of Red Bank Hunting.
"Look at that," Reginato said, scanning a meadow on the edge of a riparian zone, "look at all those wild turkeys." He smiled. "I remember when there were no wild turkeys at all."
We counted nearly 25. This is another credit to Riley. He manages his 1, 700-acre ranch expressly for wildlife, fishing, hunting and youth camps; it has become one of the best hunting experiences on private land available to the public anywhere in the West.
To make it work for Reginato, Riley drove a 4-wheel-drive ATV with Reginato sitting alongside in the front seat. They headed out in the field, amid oak, manzanita and grasslands, driving slowly to quiet the bumps.
Eventually they found guide John Talley, out with Reginato's pals, Bob Simms of Sacramento and Thom Gabrukeiwicz of Redding. A pointer was roaming the field, trying to pick up the scent of quail.
Suddenly, the dog locked in on a point, staring at a manzanita clump. Riley helped Reginato out of the ATV and handed him his old 20-gauge shotgun.
The covey flushed, the quail rocketing out, and Reginato, trying to turn, lost his balance and fell slowly. Riley rushed in.
"I'm OK," Reginato said. "I'll be fine, I'll get 'em next time."
"When he fell, it scared me," Riley said. "But then I could see that the experience, being in the field, out with his buddies, was very special, so we kept on."
Shortly, the dog again riveted on point. Reginato moved into position, 20-gauge in hand. Out flushed a bird like a little brown rocket, directly away from Reginato: He measured, swung and fired.
Over the course of a few hours, Reginato managed to bag four quail and a chukar, Riley with him at his side for every shot.
Back at the lodge, a beaming Reginato was talking about his favorite hunting spots. Then, in a moment of euphoria, he said, "It is just so nice being out here, with my friends, watching the dogs work, getting a few shots . . . ''
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to go
Cost: Quail hunt with guide, dog and 20-bird limit, $435; lodging and meal, $95; fishing & lodging, $150; one-week summer kids' camp, $500. Hunts available in season for deer, wild pig, turkey and waterfowl.
Licensing: DFG hunting license required.
Directions: Take I-5 to Red Bluff and the Central Red Bluff/Highway 36 exit west. Drive west 0.5 mile to Main Street. Turn right and go two blocks to Walnut. Turn left and go 2.5 miles to Wilder. Turn left and drive 1.2 miles to Live Oak Road. Turn right and go 1 mile to Red Bank Road. Turn left and drive 3.5 miles to the club entrance on the left (signed).
Contact: Red Bank Hunting, Box 8295, Red Bluff, CA 97080; (530) 529-9435; http://www.redbankhunting.com; http://www.wheretoshoot.com
