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Sammy McDonald sat among camouflaged clothes, gun cases and ammunition in her family's living room Tuesday afternoon while she animatedly told stories of hunting trips and packed for yet another adventure.

The prize from her favorite hunting trip hangs on the living room wall: a double-bearded tom turkey.

Sammy, 14, says she's found confidence and excitement in the sport after cancer in her femur made most physical activities a challenge. She will tote her new gun, a 7mm-08 rifle, into the Arizona desert this week on a four-day antelope hunt.

Sammy will also hold an antelope tag, a ticket to shoot and kill a single antelope.

The heavily sought-after tag was donated to Arizona Hunt of a Lifetime by Dori Hopp of Oregon, who was unable to use it because of time conflicts with her job. Arizona Hunt of a Lifetime is a nonprofit organization that grants hunting and fishing adventures to children like Sammy, who have life-threatening illnesses.

To find out more about Arizona Hunt of a Lifetime, visit http://www.hoalarizona.org .

Doctors at University of San Francisco diagnosed Sammy with cancer in her left femur at age 10. Until then, she had never imagined a sore left leg would be the start of a four-year battle with cancer.

"I saw my parents' reaction when the doctors told them and thought 'OK, this isn't good,'" Sammy said. "I was really scared."

The cancer crept to her left lung twice, and each time the infected area was surgically removed. Eight months' worth of chemotherapy fought the cancer in her leg.The treatments slowly drained Sammy's energy and caused her wavy, brown hair to thin. But the upbeat, witty teenager made the best of her bare head and covered it with fake tattoos.

Doctors eventually replaced Sammy's infected bone with a titanium rod, which extends from her upper thigh to below her kneecap. Tests from her doctors have come back showing no sign of cancer for the past eight months.

"Right now, we're sitting pretty good," said Lisa McDonald, Sammy's mother. Still, the illness left the West High School freshman unable to run or play most sports. Then, three years ago, John McDonald handed his daughter a gun with the idea that a passion for hunting might ignite fresh enthusiasm in Sammy.

"It's cool to do something that most girls my age don't do," said Sammy, who has hunted pheasant, quail and deer in Calaveras County and Oregon. "Even if I don't get one, it's just cool to be outside and see the animals."

Sammy and her father have made frequent trips to the shooting range in Manteca during the past month to perfect their shots before the trip to Arizona. Sammy also helps her mother walk their dogs to keep her legs conditioned for hunting.

"Hunting has helped her overcome her fear of anything," Lisa McDonald said. "She's got to get out there and do something she can be proud of."

Contact reporter Danielle MacMurchy at danielle@tracypress.com.