| Few things can bring you more joy than to | | | | sure that I have plenty to eat. A couple of apples |
| pursue two of your passions at the same time. | | | | and some candy can usually get another half an |
| This is easy to do by taking your children hunting | | | | hour or so. Not that I eat any of the candy |
| with you. The first time I took my son with me | | | | myself, it's just for the kids. |
| he was only about 4 years old. We walked a | | | | I also take something for them to do. Word |
| couple hundred yards behind the house and sat | | | | search books and crossword puzzles will deter |
| down on a log. It was only a few minutes later he | | | | them from moving around a lot and keep them |
| said that he needed to go back to the house to | | | | interested for a while longer. |
| go to the bathroom. There was no talking him | | | | The hunt will be very short lived if they get cold. |
| into relieving himself out in the woods, so back to | | | | Make sure that they are dressed warm. On one |
| the house we went. Our first hunting experience | | | | hunt I took a sleeping bag for my son and he |
| together wasn't very satisfying or very long. | | | | stayed nice and warm while the snow was falling |
| After this first trip I wasn't looking forward to | | | | on us. It also helps if you can keep them |
| taking him again for a while but in the years since | | | | sheltered from the wind and rain. We used to get |
| it was I who had some learning to do about | | | | into an old building and sit, but we now have a |
| hunting with children. | | | | camouflage hunting blind that we use. Last season |
| After that experience I realized that I did want | | | | we spent several hours in it staying out of the |
| my children to hunt with me so I decided that we | | | | wind and rain. On one hunt my 8 year old |
| would keep trying. Since they had showed an | | | | daughter was the first to spot a group of does |
| interest I didn't want to stifle it by telling them | | | | that came from behind us. She was real proud of |
| that they were too young. I wanted them there | | | | her accomplishment. |
| with me when they were old enough but I | | | | The best way to keep them interested and |
| thought that if I stopped them when they were | | | | coming back is to see game. I take them no |
| young that they may not want to hunt when | | | | matter what time of the day it is even during the |
| they get older. | | | | non peak activity hours. It's often hard to get |
| In the few years since, we have had some great | | | | them to go with you at dawn or dusk when |
| times together in the woods. Stories about having | | | | activity is at its peak but it is usually colder during |
| young children with you usually do not conclude | | | | these hours anyway. They don't have to see |
| with the description of the trophy buck that you | | | | something to have a good time, but they will tell |
| shoot, but the memories of being there with | | | | everyone about the animals that they saw. |
| them are better trophies. I'll never forget | | | | Last year I had watched a group of young bucks |
| watching my son jump out of his skin when a | | | | that would come to a food plot and feeder. At |
| grouse took off and scared him or of the first | | | | the end of the season I took my son and a video |
| buck that he shot. | | | | camera and we climbed into two treestands |
| It is hard for us serious hunters to accept that | | | | side-by-side. After being there for about thirty |
| sometimes we will go to the woods and not | | | | minutes there was a shower of rain and he |
| realistically have an opportunity of shooting a deer | | | | wanted to pack it in. I convinced him that if we |
| or that the chances could be lessened because | | | | could stick it out another thirty minutes we would |
| there is someone else with you that likes to | | | | probably get to see some deer. He decided to |
| move a lot and is a little noisy. Once you accept | | | | stay and the deer showed up and we had a great |
| this and just watch them enjoy being there with | | | | time watching and videotaping them. I used the |
| you, you can have the time of your life. | | | | opportunity to try to teach him that it's not |
| Over the years I have found some ways to | | | | always easy and that the effort can pay off in |
| make the hunt more enjoyable for everyone. | | | | the end. At eleven years old he is now learning |
| Quiet woods will only hold a child's attention for a | | | | more about hunting and is becoming a good |
| little while and then they will look for something to | | | | tracker. I'm hoping that I have two hunting |
| do. One of the first things that I do is to make | | | | partners for life. |