Josh Larsen and his friend Dan Colburn had hunted together countless times, but this day would become one neither man would forget. For Dan, it was a long-awaited chance to harvest his first deer, an accomplishment he had talked about for years. But he had also shared a quieter hope with Josh: to take that first deer with a very special shotgun.

Just months earlier, Dan had purchased a used 12-gauge Remington 870, only to discover later that the gun had once belonged to his father who had sold it more than 30 years ago. His father, who has since passed away, had carried that shotgun on his own hunts decades before. Holding it again brought Dan a sense of connection he had not expected. All season long; he spoke about how meaningful it would be to take a deer with his dad’s gun.

As the season this year wore on without success, it seemed that the opportunity might slip away. But in the final 20 minutes of legal light on the final day of the season — Sunday, Dec. 7 — fate stepped in. Dan shouldered the well-worn Remington and made the shot he had waited a lifetime to take.

“Dan called me for help. I had the honor of field dressing the deer with Dan and sharing in this unforgettable experience,” said Larsen, filled with pride and gratitude. “To see his face, the excitement, the surreal sense of accomplishment, that was something I’ll never forget.”

Submitted Photos In a world where hunting is often measured in inches of antler or pounds of venison, Dan Colburn is a reminder of what truly matters. The heart of deer season lies not in trophies, but in tradition.

“My first ever deer, and I got it with my dad’s gun,” said Colburn, with emotions running deeper than the day’s success. “That gun was gone from our family for so long. I can’t thank Josh enough for everything he did for me that night. I’m not a very emotional man, but he somehow pried years of emotion out of me. That only happened because of his generosity and his love for helping people do things the right way through to the end. I am eternally grateful.”

In a world where hunting is often measured in inches of antler or pounds of venison, stories like this with Dan and Josh are a reminder of what truly matters. The heart of deer season lies not in trophies, but in tradition. It lives in friendships built over decades, in the passing down of tools and skills, and in the rare, powerful moments that connect hunters to their past and to each other.

For two friends in the Southern Tier woods this year, that connection came together in the final minutes of the season — a father’s shotgun returned, a first deer taken and a memory that will last for generations.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Submitted Photos In a world where hunting is often measured in inches of antler or pounds of venison Josh Larsen is a reminder of what truly matters. The heart of deer season lies not in trophies, but in tradition.

Dec. 8-16: NYS Southern Zone late archery/muzzleloader big-game hunting season.

Dec. 25: Merry Christmas.

Dec. 26 to Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone late archery/crossbow/muzzleloader special deer-only season. Regular firearms are not allowed.