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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I spent this evening as I have spent many over the last few years, helping one of my sons get a nice buck field dressed and registered. Keith shot this buck at about 4:30 from 40 yards out, dropping it nearly in it's tracks with his bow. Tomorrow, we will cut, grind, and wrap the deer for the freezer, to enjoy after a day of Match Fishing for muskies next summer. We both are looking forward to rifle and black powder season so much it is hard to verbalize. I know there are quite a few young fathers on the board. I'm not going to get all soupy and emotional, but I will say this: Take your kids into the outdoors. I took Keith and Brian out west hunting, to Canada fishing, and locally hunting and fishing since they were VERY young so they would know the Coyote's call, the Grouses drum, the snort of a whitetail, the chatter of a squirrel, the likely location of a snowshoe hare; the best place to catch crappies,bluegills, and perch, and the hotspot for muskies and the lure needed to put one in the net. Teach them how to hunt, track their quarry, and fish. Teach them how to clean, store, and prepare the fish and game chosen for the freezer, and instill a true conservation ideal for the fish and game passed but remembered or released to fight another day. The reward? A night like I enjoyed tonight, where a hand shake, and a "Great job, son!" is all that matters. Does it get any better than this? No, I don't think it could.
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Outdoors or indoors...it's all about "Time with Dad and child". Whether we are castin', blastin', or pickin' our guitars in the bedroom we can never have those moments back. Your advice is well put, Steve. Every day...every moment....every memory...a gift from God! | |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | One of the greatest gifts my dad gave me was sharing with me his love of fishing. He learned it in the lakes of Minnesota, first around Detroit Lakes, then Minneapolis, and when he married mom and moved to East Tennessee he couldn't believe the open water year-round. One of my first memories is being curled up in the bow of a V-bottom rental boat while dad and Howard Baker, Sr. fished for bass on new year's eve. I was told later that Mr. Baker could not believe how good & patient a 3 year old could be in a boat.
I've tried to share that with my kids, looks like some of it took. Now my son Jon is not just a fisherman, he's got a muskie under his belt! Just fish it! m | |
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Posts: 1438
| Amen, Mr. Worrall, Amen. | |
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Posts: 346
| Take that PETA... | |
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Steve, you are very lucky for a couple of reasons. First you learned from your father what your teaching your kids today. But also remember that what your kids are learning will be passed on to their kids in the future. Really makes you stop and think about what kind of impression we have on our younger generation. I lost my father when I was in high school and never had the pleasure of seeing his face after I bagged my fist buck, or landed my first muskie. But what really matters is that he left a lasting impression on all of his children. That impression of traditions and love for nature and the great outdoors was a priceless gift. I see my brothers and sisters passing this same gift on to their kids today. I think that what many fail to realize, is that when you teach a child about ethics and personal responsibility when fishing or hunting, it sets a sound foundation for all aspects of their lives. When I see a sunset on a Canadian lake or watch the woods come alive on a fall morning, I feel as if I am seeing it through my fathers eyes. So next time any of you feel too tired to take your sons or daughters fishing or hunting, just remember that your wasting a great opportunity to make a lasting impression on them. But it also goes both way’s ya know. For all the grownup sons or daughters who benefited from having parents that took the time to teach them about the great outdoors. You owe it to them now to take them out fishing or hunting. So weather you’re a father taking his son or daughter deer hunting for the first time, or a son taking his father on one last hunt. Be careful out there this season and good luck! Ed Spoerl | |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I had my 8 yr old in the tree with me last night and we rattled in an 8 pt but no shot. As he left I stopped him and turned him three more times with the antlers. My 8 yr old told me later that when the buck was there, he forgot that he was cold. My 7 yr old has much better eyes than me (I'm colorblind, not good for blood trailing) and was so excited to have me teaching him how to track a downed buck I shot sunday evening. He held the light for me while I field dressed it and was there for support when my leggs were burning dragging it up to the house. I am in the middle of doing a European mount with the skull for his bedroom wall. He figures that this is his deer. I gave the deer away but had to promise that I would get the antlers back for him.
Yes nothing like the quality time spent with your kids. You can't buy it and you cant ever get it back if pass on it now.
Also it is not just kids..I got my dad out fishing a couple of times this year. He truely had a great time, even caught a Musky. Not too many years left for me to be able to get dad out in the great outdoors.
aww shucks I had better quit. see what you started Worrall. | |
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Posts: 148
Location: DES MOINES, IOWA | Steve, great post.What,s even better is seeing your grandkids going on their first Musky trip, and going hunting. The torch being passed on.I had the fortunate luck of being raised to enjoy the outdoors, and trained by my grandfather, and dad to use the tools of the trade. My best hunting/fishing companions are my kids, and the time we spend in a boat or in the field is priceless.My grandson was the fourth generation to fish Muskys in Sabaskong, and the main reason I can,t tear myself away to fish Musky,s somewhere else.Too many memories, and too much tradition. | |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | I am in my glory when I have my kids in the boat. I enjoy helping them more than I do fishing myself. I plan two week long vacations and I do my best to pick a destination that's better for them than for me. I can remember my kids first fish of just about every species they caught. I remember my olest son't first pike. He was 5 and had a jig with a was worm on it panfishing. He has a perch on. I brought my lure in and then he says dad i can't hold on to the pole! I look at it and i tell him that something just grabbed your perch. Luckily the jig hooked the pike and that's all he wanted to fish for the rest of the week. | |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Keith and I started at 8:30 and washed the last pan and knife at 11 PM. His buck now represents 45 packages of ground venison or steaks for the grill; stacked carefully in the pastry freezer we store the new venison in for the winter. A perfect ending to the bow hunt for the year! We talked about his baby (to be born in March), icefishing, and the coming rifle and black powder season. All in all, another great evening! Keith is 23, and I am a lucky man.  | |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | "Blessed", Steve. Luck could not possibly provide us with so much happiness.....at least that's my experience. Great stories everyone! | |
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Posts: 276
Location: in front of my comp | Steve Nice shot and a nice buck for sure. If you run out of room in the freezer... | |
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