Our Hunting Legacy

[LouisB]

Hi guy’s I would like to know how many of the fathers out there take their sons out in to the wilderness to experience it first and foremost and also enjoy the hunt that comes with it.

My reason for asking this is because of the age we live in today with computers, playstation and television who still takes the time out to go hunting with a child and teach him about the outdoors. More importantly how many kids out there still like to get away from today’s modern comforts.

I started out very much in the deep end, I wanted a BB gun and my Dad’s replay was why do you want to mess around with toys when you can do the real thing. So at the age of 6 my father bought me my first rife a .22. We started out hunting pheasants and learning more about how a rife works and the responsibility you have when you are out in the field with a rifle. A few months later I shot my first impala on our farm and once we got to camp I wanted to go and play as most young kids do but my father had something different in mind he told me that it is my responsibility to skin the impala (I had a lot of help of course) it was one of the best lessons my father ever thought me though I did not realize it then but he was teaching me to be self sufficient in the field. This lesson helps me now more than I could have ever imagined and it has made me in to the man I am today.

So the point that I am trying to make here is that the sense of responsibility that my father taught me when I was a young boy has helped me face up to a lot of the challenges that I have had in my life and will most probably continue to help me for the rest of my life.

I feel that there is so much we can learn out of being in the wild and I just hope that this will not die with our generation but that we will pass it on to future generations and leave a legacy for all the future generations to come.

I would like for all you guys to share your opinions on the matter with me.

 

[Skyline]

Both daughters had horses from as soon as they could sit on one and went hunting with my wife and I. The youngest spent several entire hunting seasons when she was five and six years old in one of our camps, living in a wall tent and dealing with hunters and trophies coming in and out. She would help skin and ate game all the time. Both learned to shoot when they were very young.

As it turns out all these years down the pike....the oldest daughter is a keen hunter and takes our grandsons out hunting all the time. The youngest is still single but just isn't that interested in hunting. She enjoys the bush, likes game meat, will still shoot once and a while, but hunting just doesn't do it for her. And so it goes.............

 

[NUys]

Well done Louis, and excellent and very important topic, one which I am very passionate about. We have a responsibility to pass not only our hunting legacy, but for the general outsdoors onto our sons and daughters.

We must give our kids the opportunity to hunt and let them decide if they like to hunt or not. Even if they don't like hunting they still learn to appreciate the outdoors, and those kids that do always seem to grow up with a better understanding and appreciation of life in general. I am lucky enough to live in the outdoors and I was speaking to a friend, and colleague, just yesterday as to how privilaged our kids are to grow up in this environment.

My father-in-law always described the bush (wilderness) as an asylum, where people go to get away from the "rat race" of their normal lives, and to heal, to recharge their batteries so that they can face there normal lives back home. I think that this is a very apt description!

 

[Macs B]

Hi guy’s I would like to know how many of the fathers out there take their sons out in to the wilderness to experience it first and foremost and also enjoy the hunt that comes with it.

My three girls have grown up following papa through the woods. It is something that I remember fondly from my childhood, and hopefully they will too. My oldest still hunts, much to the disgust of her more civil sorority sisters. Her two younger sisters go to the field with dad every chance they get. The middle one is old enough to hunt with me and on her own, the youngest is learning to track and identify game. They all can handle the dogs as well as anyone and shoot as good as anyone. I am so very pround of my girls' hunting successes. We've been fortunate to always live in regions with great access to game and general outdoor life. We've camped, hunted, and trekked all over the world together.

My next step is a family safari. I've been talking with a couple of outfitters who are geared toward familys. I'm not too concerned with the game as much as letting them expereince Africa for what it is. The camps and the hunting as it is only done in Africa.

 

[JohnHunt]

Even though my grandfather was an avid sportsman (he died the year I was born) my father never took me hunting.

I picked up the addiction myself a few years ago (I was 40). However both my son and daughter have been hunting and will go again.

I have to say it isn't the easiest sport to pick up without a mentor.

 

[LouisB]

Good to hear that there are some people out there who still take the kids out in to the wilderness.

I must say from the sound of things the girls might be giving the boys a bit of a run for their money LoL.

John the most important thing is that you took it up and from my experience one does not have to look very far to get a mentor to teach you about the outdoors and especially hunting.

MacsB the family Safari sounds great what a good why for quality family time.:thumb:

 

[BryceM]

My grandfather was killed in a hunting accident many, many years before I was born. My father was 7 at the time. He took up hunting anyway, due to the influence of many good friends. It probably helped that he lived in an area where there wasn't much else to do.

From the time I was old enough to hold a gun we've been hunting together. I also skipped the BB gun stage - same reason - gun's aren't toys, why not start with the real thing? That long box under the Christmas tree was a new .22!

My son is now 14 and we spent the day yesterday deer & pheasant hunting. We were driving along and he saw some birds on a ditch bank. "Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad!!!!!!! Stop!!!!!!!" He was furiously jamming shells into his gun. It was a great moment to circle back, ask the people if it was OK to hunt on their property, and throw a nice little stalk on the birds.

My daughter is old enough to start taking a hunter safety class later this year. She's already looking at which lottery hunts she'd like to apply for. This is the good stuff and is absolutely essential if this way of life is to survive.

 

[LouisB]

Bryce great job with the kids and tell them they just need to keep learning. Oh and kids listen to your Dad the old man will teach you a thing or two LOL.

Can we get some proud picks please Dad's.

 

[Calhoun]

...I have 3 daughters only the youngest hunts but all of the kids enjoy eatting Wild Game! The youngest one took up following me around the state of Wis. at the age of 6 for hand gun silhouette matches. She started shooting them at 12 & was Deer hunting with a shotgun the next year. She shoots very well & does alot of Deer hunting! Until she recently got married she was my hunting partner, now she hunts at her inlaws, but anyway the lessons were taught & the traditions can & will be passed down to the next generation,provided our legislatures are kept under control!!

 

[LouisB]

Thanks for your post Calhoun good going DAD sorry to hear that your kids are all grown up but I suppose it puts you in the wonderful position to take your grandkids hunting some day.

If you are ever looking for someone to hunt with I am right here.:dance: