Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: MnFn on July 14, 2023, 09:25:03 AM
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The recent topic on Say What? got me thinking about my deceased Uncle Gene. I was blessed to grow up in a hunting family. I started out tagging along with my dad, two uncles and grandfather deer hunting ( with rifles).
At about the same time, my dad and my Uncle Gene independently started hunting with a bow. My dad and mom bought a 40# bow for my 13th birthday. My dad was just starting himself and didn’t know much about shooting a bow.
One day I visited my Uncle Gene and he had a target butt set up in the back yard. I asked if I could shoot some arrows as I had brought my bow with. He said sure.
After watching me shoot he asked if he could offer some help. First thing he did was affix a nock set on my string and helped me settle on an anchor. And that was about all he did, but I was hooked for life.
That was about 1965 and last summer I had the privilege of tutoring my grandson.
Thanks Uncle Gene!
And a BIG thanks to Tippet for selling his used Liberty Classic to me for my grandson.
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I too have the privilege of teaching my grandson about archery. He lives in a big city, and he comes up here to the mountains for about 3 weeks in the summer. My wife picked him up at the airport yesterday and this weekend we're going to start the fun. He'll be using my wife's longbow because they're both right handed and I'm, well, not.
My Dad brought my brother and myself up camping, fishing, and hunting. But he wasn't an archer and didn't hunt big game, so it was pheasants, ducks, and rabbits with a shotgun. I didn't get into bowhunting until later in life, wish I had started as a kid. I'm giving my grandson that opportunity now. :archer2:
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Love it :thumbsup: :archer:
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:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire: :thumbsup:
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Nice work Grandpa. I could have saved myself a lot of headaches if I would have had a mentor. Self taught on everything. G Freds books helped me get over the hump. Im involved with one Grandson at the moment. Hopefully it sticks. Nothing better than seeing that smile...
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Nice work guys. I’ve mentored for as long as I can honestly remember. I mentor personally, take kids from archery or hunter ed classes, NWTF, or just somebody puts them in contact with me. Fellas who mentor know were more blessed in helping than we ever bless the mentee. Now I need to say something. Eventually most guys get to the point the kids are grown and grandkids may not be around yet or old enough. Don’t stop mentoring. There’s some kid down the street would def come shoot with you if you invited him. Maybe get them ready for their hunter ed test, take em on a first hunt. Who knows one day when the hills are highest he may be the one helping you drag but it shouldn’t stop at the “he”. Don’t forget the girls or all the single moms. Lots would come as well if invited.
I commonly line kids up even before they’re old enough talking to mom. It’s important we do so.
I’ll relate a neat story. Years back I was in a mostly trad shop teaching archery. The owner had some woman come in said her daughter needed a mentor. Her dad divorced from mom, would not take her. She’d pay. The owner gave my number and I set up meeting. I set up the kids bow and once ready said I take her but mom had to come (I wasn’t bringing a little girl in the woods alone) and no money could exchange hands.
First day out we got her a decent turk, we helped her tag her first buck and lots small game. She’s now a sergeant in the marines and a great kid but that smile still warms my heart and I still talk to her mom.
Pic of our first hunt, look at what a great smile
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Atta boy bud nice work... Fantastic..
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I mentored my kids and now my granddaughters, but you guys have me beat! :thumbsup: