Kinda wish I would have had a few now.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

As some of you know already from comments that I've made around here, I don't have any kids of my own. Long story, but going through a divorce at time in my life that I should have been having kids, then jobs got in the way, and now I'm just not in a position in my life to have kids, all just seemed to have gotten in the way of having my own family. I'm not bitter about it, but now at age 42 and seeing your all's pictures of your boys and girls kinda makes me wish it had happened for me somehow.

Not to worry too much though, I've got 4 nephews to help teach a few things to and they really love their Uncle Chris.    
My younger brother has 2 boys ages 2 1/2 and 1 yr old, then my older brother has 2 boys ages 8 and 5 who are already wearing me slick! Asking so many questions and asking to go hunting, well now the oldest one is finally mature enough and big enough to shoot a .410 so I took him squirrel hunting this past weekend.

It was more like a walk in the woods than hunting, but he didn't seem to notice.

I found the perfect way to keep him still while we were stump sitting or rock sitting and waiting for a squirrel to get close enough for a shot with the .410.....I just gave him my pocket knife and something to whittle on.      

 

[TOEJAMMER]

quick thinking saves the day and keeps the discussion hanging over your brother's head.
Smile.

[geales]

Good job, Being a great uncle is a lot of work! You gotta know just how much you can push the limits. My uncle's would always let me do things that mom and dad wouldn't. Like drive the truck by myself when I was 12    
Good for you.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Oh yeah, I know how easy it is to be passive about alot of things that I would never let my own kids do if I had some. I have to remember to think like a dad and not an uncle. I watched him with the pocket knife the whole time and kept reminding him not to get his right hand to close to the blade, and keep all of his hand on the handle. He also drew the knife towards himself a couple of times and I was quick to point out that's not a good idea. The good thing is that he listens to me very well, and he's a great kid. He just had a hard time sitting still without fidgeting and not whispering. The only way to learn is to just be out there and that's what these kinds of trips are all about.

[Big Ed]

Cool pics, thanks for sharing!!

[KellyG]

Way to go. I can say Uncles are great. My dad hunted and I learned a lot from him. At first squirrel and rabbit. Then mostly deer.  I also had a uncle that hunted squirrel as serious as most hunt deer, and I spent countless weekends hunting with him while my dad worked. I can say he played a vital role in my hunting, and seeing your post makes me realize just how much. Good luck on the next venture, and good luck.

[TooManyHobbies]

I always thought they took their shells off.  ;o)

[Killdeer]

Not in public.

Killdeer  

[lpcjon2]

The guy who invented viagra was a turtle lover

[J. Holden]

I showed my son.  He just said "Ewww".  Thank goodness he's still 10 and "it" grosses him out.

-Jeremy  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

X rated.

Best part about being an Uncle. You dont change diapers and you can drop them off a the end of the day.

Good on you for taking the kids out and about.

[toppredator]

I'm in the same position.  No kids of my own but I have 4 nephews and 2 neices.  I try to spend as much time outdoors with them as I can and I love every second with them.  Sometimes I wish I would've had my own but then I realize I wouldn't be able to spend as much time with my neices and nephews if I had my own kids.  I think it makes for a good situation.

[Mudd]

             

God bless,Mudd

[limbolt]

Good deal,I learned a great deal of what I know about hunting and the outdoors from an uncle.
I had a great dad but he was to busy making a living for us to do much hunting.Your nephew will always remember those times,I know I did.      

[dan d]

I too can relate, no kids and I'm 48. I have one nephew who is now 18, my brotherinlaw don't hunt so I got the honor of taking him, he enjoyed it a lot and helped with cutting deer trails and stuff. I don't know who was happier when he took his first deer !  
A few weeks  back he came to me and asked if I would help him try bow hunting next year ! (prior was gun hunting) I almost fell over ! He is at the age of girl chasing and typical 18 year old stuff, I think he is going to make it as a lifelong hunter !  You can easily be influential with your nephews, enjoy it.
Dan

[SEMO_HUNTER]

You know....after last weekend of spending time in the woods with my nephew I just realized something. I may have actually enjoyed it just as much if not more than he did?
I spend so much time by myself that it was kinda nice to have somebody to just pull up a stump or a rock and have a sit for awhile. Listen to the critters and take in the sunshine and fresh air with. It's refreshing to have somebody along to enjoy it all with for a change, and not just somebody....but someone who wants to be there because they want to be there with  YOU , not because they have to but because they  Want To.  
And that's a real nice feeling and makes me feel needed by somebody.

Maybe next time we will actually get a squirrel or two?  

[dan d]

[PAPA BEAR]

all these years i thought them turtles were givin each other a ride.      :rolleyes:    

[Izzy]

A lot of folks cherish an uncle as much as a dad.Good on ya and enjoy your time with your family.And just think, with all the tuition money youll save you you can take the whole family on an out of state hunt every year.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Izzy, you made a good point there. That's exactly what I meant when I said that I was at a point in my life where having kids just wasn't possible right now. If I did, I would be struggling to support them since being laid off from yet another job in the past 4 years. I know that God has a way of taking care of things like that, but there are some days when I'm not sure how to take care of myself....much less a family.
In a perfect world things like that wouldn't even be a concern, however this world is far from perfect. I'm just thankful that my brother's managed to take the next step and it works out good for all of us. They can raise them, and I'll help out with the teaching.
I've got a couple of uncles who had a hand in teaching me the ways of woodsmanship, so I'm paying it forward to the next generation.
As a matter of fact, the Bear Grizzly that I shoot is my favorite Uncle's bow that he carried around in the 70's and he passed it along to me. He came by here the other day and was very impressed how I've taken my archery skills to an entirely new level that they hadn't even dreamed of back in his day. That made me feel pretty good.