There's truth in what you say. Like your stories, Pa's collection of firearms was family relics and stuff that caught his eye. The .30-06 was his uncle's service rifle, purchased after said uncle mustered out (so the story goes). It was a *gift*; can't throw it away, can we? Plus, ya know, perfectly servicable firearm and cheap venison.

Was more a factor of the U.P.'s fine selection of cedar swamps and aspen thickets. To be fair, Pa always *wanted* a chance to hunt someplace with open fields and long ranges, but it never happened. When he shot something, it went *down* though.