Bird Camp Diaries: June 2007

The Bird Camp Diaries are nothing more than whimsical monthly musings. I hope you find them entertaining, and sometimes thought provoking.

Anthony Hauck
Public Relations Specialist
Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever

The Greatest Dad in the World?

On The Wing: June 2007It's a statistical fact. With a billion and something fathers on this planet, not every one of them can claim the title of "World's Greatest Dad." That's because it officially belongs to my dad, Gary Hauck.

So what separates my pops from your average Tom, Dick and Harry? Well, he can lift a semi truck with his pinky finger. He defeated Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI. He's a former Navy Seal, has walked on the moon and averaged a triple double for the ABA's Kentucky Colonels in 1975.

Okay, so maybe I'm embellishing things just a little bit. I just really want you all to love my dad as much as I do. Because he really is the greatest dad in the world.

I'm sure he's not unlike many dads out there. Played catch with me and my brother in the yard, loaned me money when I was in a pinch (let me clarify that he always said "loan," but I am still under the belief that "loan" was code for "good-will donation"), and introduced me to the great outdoors. But what really makes him the number one dad, what makes him the "Greatest Dad in the World," is that he had to raise me. And that is something I will never envy.

A first-borne, borderline ADHD type-A personality with a penchant for being a show off probably grows tiresome at times. And we're not even going to talk about those collegiate years. As much as I hate to use the cliché, he was always, always there for me. My mom, who is an educator, tells me that at the ripe old age of 25, my brain is finally developing which is why I'm starting to come to such profound realizations. Thanks, mom, but enough about you, this is dad's day to shine.

I've honestly never given my dad a Father's Day present, so here it is dad, your first ink in a PF publication. Now if we can keep working on our communication. You're elected president of the Lac Qui Parle Chapter of PF and don't tell me for two months! Did I mention I work at PF! In public relations!

These days, the Greatest Dad in the World is enjoying the finest years of his life. Look at the smile on that man's face, with his old hunting buddy Nicky, after bagging a limit of Lac Qui Parle river roosters last fall. Pure contentment...

...by the way, did I mention my dad is also the Greatest Hunter in the World...?

Happy Father's Day to fathers and families everywhere from PF and QF.

If you have story ideas, dog photos, pre-1980 hunting photos and requests for future On The Wing consideration, please send correspondence to ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.

Return to On The Wing: June 2007

"On The Wing" Archive