I like seeing on here throughout the season all the pictures of youth having success hunting or fishing, and the smile on their faces and look in their eyes that tell a story they will remember for a lifetime. I still remember when I was growing up learning to shoot and hunt and fish. In the summer time my father would take me down to the river on the ranch to go fishing, and the excitement I felt every time my cork would bobble and go under. He was there when I took my first shot at a buck, leaning up against a huge old oak tree with my hand me down lever action .243, getting bit by that scope and knocked to the ground, jumping up hoping I claimed my first deer, only to see my father laughing at the lesson I learned on holding a gun properly, and assuring me there would be another chance. And a month later he was next to me when I made the shot that claimed my first deer. Many more hunts after that I shared with my father, learning more and more on the true value of hunting and why we do it. To this day i still remember the feeling and excitement I had of taking those shots, and the memories that were made along with it.
I still hunt every year and puts lots of time in on fishing and preparing for hunting season, processing animals and thankful to the Lord every day for the resources he gives us. But taking shots today don't produce the same feelings they did as a child. Don't get me wrong, my heart still races at full draw, and I still smile at the sight of a deer on the ground and thankful each time.
Almost nine years ago I became a father to my first son, and at the time I had no idea what I was in for. As the years have gone by, I've watched this boy transform into the child that I was, and begin to develop the passion I had for the outdoors. This year, after many times at the range shooting, I decided he was ready for his first deer season, and he quickly and eagerly agreed. We put in a lot of time in the blind and passed on many shots because the deer would not present the shot he needed when he was ready, and he learned the patience that comes along with it. His efforts paid off big for him this season, as I watched him not only kill his first buck, but also his first doe, and he made 2 awesome shots. The look on his face and the hours on constantly reliving the moment, describing the hunt to me and family, was just priceless. And for me, it brought the feeling back to me I had as a child. Now as a father I got to relive that excitement through my son, and I've found that I enjoy my son hunting and putting the time in and being successful more than I enjoy it for myself. He has 2 young brothers that admire him and were so happy for him, and they too are slowing coming up in my footsteps.
So I'd like to dedicate this thread to the youth following in our footsteps as hunters and outdoorsman, and to use this as a place to be able to share those memories whether through stories or photos.
Here is my son with his 2 kills this year
Banded Drake Custom Calls
I still hunt every year and puts lots of time in on fishing and preparing for hunting season, processing animals and thankful to the Lord every day for the resources he gives us. But taking shots today don't produce the same feelings they did as a child. Don't get me wrong, my heart still races at full draw, and I still smile at the sight of a deer on the ground and thankful each time.
Almost nine years ago I became a father to my first son, and at the time I had no idea what I was in for. As the years have gone by, I've watched this boy transform into the child that I was, and begin to develop the passion I had for the outdoors. This year, after many times at the range shooting, I decided he was ready for his first deer season, and he quickly and eagerly agreed. We put in a lot of time in the blind and passed on many shots because the deer would not present the shot he needed when he was ready, and he learned the patience that comes along with it. His efforts paid off big for him this season, as I watched him not only kill his first buck, but also his first doe, and he made 2 awesome shots. The look on his face and the hours on constantly reliving the moment, describing the hunt to me and family, was just priceless. And for me, it brought the feeling back to me I had as a child. Now as a father I got to relive that excitement through my son, and I've found that I enjoy my son hunting and putting the time in and being successful more than I enjoy it for myself. He has 2 young brothers that admire him and were so happy for him, and they too are slowing coming up in my footsteps.
So I'd like to dedicate this thread to the youth following in our footsteps as hunters and outdoorsman, and to use this as a place to be able to share those memories whether through stories or photos.
Here is my son with his 2 kills this year
Banded Drake Custom Calls
I’m lucky enough to be raising 2 hunting buddies myself. Nothing better in the world for me than a smile on a child’s face!!! 
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