| If you are either starting out or you have been a | | | | little fiberglass bow and wooden arrows with field |
| long time bowhunter and have not started your | | | | tips hadn't seen the deer yet. He was still gazing |
| family in archery or bowhunting, it's time to get | | | | at the geese in amazement. Brent and I couldn't |
| the kids started. Hey, if you enjoy it so much, | | | | say anything to Brody because the deer had |
| why wouldn't your kids? I'm a grandfather of | | | | walked right in on us. The deer was only about 5 |
| almost 9 grandchildren (one due any day now) | | | | yards away from Brody before he had noticed. I |
| and I try to take them out into the field as often | | | | just sat there and laughed to myself as he |
| as possible. Even when my two boys were | | | | started to get so excited, that he could've wet |
| growing up, we would make our little journeys to | | | | himself. He pulled his bow back (which could not |
| the back yard or woods to hunt and learn more | | | | have hurt the animal) and released his arrow. The |
| about God's great outdoors. Why not teach those | | | | arrow never made it out of the brush pile he was |
| youngsters when their little minds are so curious | | | | sitting in. He only had one arrow, so he turned and |
| and full of questions? Teaching children the | | | | looked up at us and quietly said, "Dad, shoot it." |
| difference between right and wrong and how to | | | | The deer had only run just a short distance but it |
| respect nature is so important at that early age. | | | | was not a good shot for me to take. Even |
| Here is a short story that I know stuck into my | | | | though it was a small deer, I probably would have |
| two boy's heads when they were about 3 and 6 | | | | shot it, just to let them see how it was done. |
| years old. We started out one chilly evening on a | | | | The lessons that both boys learned from this little |
| deer hunt only about 200 yards from the house. | | | | hunting trip have been burned into both their |
| My youngest, Brent, was strapped to my back | | | | minds and will be taught to their own children. |
| while I climbed a tree just a few feet up to our | | | | Two lessons, first the safety lesson as to never |
| treestand. My other son, Brody, was sitting on | | | | shoot straight up. Second lesson was to make |
| the ground just a few yards away in a brush pile. | | | | sure of your shot. Never take a chance, always |
| A flock of geese were flying overhead and Brent | | | | look at objects that could be in your line of fire. |
| was telling me to take a shot at them. I explained | | | | Take your kids or grandkids out for a youth |
| how dangerous that was and I'm sure he | | | | archery hunt. It doesn't have to be a long |
| understood the point I was trying to get across | | | | journey, it can be so simple. I can't think of a |
| to him. At that same moment a small deer had | | | | better way to bond with your family than to |
| started wandering down the same fence row | | | | enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Life is |
| that we were in. | | | | short, so don't miss out! |
| Brody, who was sitting on the ground with his | | | | |