Our trip began on Saturday with driving from Hayward to Shell Lake to meet up with Justin, another camper. His dad drove us to Mackinaw to get on the midnight ferry. Then we got on the ferry for a four and a half hour ferry ride, which we slept on.

On Sunday we got off the ferry. Then we drove to Three Rivers, MI. But we went to far, so we turned around and went to far again. On the third try we finally found the driveway we should have seen. We were the first two there so we got our own special little tour around the lodge and grounds in the little GEO trucks, and we played some pool. Later that night the other campers arrived, and were given the grand tour. When it got dark we had a campfire. Then we all took showers and went to bed.

                                                                            We all got up by 7:00 AM Eastern time. Woody said it was a first that                                                                             everyone was up before wake up time. Right after breakfast we started                                                                             Hunters’ Safety. Every 1 or 2 hours we got a 15 min. break. After lunch                                                                             we had more hunters safety. After supper we took our Hunters’ Safety                                                                             test, which was fairly easy. I was glad to get my Hunters’ Safety license.                                                                             After that was done we had some cowboy action shooters come in and                                                                             show us what they do. I shot the 38 special, 44colt, and the 45colt long                                                                             pistols. I also shot the 30-30-lever action rifle. The largest gun I shot that day was the Sharps Buffalo gun. When we were done we had a campfire. Then it was time for bed.

On Tuesday a bird dog trainer came and showed us some of the commands he teaches his dogs. He gave us a demonstration how his are trained to wait for command to get birds instead of taking off right away. We also had a bass professional named Brian Rand come in and show how to catch the Bass out of the lake and channel. He gave everyone a rod and reel.

Mr. Eric came to teach us about marksmanship. He was in the Olympics, and won a gold medal. He owns one of the largest gun shops in the U.S.A. He showed us how to shoot the 410, 20, and the 12 gauge shotguns. He owns a 50cal. And he let one adult shoot at a 5-gallon bucket of water. The water flew over the top of the power lines. I got a lucky picture of it. He let the kid shoot at a 2” piece of steel. It went in about 1” without an armor piercing round.

Most of us got up early and went fishing. When we got back we had breakfast. After breakfast we started our hunt. We started out walking for about two hours. Then we called in a little help from the counselors to help find them and drive them to us. They succeeded once but the rams wouldn’t stop, so we couldn’t shoot.
At first there was three of us, but then we broke apart into two groups. We went in
the GEOs and drove around trying to find them. When the other group found them
they were going to try to get a shot then drive them to us but they wouldn’t stop
running. When they found them again they walked in a group in front of the barn.
Then we drove around until about 6:00PM. When we came in and ate a late supper,
they went to go find the rams. Then they came back to pick us up and told us they
found them. There were two rams, but they were in front of the pen for the next
week’s hunters. So we had a counselor get them to move. We could finally take our shots. I took my shot and hit it in the heart, and it dropped like a brick. I waited about 5 sec. and the other kid with me shot his. I shot the brown ram because the other kid really wanted to shoot a white one for a mount, and I didn’t really care.