Food For Thought..... Our Youth,Our Future.....

[woodchucker]

I'm just a normal Dad. I have 2 boys,Kevin(16) and Tyler(7),They are my Buddies.

Both of my boys shoot longbows and are regular 3-D competetors with many trophies to thier credit. Kevin has been bowhunting for several years and Tyler accompanies he on hunts whenever he can. I am teaching them to be "traditional" bowhunters.

This year will be Kevins first year to legaly deer hunt with a gun,and he is VERY excited!!!!! He has a 16ga. Ithaca Deerslayer that was given to him by my nieghbor Lew's widow after Lew passed away. I have been getting things ready for "gun season" and I noticed somthing that concerns my greatly.....

The shotguns are all collecting dust.....I can't remember when the last time I had the boys out shooting the .22 rifle..... Are we so busy teaching our kids to be traditional bowhunters that we are forgeting to teach them to be hunters..... Neglecting to teach them gun safty/handling and possibly playing right into the anti gun/hunters hands?????

When I was growing up,we were taken bird/rabbit hunting and taught to stay on line and work a piece of cover.....This was preparation for later when we would be working a piece of cover on a deer drive. Sitting quietly on an oak ridge waiting for squirrels prepared them for spending long hours on a deer stand.

I am as guilty as anyone but maybe I should start thinking more about passing on "traditional hunting" and let the boys discover "traditional bowhunting" by themselves.....  

[woodchucker]

Doesn't anyone have any comments?????

Any opinions are welcome.....

[woodchucker]

I removed this post, things don't always happen as fast as we would like and sometimes we say things we wish we could take back. Once in while we get a free one. This is your's.

Dave

[joe skipp]

Easy now Chuck...I just saw this...I agree with you. Todays young hunters should experience some good old fashioned small game hunting with .22's or 410 shotguns.
At times we are so focused on our own style of hunting we tend to forget there's another world of enjoyment out there with the smokepoles. You should have taken Kevin upstate and small gamed hunted all weekend, let him learn the woods, how to navigate, be more aware that he now has a long
range weapon in his hands. Wait until he takes his first deer with a gun, that excitement will last forever. That will definately carry over when he takes his first deer with his longbow.

[Alex.B]

I just saw this myself Chuck. And I also agree with you...and Joe.
more later, I'm tired. been still hunting in rain and wind most of the day    

Alex

[DTS]

Couldn't agree more.  Taking my little 9yr old daughter out with her new rifle to shoot a deer.  We have a week until we go and she can't hardly sleep.  She loves to shoot her long bow, 22 rifle and now new deer rifle.  Absolutely nothing more enjoyable for me than to watch my little girls hunting and get all excited when daddy shoots a hog.  The traditional way is in the heart.  God bless.  DT

[woodchucker]

Gentlemen!!!!!

I humbly oppoligize for going off "half-cocked"  

I just got VERY upset,(mostly at myself)when I saw the dust on my guns (and it wasn't just "a little" dust) and it got me thinking that in neglecting my guns,that I was neglecting my boys futures.I was so wrapped up in traditional bowhunting/archery (my boys are too BTW) that I was ignoring everything else. I was not teaching them to become hunters,I was not teaching them to become sportsmen,and I was not teaching them to become outdoorsmen.

I was focused on teaching them archery and bowhunting the way that I learned it.....Recurves and Longbows.....Backquivers and Cedar Shafts.....Being able to sharpen your own broadheads.....These are all important things that Boys (and Girls) should know. However.....when I was a boy I was taught more. My Dad took the time to teach me EVERYTHING that he could.....and I think my boys deserve the same.

[vermonster13]

I agree with you whole-heartedly. Being well rounded is a foundation for a productive, enjoyable future and life. Expose them to everything positive you can and in time their hearts will lead them onto the paths for them. Sharing what we know is as much fun as learning it was, it all becomes new again.

[woodchucker]

Thank You David!!!!!

BTW, How has your season been going?????

[DTS]

I have learned that my passions soon become my childrens passions.  It is so cool to talk with my older children and hear them say things that let me know just how much positive influence I was able to have on their lives.  The traditional way is so many different things, the archery is a big part of what identifies us as traditionalist.  I believe that respect for the traditional way is what draws us all together, the pride and passion we share in the traditional ways is what draws others.  God bless

[tamure]

I agree that hunting of all sorts is important for the kids. You never know what will really "stick" with a kid. Their interests and life situations change over time (so do adults). If they know how to hunt with all sorts of different weapons, they are probably more likely to keep hunting as their lives change.

For example, we used to shoot ducks with shotguns at the end of my parents' property. Then they sold the ranch there and put in a golf course. Now it's "congested" so you can't shoot shotguns. But I still shoot ducks with my bow there.

My uncle used to shoot a bow everyday and bowhunt exclusively. Now he has two kids in highschool, works 50-60 hours a week, and just plainly doesn't have time to practice enough to stay proficient. So he rifle hunts instead, he figures until the kids go to college.

Now I actually wish I had spent more time shooting rifles and shotguns as well as bows when I was a kid. Chukar are hard with a bow, and tough on arrows.      

Although we'd all like to see more traditional bow hunters, it's just fine to have kids grow up to be hunters, of whatever type suits them best.

[vermonster13]

Tackle/weapon is a choice. Until we help them discover hunting and instill the values/skills they need to succeed, the rest is secondary to introducing them to the hunter's role in nature.

There is plenty of time for them to develop into traditional archers or whatever else fufills their desires. The most important part is to recruit new ethical members to hunting's ranks to ensure the future opportunities for everyone.

[Paul/KS]

I see no reason why you should not have kids try out all aspects of hunting.The Ethics are the same no matter what you are carrying.
JMHO

[woodchucker]

Thanks for the support and understanding guys,I was REALLY kicking myself for a while there    

Last Sunday Kevin and I went trap shooting with some friends of mine and thier sons.We shot 3 rounds of trap and had a GREAT time. On the way home that afternoon Kevin said to me "Dad,That was REALLY FUN!!!!!    Can we do it again?????" I told him that there was one more shoot this year,and we could go if he wants to.He didn't even think before he answered YES!!!!! I also told him that every year they hold a youth pheasant hunt at the local Multiple Use Area,The Sportsmans Federation stocks a bunch of birds but the kids don't even really bag half of them and there is usualy alot of birds still running around after the hunt.I told Kevin if he wants to we could go up there and see if we can manage to hit a few.I haven't had a roast pheasant dinner in years. Kevin looked at me and said "That sounds like alot of fun,can we go next weekend????? (HAPPY DAD!!!!! HAPPY DAD!!!!!   ) SO.....GUESS WHERE WE'RE GOING!!!!!!!!!!

Well Guys.....I may not get to put a Traditional Deer on the ground this year BUT.....It sure looks like I'm gonna have a GREAT season!!!!!!!!!!    

Many Thanks My Friends!!!!!

May The Great Spirit Guide Your Arrows