Pennsylvania Game News - October 2009 - 28

their flashlights on the bear, Al handed me an old hinge-action dart gun with just a front sight. I managed to hit the bear several times, but the drug wasn’t working. Al must have sensed my nerves were shot and took over. As I watched in amazement, he uncased a new CO2 propelled lasersighted tranquilizer pistol, loaded it and shot the bear. The bear quickly fell to the ground. I asked why I wasn’t allowed to use the fancy pistol and he told me he wanted to see how well I held up under pressure. Shawn Harshaw taught me how to manage my time during the busy hunting seasons, as well as provided me with a myriad of citation writing op- Lori Richardson Stan entered the room sporting a brand new tie and a shiny new state emblem tie tack. portunities, and later a valuable speech lesson. My first FTO, though, was Stan Norris. The following incident happened within hours of meeting Stan. The night was cold, but I didn’t realize it quite yet. It was the evening before the 2001 archery deer season, and I was tucked in the back corner of some field in southern Fayette County with Stan. We had just arrived at the rural location, both dressed in our summer uniforms, which consisted of our light green pants and short-sleeved shirts. The temperature was probably in the high 40s or low 50s and, although I remember the stars being out, it wasn’t a bright night. After Stan backed his green truck into our hiding spot, he turned off the engine, put on his coat, pulled out an old Army wool blanket, covered himself and told me, “Wake me if anything happens, kid.” I thought about what constitutes “anything.” We were out on night patrol. Not just any night, but my first night. This was my on-the-job training, and it was time to get my hands dirty. Little did I know they’d be filthy by the end of the night. By 9 p.m., Stan was settled in and cozy, but I was on high alert. There wasn’t much to see with the darkness and all, but within 10 minutes I noticed a vehicle whose occupants were spotlighting coming down the road. “Stan, here comes a spotlighter!” I exclaimed. “That’s good, kid. Wake me up if anything happens,” Stan answered. At first I couldn’t understand how he could sleep through all the excitement, but over the next few weeks I would find out. Stan had many years as an officer and many nights under his belt that season on night patrol. He was taking the opportunity to catch up on some sleep, I figured, while I was on watch, but he was at my immediate disposal if I needed him. That first vehicle passed and nothing transpired. Exciting, I thought, my first encounter with spotlighters. During the next hour several more vehicles with spotlighters passed, but on those occasions I didn’t disturb my FTO. Then, around 10 p.m., I noticed another car heading our way, but it was traveling slower and the occupants were more methodical in using the spotlight. I thought about rousGAME NEWS

Pennsylvania Game News - October 2009

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