36 Nebraskaland • August-September 2019
hunt. John lived in Montana and Aaron was still in New York
at the time. The plan was to meet in Omaha for opening day
of pheasant season.
Thirteen years ago, the three men went hunting on
opening morning in Monona County, Iowa. It was on public
ground, the same places Donny took Aaron hunting when
he was a boy. Though "stoked" to spend time with family,
Aaron admitted to feeling indiff erent about the hunt. What
he actually felt was unexpected.
"I remember it was a cold autumn morning," Aaron said. "I
put a shell in my shotgun, and suddenly boom – like WHOA.
I thought 'I miss this. I really like this.' I forgot how much I
liked hunting because I've been in a completely diff erent
environment. At that moment, I was pulled right back into it
Darlin', a German short-haired pointer, was Schroder's fi rst hunting dog after his return to hunting. He and his wife,
April Goettle, picked up Darlin' during their move from New York to Lyons, Nebraska.
