Youth Hunting - Part 1 - The Smiles & the Memories

[badthirtyone]

When my son turned 11, he didn't want a traditional birthday party. A squirrel hunt with his friends and cousins was his idea of a celebration. Made me so very proud.......his mom not so muchView attachment 299432

^^^ This. A whole bunch of this!

This photo, all of the other added photos, as well as the wonderful "firsts" and accompanying stories. Outstanding additions to this topic, and exactly what all of the members were hoping to see.

 

[wv270wsm]

Pic 1 here is our oldest bio son and the two that we adopted just having a good time at the river this past summer

Pic 2 was the very first time this child ever shot a gun he was so proud . Yeah it's a 6 inch spot but he was thrilled!

Pic 3 was my oldest bio son carting a gobbler back to the truck. No smiles that you can see but he was glowing

 

[jessej]

Those walking out gobbler pics are the best. That's some mighty pretty water. What part of the country is that in?

 

[jessej]

My sons first LONG BEARD and his brand new baby sister. He sat with my mom while I called 30 yards behind them. I got to see him strut up to them.
Baby sister is almost 3 now and she's my new best huntin buddy.

 

[wv270wsm]

Those walking out gobbler pics are the best. That's some mighty pretty water. What part of the country is that in?

Central Wv. We live 10 mins from the best swimming holes , and it's pretty good trout fishing too

 

[jessej]

Any catfish in that water?

 

[jessej]

We like to shoot game underwater as well as above the surface!

 

[wv270wsm]

Can't say that far up river but in town there is . It's also a very good catch and release musky river on down

Any catfish in that water?

 

[badthirtyone]

My oldest taking "point" and leading his little bro into the wilderness for an adventure.

These guys would rather be outdoors than about any other place.

 

[338 dude]

As you get older with your family the transition of being the teacher and mentor slowly flips to them. I will tell you it is one of the most gratifying feeling you will ever experience! I had a heart attack in 10/2005 and my son has dropped everything to make sure I don't pull a deer 1 foot! I am in good shape for most part at 71 but he is always there for me. Couple years ago, he killed a 152" buck early with bow and he told me to sit his stand since I could not get into trouble along side a field. My shoulder was in complete break down. All 4 rotator tendons displaced, bicep tendon displace, bone cyst that caused some of it, bone spurs and torn labrum. Surgery planned early Dec but I was determined to try to kill deer with my Hoyt set at 60. So about 10 a nice buck runs 3 does right under stand, could not get shot due to circumstances. But hunting can be funny at times, he turned back to me and gave me 15 yd shot, somehow thru pain got bow back smoked him. So like my son said cannot get into trouble on edge of farm field. Except buck did pay back big time. Ran 40 yards and did perfect 10 rated somersault into a 10' deep irrigation ditch. So son happened to call seconds after shot and told me he would be there at 11:30 to get it out for me. He is a plant manager of a manufacturing operation of over 250 so he came over in business clothes to pull this buck out for me. He couldn't stop laughing when he saw buck in water antlers only showing. I went down put rope on them and then couldnt get back up since it was clay. He was laughing so hard pulling me up first. He got deer up and had to go home to change pants since got blood them.

Why I am rambling? These are moments that will be etched into your soul for both of you. The bond that you build with your children, family and friends through common shared activities is forever. We still laugh when he brings it up!
View attachment 298816

Is that why you have the handle muddy boots ?LOL

 

[338 dude]

When my son turned 11, he didn't want a traditional birthday party. A squirrel hunt with his friends and cousins was his idea of a celebration. Made me so very proud.......his mom not so muchView attachment 299432

Is that a plot hound in the picture? I had a plot hound his name was Beck ,he was the most radical blood trailing dog I have ever had. he has pulled me to the ground several times will never give up and found several deer with only a pea size drop of blood every 50 to 60 yards

 

[jessej]

Mixed cur. Black mouth and others. She was a very smart dog.

 

[badthirtyone]

What do you see?

What did I see?
I saw a peaceful stream running near one of our family's favorite camp sites. I also saw the joy and wonder in a little boy who was relishing his time in the outdoors, doing "explorer guy stuff."

What did he see?
He spent the next 15 minutes explaining how that night as we slept, a big elk was going to come down to our campsite to see what was going on, then would get worried that "people" were there and make a turn toward the creek. Once that elk made his turn, he would ultimately spring the trap that my child had carefully set in the stream, which would certainly be the end of old Mr. Elk.

He then went into detail about the complexity and inescapability of the trap that had been laid for that ill fated elk (some real "NASA" level engineering hidden under those rocks and sticks, I was told) and then explained how at dawn the next morning, we would wake up to an elk that was trapped during the night, and we would have a wonderful breakfast of big game sausages.

What I continue to see:
That getting children into the great outdoors is a fundamentally life-altering process that allows their imaginations and talents to grow and flourish. We are a product of our experiences and environments. I want this environment for my young men.

 

[wv270wsm]

View attachment 299861
What do you see?

What did I see?
I saw a peaceful stream running near one of our family's favorite camp sites. I also saw the joy and wonder in a little boy who was relishing his time in the outdoors, doing "explorer guy stuff."

What did he see?
He spent the next 15 minutes explaining how that night as we slept, a big elk was going to come down to our campsite to see what was going on, then would get worried that "people" were there and make a turn toward the creek. Once that elk made his turn, he would ultimately spring the trap that my child had carefully set in the stream, which would certainly be the end of old Mr. Elk.

He then went into detail about the complexity and inescapability of the trap that had been laid for that ill fated elk (some real "NASA" level engineering hidden under those rocks and sticks, I was told) and then explained how at dawn the next morning, we would wake up to an elk that was trapped during the night, and we would have a wonderful breakfast of big game sausages.

What I continue to see:
That getting children into the great outdoors is a fundamentally life-altering process that allows their imaginations and talents to grow and flourish. We are a product of our experiences and environments. I want this environment for my young men.

That's great