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All of that nearly came to an end last month when Pucci collapsed from a bleeding ulcer.
“I died February 8th at 6:01,” Pucci said during Saturday’s Tri-State Gun Show at the Onalaska OmniCenter. “It was during my military show in Janesville. I got to the hospital, and my blood pressure was so low I just hit the floor. I woke up a day and a half later in intensive care.”
His latest medical problems have forced Pucci to trim back his gun shows — to about 35 a year. But he says he won’t trim back his work with the National Take a Kid Hunting Foundation and Bob and Rocco’s Hunting Society, which are designed to get young people hunting.
“I’m not worried about the gun shows. I can always get somebody to do this,” Pucci said. “I’m worried about the guiding. Waterfowl guiding and deer guiding. And I’m worried that’s going to be curtailed.”
Pucci, 59, of Janesville, Wis., said the proceeds from his gun shows help fund his efforts to expose young people to hunting.
“We want to take first-time hunters who have never had the chance to do quality hunts out hunting,” Pucci said. “They don’t have the equipment, they don’t have the knowledge, they don’t have the places to hunt, so we supply that free of charge, and the gun shows take care of that.”
Through money brought in by the shows, Pucci’s separate foundations have acquired or leased almost 1,000 acres of land for deer hunts and another 1,000 acres of property for waterfowl hunts.
Pucci, who is always on the prowl for more or better land, said he is close to closing on 200 acres of land near Camp Douglas, Wis.
For Pucci, the goal behind getting kids into hunting is simple.
“When you get kids involved in the outdoors you don’t see them in court,” Pucci said. “It may be simplistic. It may be a utopian idea, but kids who spend time with their parents doing constructive things aren’t usually getting into trouble.”
This weekend’s show features antique guns, ammunition, knives, modern guns and more all in one location. Pucci said this gives the consumer the best deal possible whether they are looking to buy, sell or trade weapons.
Although the economy has made it harder to make a sale and high gas prices have cut into the crowds at some location, Pucci said he hopes the shows continue for years to come. And, Pucci said, he and his black Lab Rocco will continue to operate shows for as long as their health holds up.
Dan Springer can be reached at dspringer@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8269.
