Johnny Fasulo — a Valley Stream North High School sophomore with deep family ties to the outdoors — marked New York’s recent hunting season not only with a successful harvest, but also with an act of kindness that extended beyond Long Island.
Fasulo harvested two deer during the most recent hunting season. One was donated to the upstate town of Gilboa, where it was processed and distributed to help provide food to residents in need during the winter months.
The donation was coordinated through Samuel Nash, owner of the Colonial Motel in Grand Gorge, a longtime family friend who helped butcher and distribute the meat throughout the community.
Fasulo’s connection to hunting began early in life. He spent time in the woods with his father, John, from a very young age, accompanying him long before he was old enough to hunt on his own. By the time he was around age 7, he was regularly observing hunts and learning about wildlife and outdoor practices. He officially began hunting at age 12, when the state’s youth hunting season allows young hunters to participate under specific regulations.
“I just fell in love with the woods from when I was first able to go into them,” Fasulo said. “Even before hunting, I just loved the woods. I loved being out there and watching the animals and stuff. That’s what made me fall in love with hunting.”
Since that time, Fasulo has consistently hunted within the state’s guidelines and conservation practices. Over the course of his hunting experience, he has harvested a total of 10 deer, four turkeys and one bear. His hunting methods include the use of a bow and arrow, as well as firearms, depending on the season and the regulations in place.
The recent donation occurred during a late-season family trip upstate. Fasulo harvested one deer on a Saturday evening and the other on the following Sunday morning. After discussing the situation with his parents, the family decided to donate one of the deer rather than keep it. With winter approaching and realizing that food needs increase during colder months, they felt the donation would be meaningful and useful.
The deer was given to Nash, who has longstanding connections within the Gilboa area. He processed the meat and distributed it to individuals and families in the community who could benefit most from it. The donation ensured the harvest would not go to waste and would serve a broader purpose beyond the Fasulo family.
“It teaches him if you have an abundance of something, I think that you could share and help other people, and that it shouldn’t go to waste,” Fasulo’s father said. “I always tell him you don’t want to take an animal and let it go to waste.”
Hunting has been an ongoing part of Fasulo’s upbringing and family life. His father, who learned to hunt from his own father, introduced his son to hunting with an emphasis on safety, responsibility and respect for wildlife.
Long before hunting independently, Fasulo was taught firearm safety and awareness, starting with basic target practice using a BB gun under supervision. These lessons focused on treating every firearm as loaded, being aware of surroundings and understanding the permanence of every shot taken.
As Fasulo grew older, hunting became a setting for developing patience and discipline. According to his father, learning to wait for the right shot and allowing animals to pass if conditions are not appropriate has been a central lesson, reinforcing ethical hunting practices and respect for animals.
“You’re sitting in the woods, and you’ll hear a twig break, or some leaves start to rustle, and you’ll see a deer, and you can’t just shoot at him,” his father said. “You have to wait, because you don’t want to wound the animal. You want to make a good shot. You owe it to the animal. You’ve got to really be patient and wait. He’s learned patience, and I think he’s taken that to other things in his life.”
The family’s approach to hunting also includes a spiritual element. Time spent in the woods is viewed as an opportunity for reflection, gratitude and appreciation of nature. Prayer and giving thanks are part of their practice before and after a successful harvest, emphasizing responsibility and appreciation for the animal and the environment.
Beyond personal tradition, the Fasulo family views hunting as a way to give back. When they have more than enough for themselves, they share venison with friends, family, or, as in this case, the wider Town of Gilboa.
Fasulo has expressed interest in continuing to hunt throughout his life and hopes to remain connected to the outdoors.
