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Up and comer

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Up and comer

Postby 7mmfan » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 1]

Look out boys, there's a new hunter entering the ranks. Pretty sure I'll be able to post a clean sweep of the POM contests in 2021 now, especially if we get a puppy.

Sunday, the last day of deer season here in WA, I took my 3 year old son out for his first official hunt. I had a bear tag in my pocket, so it was all on the up and up, even though it was really just a walk in the woods. We left the house at about 10 am, it was nearly 60 degrees out and the sun was blazing. We parked at a gate I use a lot, and knew there was a new clear cut about 1/2 mile in where we weren't likely to hamper anyone's hunt. It took us nearly an hour to get there between throwing rocks into the bushes to scare bears away, looking at leaves, checking out bunny tunnels, and doing a thorough inspection of the grader the loggers had parked along the road. He is enthralled with all large machines so that was pretty exciting.

We got to the cut and found a nice log to sit on. Ate ALL the snacks, drank some hot chocolate, and made deer tracks in the dirt with a stick. After lunch, we climbed some dirt piles, played in tank traps, and tried to stalk a chipmunk. Then at about 1:00, he was done and rode on my shoulders all the way back to the truck. He was pretty upset that we didn't shoot anything, but I think he's over it. Overall, I was quite impressed with how engaged he was most of the time. Far more so than my 12 year old nephew that wants to hunt. I'll do my best as he gets older to foster that enthusiasm and keep him engaged in it as life begins throwing more enticing things at him.
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7mmfan
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Re: Up and comer

Postby 7mmfan » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 2]

Few more.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Tigger » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 3]

I remember those times well with my boys. They are 12 now and are into it big time. Make it fun, keep him warm, and enjoy it with him. After he gets a couple more under his belt, I don't see why you wouldn't strap an elk quarter to him and make him pack it back to the truck in 3 feet of snow, at -10 degrees, with a 25 mph hour wind, at 1:00 am in grizzly country. Gotta toughen him up some how!
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Re: Up and comer

Postby 7mmfan » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 4]

Tigger wrote:I remember those times well with my boys. They are 12 now and are into it big time. Make it fun, keep him warm, and enjoy it with him. After he gets a couple more under his belt, I don't see why you wouldn't strap an elk quarter to him and make him pack it back to the truck in 3 feet of snow, at -10 degrees, with a 25 mph hour wind, at 1:00 am in grizzly country. Gotta toughen him up some how!

Sink or swim right?
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Lefty » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 5]

Congratulations!Get them out their.


All my girls were in the field "hunting" or in the backpack before their first birthday

One of my big pet-peeves are guys who wont take their kids (ever) hunting.

I ve had so many students,.. were dads hunting was "his" hunting. And never took his kids.

I get riled up on this one. There was a TV segment on an outdoor show I found disgusting. A leader in the outdoorworld was taking his 16 year-old son on his first hunt, and how the son had to wait to grow up to hunt, and this hunt was going to make him a man,,,,,, WTH

Our big family thing was hunting, and yep a lot of tags went unpunched, game unseen, and life fulfilled
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Re: Up and comer

Postby 7mmfan » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 6]

I agree Lefty. You have to get them out there to experience it early and fully involve them in it I'd you expect them to develop the passion for it you have. It is, and at the same time isn't unfortunately, hard to believe a father can't put his own needs for success hunting aside to teach his kids. That's a foundation of society and the human existence.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Tigger » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 7]

I will be honest, when I first had kids I wanted to take them, but was concerned about how it might affect my hunting. By the time they got old enough to come along, that was a non-issue as i was just thrilled to take them. I now would rather them shoot one than me. Well, not all the time, but I am okay with a 3:1 ratio with me getting the short end!
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Re: Up and comer

Postby 7mmfan » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 8]

I suppose I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about decreased success, but I don't see him being able to go for long days in the field for at least a few more years. I'll keep doing local day hunts here with him, maybe some Turkey this spring, a duck or upland hunt here and there. My hope is by the time he's 6 or 7 we can make the Idaho trip a family deal and he can start going on longer outings with higher likelihood of success.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Swede » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 9]

Going out at 10 and returning at 1 sounds like my deer hunts. It is great to get kids out. It does not have to be on a hunt. It can be just an outing. Talk to them as you go and explain things you see. I suppose the boy is like me when he gets back home. He is ready for a nap. :D
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Swede » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 10]

Oh Wow! I see the boy and I have even more in common. We both can hardly wait for lunch. Good times and good memories.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby 7mmfan » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 11]

You are right Swede, it doesn't have to be on a hunt. He gets out a fair amount but all he's been talking is going hunting since the season started, so I felt it was time to go hunting. He was far more excited about going hunting than another walk in the woods, he knew there was a difference.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Lefty » 11 04, 2020 •  [Post 12]

7mmfan wrote:Y,,,,,, it doesn't have to be on a hunt.,,,,.

Young kids want to do anything with their parents.
I hunted a few times with a fellow where the son did stay home ," the dads comment" he isnt old enough to hunt"( with a gun). Dad was gone every chance to hunt,.. Dad had his business buddies he golfed with the rest of the year.
Kid took hunter safety at 12,.. never did hunt or play golf.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Tigger » 11 05, 2020 •  [Post 13]

I will also add that one on one time with Dad is so very important to raising a child. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can replace it.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Lefty » 11 05, 2020 •  [Post 14]

Tigger wrote:I will also add that one on one time with Dad is so very important to raising a child. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can replace it.


Why have kids if you cant enjoy time with them
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Re: Up and comer

Postby Swede » 11 05, 2020 •  [Post 15]

I think it is great you guys include your children when you can. I did some when my kids were growing up, but I wish I had done even more. They are gone so soon.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby ishy » 11 09, 2020 •  [Post 16]

Have to admit I was slow to take my daughter hunting. All three of my girls loved 3d shoots as young kids, but only one seemed to have it in her bones as the years progressed. She has always loved going to the Full Draw tour with me. As she got older she became the biggest complainer about hikes: boring, cold, bugs, etc... so I really drug my feet. This spring I told her I would let her shoot a bear if she could shoot my muzzleloader, pack bait, and sit in a tree stand. Well it turned into one of my favorite all time hunts. She never complained and ate up the entire experience. Hoping to get her out for a little muzzleloader elk in the coming weeks. Video is in the works. I am using new software so really slow going. Gives another level of hunting when you can share it with kids.
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Re: Up and comer

Postby 7mmfan » 11 09, 2020 •  [Post 17]

The other thing that I've noticed having a 3 year old is that kids are tough! WAY tougher than most give them credit for. If they are engaged and having fun, they'll endure pretty much any discomfort to continue doing it. That can end in an instant though and you have to be ready to bail when that moment comes. In general though they feed off your level of enthusiasm and outlook on the situation. If you're excited, enthusiastic, and happy with what is going on, they will generally take on the same stance.
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