Vindication for dear old dad

[VAspeedgoat]

My boys have grown up hunting here on our farm and have a distorted view of what hunting is like. Or at least how it used to be. My nine year old git his first deer last year on his second day hunting and his first racked buck, pretty little 8, on his third day. Because of this I get asked, "how old were you when you got your first deer", "how old was pappy" For me it was 15, and my dad, their pappy was already married. Times are much different now but I got an opportunity rescently for some fun and education for the boys.

My uncle, who was very influential on my hunting rescentlt passed away at 86. While sad, he had not enjoyed his life fully for some time, so it is comforting to know he is in a better place. My boys also having a connection wanted to hunt somewhere my uncle had gotten some of his deer. So we went to a wma in the middle of the state.

This was their first all day hunting trip away from home. We hunted all morning with little deer sign and no buck sign. In the afternoon we found some better areas and eventually saw some turkeys which weren't in but capped off the day well.

When we were done that evening the boys laughed about the days events and how hard hunting must have been before deer were so prevalent on the farm. While a laughed at there "revelation" it made me proud when they asked when we could go back to hunt in the big woods again. Already planing for a camping/hunting trip for 2015.

Posted because I know there are some of you out there with similar experiences with your kids.

 

[antlerradar]

I know how you feel. I often take my son out on the public land just so he doesn't get to a distorted I view what hunting should be. Last year we walked in 5 miles. a long way in for SE MT, We started a few hours before light and got out after dark. We didn't get any thing and deer numbers were way down but it was a very rewarding and my son learned that there is more to hunting than setting on a field and seeing deer from the time you start to when you quit. He also found out that deer in the back country are a lot different than deer that see pickups and farm equipment every day. Those back country deer are a lot less forgiving of your mistakes. The truth is I just don't enjoy hunting my families ranch that much. It is not that much fun to hunt the bucks you have been watching all summer long. We do get some nice bucks showing up during the rut but shooting a love struck buck in a bunch of meadow does is not much different than a high fence hunt. Just not that appealing to me no matter how big of a buck. I would much rather be on some ridge at daylight looking for some buck that might surprise me.

Antlerradar

 

[idnative1948]

Wow! Deer on the farm? I can understand what you are saying.
We grew up hunting public lands and had many, many stocks on our hands/knees through sagebrush/rocks and such. Some we blew, some we didn't. But, we had the master to calmly tell us what we did wrong. "Geez, dad, why didn't you say something?" Son, how are you going to learn?

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

That's a win for you for sure, sounds like you've good great kids who appreciate the best part about it.

I didn't want to start my kids out with easy or unrewarding successes, or ruin interest with treacherous efforts and no action. It's fine line with young hunters, especially on public land. I've tried to carefully pick special places, good timing and weather. I can't think of anything that tops hunting with your kids.

idnative, your Dad was on the right track. I've noticed the fun factor goes up for my boy, the less I guide and the more I let him hunt.