REAL MEN HUNT SQUIRRELS

Squirrel Hunting - A Way Of Life

EDITOR'S NOTE: Danny Williams, 55, of Clinton, Louisiana, has hunted all of his life and also raises squirrel dogs.

QUESTION: How did you develop your passion for squirrel hunting?
ANSWER: When I was growing up, I lived way out in the country, and my family was what you would classify as country folks. We had squirrel dogs and rabbit dogs. I grew up hunting squirrels and rabbits for food and sport. When I was in the eighth grade, I got a coon dog. During my 20s and 30s, I was one of those kind of coon hunters who went almost every night. In 1983, I lost most of the land I had to coon hunt on, but I never lost my love of dogs that would bark at fur in a tree. So I started squirrel hunting again. I bought a squirrel dog named Cocoa from a friend of mine. That dog and I had a really good time hunting together, but the second year we hunted together a rattlesnake bit Cocoa and killed it. Then I bought another squirrel dog. I really enjoy training squirrel dogs.

I've always loved to train dogs. Nothing gives me a bigger thrill than to watch a young dog that I've trained go out and tree its own squirrel. I also really enjoy seeing youngsters get involved in hunting. I have a 6 1/2-year-old grandson who even now loves to go squirrel hunting with me. My wife enjoys hunting with me, and she and I travel all over the country hunting squirrels together. It takes a real man to hunt squirrels because you have to walk a lot and must be in good physical condition. You also can enjoy great fellowship with other hunters on a squirrel hunt. I like to cut up, laugh, pick on my buddies and have my buddies and having my buddies pick on me when we are hunting. I believe there is no other sport where you can get to know a man, a child or a family member better than when you take him or her squirrel hunting with a dog.

Each year I have requests for more squirrel dogs than I can supply. I believe more and more hunters who once hunted deer, turkey or big game are rediscovering the sheer pleasure, joy and fun that can come from squirrel hunting with dogs.

To learn more about squirrel dogs, and to find out more about the dogs that Williams has now, you can contact Danny Williams at (225) 683-4598. His address is 5548 Old Liberty Road, Clinton, Louisiana, 70722. His e-mail address is williwd@chevrontexaco.com.

TOMORROW: JIM STEPHENS' ORGANIC CHICKEN