Hand In Hand

[Marc]

Thank you for sharing!

I have two daughters (5 & 7 years old).  And both go hunting (dove and duck) with me and have been going since they were 3 years old.  My oldest has been turkey hunting, and my youngest will go this season...

When I take the kids hunting, I try to make it all about the kids...  Taking the quad for a spin, catching frogs (in the spring), looking for feathers, etc...  No extended hunts with extended periods of no movement.

My youngest is asking to go this season, and I will oblige...  Both girls can run a box call, and we will be practicing nightly (after the homework is done). 
When I take the kids I try to give them an "important job" to keep them engaged...   And I give them something to look forward to after the hunt (a quad ride, catching forgs, Mickey Mouse pancakes, etc.).

And don't forget the binoculars...

[Happy]

That was good bugster. I have three of my own and I love taking them. I have seen the bigger picture I guess. Don't get me wrong, when hunting alone or with adult friends I am still dead serious. But I have learned with kids to lighten up. We are there to have fun first and foremost. I know for me and pedro half the fun is the process. The morning drive and the little details that make our time together special. At fourteen he is starting to want to branch out on his own a little and it's only natural. I have another "shadow" that is chomping at that bit to hit the woods this fall. We are going to have some fun in the next 5-10 years. I may not pull the trigger as often but honestly it doesn't bother me at all. I love watching my boys get excited when that moment comes. I would include my daughter but she just flat out kills stuff with no emotion until afterward. When it's all said and done I want my kids to have some great memories and appreciate what we have outdoors. I didn't get that as a kid but I am determined to make that better for my children, and my "shadow".

[bamahunter]

Good one bugman, got me teary-eyed, I can picture it vividly.

Being my dad has now been gone 24 yrs, I can relate to those feelings of holding on to memories as they fad and he becomes almost a dream instead of someone who molded for me for 11 yrs. Then the Lord reminds me that I'm His son and that He's been molding me since I was 9yrs old and will continue the sanctification process until the days He custom numbered for me are complete...

[tha bugman]

Good one bugman, got me teary-eyed, I can picture it vividly.

Being my dad has now been gone 24 yrs, I can relate to those feelings of holding on to memories as they fad and he becomes almost a dream instead of someone who molded for me for 11 yrs. Then the Lord reminds me that I'm His son and that He's been molding me since I was 9yrs old and will continue the sanctification process until the days He custom numbered for me are complete...

Amen brother!

[Jbird22]

I have a 9 yr old boy who knows it all, sarcasm of course, and a soon to be 5 yr old little girl who has her Daddy's heart in the palms of her hands. Yep, I know the struggle all too well and can appreciate a post like this. It certainly was a needed reminder for me. Thanks for the post Bugman!

[Meadow Valley Man]

In 2001, I carried my dad's last Missouri gobbler out of the woods, tears rolling down my face.  I knew something was wrong, and as it turned out, his cancer had returned. He passed on March 14th, 2002. When my brother, my friend and I returned to Missouri a month later, the first thing we noticed was that we didn't hear dad dragging firewood down the camp road. That was his job-he was the fire maker.  The next morning I went to his favorite ridge, and it was like he'd arranged for that gobbler to be there.  I killed it in about five minutes after fly down. It was a moment that is as fresh today as it was then.

[1iagobblergetter]

Great read Bugman......My hunts with my Father and now my Son are my most cherished...Once my Father got old before he passed he truly enjoyed my success and always wanted to see what I had shot or gave words of encouragement.
Looking back at pictures I ask myself where have the years gone. My Son first started hunting at around 5yrs old just sitting with me at first and now he's almost 14 and now a young man.
I use to be all business and a lot more serious when hunting. After these years of hunting with my Son he's actually taught me to lighten up and have fun. I make it more his hunt than mine.
I remember a couple seasons ago after sitting for quite some time he asked if we could go and I replied just give it TEN more minutes and we'll go. I got the disgusted look and shoulder drop. When he was walking out with a 25lb bird with over a ten inch beard he Thanked me. My response was sometimes Patience pays..Later that same season after sitting awhile I told him lets go we'll try again tomorrow. He then asked me to sit longer.. I know more than smiled and within five minutes another big Tom was being carried out. His response was remember what you told me Father...Sometimes patience pays ...Ahh the memories..

[Muzzy61]

I love reading all these stories, But my allergies must be kicking in cause my eyes keep tearing up....