The First Family of Hunting

Hunting is a way of life in the Adirondacks. Dating back to the Native Americans who used the park as a hunting ground, people have made a living of the fruits of the land. However, now that it only takes a short trip to the grocery store to get food and refrigeration keeps it safe for days, the significance of hunting as drastically changed. While hunting is still seen as an example of our struggle with nature, it has become more of a sport.

            The Salerno family exemplifies this cultural shift. The four Salereno brothers, Pat Jr., Tim, Randy, and Tony, learned how to hunt from their father, Pat Sr. Pat. Sr. spent much of his time in the Adirondacks learning the tricks of the trade. He also played baseball and according to Adirondack life he, “brought the same dedication to hunting as he did to the other great sport in his life, baseball”(Connelly, 2014). Pat Sr. once a shortstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers is a man of many talents. He used his hunting talents to turn a profit, doing shows, selling DVDs and even appearing on the Discovery Channel. The Salerno family is a typical Adirondack family in that not only are they able to make a living off the land in but they are able to do so in a creative and unique fashion.

            The techniques and stories told by the family also capture the spirit of the Adirondacks. The family hunts by pretending to be just another animal in the woods. They try to match the pace of the bucks that they are trying to hunt. If the deer starts run they run, if it meanders, they meander (Connelly, 2014). The family is truly trying to become a part of the woods. But, they are doing so in order to kill and remove something from the woods. This complex seems to be an intrinsic part of the contradictions with the park Yes, humans are trying to coexist with the wilderness and live within the park. At the same time we must ask ourselves what are we taking away and destroying by trying to do so.

Connelly, Joe. "Adirondack Life Blog Archive The Ghost Buck - Adirondack Life." Adirondack Life Blog Archive The Ghost Buck - Adirondack Life. Adirondack Life, 29 Oct. 2016. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <http://www.adirondacklifemag.com/blogs/2015/10/29/the-ghost-buck/>.