One of the best things my father did for me was to take me out in the forest. I look back on those early experiences with such warmth. By taking me out in the woods my father was telling me, in effect, "You've got what it takes to make it in the world. You're going to be a fine man."
Hunting taught me about life and death. I found out at an early age that the cheeseburger we ate came from a real live cow who had given its life to sustain ours. I learned that it wasn't easy to bring home meat for the family table. That it took hard work just to survive.
These are the kinds of things I want my own children to know and understand. I want them to understand that the meat in the local supermarket didn't just magically appear for our benefit. I want them to understand what it feels like to take to the field on a cold autumn dawn. To know the joy of success when you come home with a couple of pheasants. To understand how to survive in the woods and to find their way home.
It may be hard for the serious hunter to accept that sometimes we will go to the woods and not have an opportunity of shooting, or that the chances could be diminished because there is somebody with you that may like to move a great deal and is a little noisy. But once you accept this and just watch your children enjoy being there with you, you can have the time of your life.
Quiet woods will only hold a child's attention for a little while and then they will look for something to do. So I take something for them to do. A pad of paper and some colored pencils will discourage them from moving around a lot and keep them occupied for a while longer. Over the years I have found some ways to make the hunt more enjoyable for everyone. One of the first things that I do is to make sure that I have plenty to eat. Some snacks and candy will usually buy another half an hour of hunting. Not that I eat any of the candy myself, it's just for the kids, of course!
Another thing to make sure of is that they are dressed warm. On cold hunts I take a sleeping bag and they stay nice and warm even if the snow is falling on us. It also helps to keep them sheltered from the wind and rain.
Now I take my youngsters with me whenever I go. The best way to keep them interested and wanting to come back is to have them see animals. They don't have to see something to have a good time, but they will tell everyone about the animals that they do see.
I use the opportunities nature gives us to try to teach them that life is not always easy and that solid effort can pay off in the end. At their young age they are now learning more about hunting and are even starting to learn to trail game. I'm hoping that I have gained some hunting mates for life.
About the Author:
Andy invites you to his Hunting Supply site at www.huntingsupply.biz
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How to pass on the Hunting Tradition to Your Children
