During his leaves from military service, which followed immediately after his graduation, the young Kuo would often go into the countryside to catch butterflies.
北師畢業後，他先後在霧峰光復新村復興國小和僑榮國小教了三年書，然後，赴泰山鄉服兵役。兵役期間，每逢星期例假，偷得浮生半日閒，便帶著捕蟲網到營區的後山去。