The hunt for tradition: Don Koehler and family have enjoyed hunting, nature and fellowship for generations

Under the graying November sky, Pink Root Hollow stands still and quiet. A single shot cracks across the winter wheat, punching the target a bit low and right of center.

Seth Koehler, 25, takes a breath and sends another shot downrange, but it does the same as the first -- leaning just right of the mark.

"You sure you were holding straight?" Randy Koehler calls, teasing his youngest son. "If you're sure you were dead on, you can adjust, but it looked like you were doin' a lot of wigglin' from back here."

"Yeah, but he was wigglin' the same way each time," Don Koehler adds with a smile.

Josh and Erik Koehler laugh at Grandpa joining in the fun and lob their own brotherly encouragement.

Donald Koehler, left, poses for a photo with his son Randy, right, and grandkids Erik, Joshua and Seth. (Photo by Glenn Landberg, glandberg@semissourian.com)

"Try it again, Seth!"

Today they're sighting rifles and setting deer stands for the upcoming hunting season, but the real reason three generations of Koehlers are gathered at Grandpa's 76-acre plot in the hills north of Cape Girardeau is to spend time with each other.

"They grew up here," Don explains. "It's our gathering place."

Koehler fathers and sons have hunted together since Don's father Paul took him hunting at age 13. He, in turn, did the same with his son Randy when he was old enough.

And Don's love of hunting with antique rifles must have rubbed off on his son. He used a muzzle-loaded rifle on his first hunt.

"It must have been seventh grade," Randy explains. "Because I made that rifle myself. It was my woodworking shop project in seventh grade -- of course, that was the '70s."

Hunting and sport shooting continued to represent a father-son bond as the pair took first and second place in the National Guard national pistol competition about a decade after that first hunt.

Donald Koehler talks with his grandson, Erik, about different types of ammunition. (Photo by Glenn Landberg, glandberg@semissourian.com)

"He beat me by one point," Randy says.

Don rubs his chin to hide his smile.

And later, when Randy had sons of his own, he took them hunting as well. Josh even got started early.

Joshua Koehler fires his rifle at a paper target in preparation for hunting season. (Glenn Landberg)

"He came out one year not even dressed for it," Randy recalls. "No gun or anything. Froze his butt off just to sit out there with me."

Now the youngest of Randy's boys is 25, and Don just turned 77. He and Erik map out the best spot to put a deer stand that won't be too difficult on his knees.

"Shoot, Grandpa, you could just sit right out here," Erik says. Earlier in the day, Don pointed out fresh tracks made in the open field, meaning there's a good chance of spotting deer even without hiking up the ridge.

"I usually try to hunt one day with Grandpa and one day with Dad," Erik explains.

He says it's a chance to be together without the distractions of the modern age; a chance to marvel together at Mother Nature's fleeting curiosities.

"Even without a gun, just being out in the woods before dawn and being able to experience the woods waking up around you -- you never know what you'll see," he says.

Don agrees: "Getting a deer is incidental, really," he says. "If you get one, great, but it's about being out in nature, being together, enjoying what the good Lord has given you."

A paper target hangs on a board. (Glenn Landberg)

But when they do get that first deer, the swell of pride is a feeling Don says he can't forget.

"You're almost more excited than they are," he explains. "There's nothing like it."

Says Erik, "Most people don't slow down enough to realize what's out here, and it's really difficult to describe it to someone."

He's got two young children of his own now.

"And one on the way," he adds, slipping an arm around his wife, Kayla, who's eight months pregnant. "I'm looking forward to being able to spend time with them in the woods."

And when they're old enough, they'll leave their cellphones behind and head out to Pink Root Hollow with Dad, Grandpa or Great-Grandpa Don to see the woods for themselves.