The other day hunting with Jake, it got me to thinking about the first time that I shot a goose. I was 12 years old. I had been hunting geese for a couple of years at the time and we would only average about 3 to 6 geese a year. The club that my dad was a member of had leases up around the Windsor reservoir. We never hunted over decoys because we were in these box blinds that were spaced about 150yds apart and there were usually 15 to 20 in a field. The hunting wasn’t that great. Most of the shots that we had were passing shots and most of those were usually way out of range. Sky-busting is what we called it. We used 00 and 4 buckshot to hunt with. That morning was typical of most other mornings. It was cold and the geese were slow in coming off of the lake. We had one flock come over that we shot at and I can remember that the floor in our blind had a covering of snow over it that had turned into ice. As I would shoot that old 870 straight up, granted I barely had arms long enough to work the pump, the recoil after each shot would slide me across the floor until I was backed into the corner. About mid-morning another flock came over us and finally I was able to connect on a goose that was towards the back of the pack. I have killed a lot of geese since then and hunted them a lot of different ways but after almost 26 years, I can remember it like it was yesterday. I have been fortunate to harvest many animals in my brief hunting career, but the ones that stand out the most for me are always my firsts. As I reflect back on the hunting that I have done, I look at all of the memories that I have made for myself and I can only hope that my kids will be able to build there own memories and adventures. To my friend Jake and to my future best hunting buddies Jacob and Caleb. (I know that you are too young yet!) Remember your firsts, because that is where it all begins. Oh! One more thing. To my good friend Jim: “How about them Tigers!†You owe me a soda pop! It’s the first time I beat him in a bet if you are all wondering.
Archive for the ‘kids’ Category
Do you remember your first?
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008Antelope Hunting in Wyoming with the Kids
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
We made it back from Wyoming! We didn’t get snowed in but Saturday night sure did get cold. The hunting was a little off but we still managed to get some goats. We had a great time visiting with our friend Ted. He has a beautiful place right on the North Platte river that he lets us hunt on.
We all had a great time. 
This is one of the few hunts that I am able to take the whole family on because it isn’t as rugged as my deer and elk hunts and I really enjoy it.
We are never too far from the car or the camper so if one of the kids gets cold or
tired of hunting, we can always head back and it doesn’t detract from the rest of the hunt.
Ted was in the process of getting the last cut of his hay sold, so there were still some one ton bails left. Jacob and I went out the first morning and just had a great time sneaking from bail to bail trying to Indian up on some of those Wyoming antelope.
I was shooting my muzzle loader, so getting close was going to be necessary. Unfortunately my sneaking skills are just not as good as they used to be on a cut hay field so later in the day I decided to cheat and switched over to my 25-06. This made things a little easier, but the antelope just were not cooperating! I could have shot buck after buck, but those wiley old does were hanging just across the fence on the neighbors property that we did not have permission to hunt. Finally, on our second morning of the hunt, one made the mistake of jumping across the fence.
With a well placed shot, she was down and then the work (even though cleaning an antelope is fairly easy) started. We were running a little bit short on time so after a packing up camp in record time, we were on our way back home.
Like I have said in previous posts, if you have a chance to hunt antelope … you will never be disappointed.
11 year old saves home
Thursday, May 10th, 2007Now here is a little girl that you need to read about! Not only did her parents teach her the importance of gun safety, but they also taught her what to do in a situation where her life was in danger! Don’t get me wrong, I do not recommend a society of gun wielding 11 year olds, but I do think that people need to stop becoming victims. Especially in there own home!
Take your son and daughter fishing day!
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
With the weather turning nice and the ice melting off of the lakes, I’d like to suggest a “Take your son and daughter fishing day.” Before our hectic summer schedules suck up all of our extra time, remember to get out and take your kids fishing. Drown some worms, snag some rocks, hook some tree bass and maybe catch some fish! But most of all get out and share a great experience with your kids.
Growing up, my dad was not much of a fisherman, but he tried hard to introduce me to the sport and was always trying to teach me new techniques. From getting me signed up in a fly tying class, to introducing me to people that fly fished. He would milk any information from the guys at work that he could get. Then we would go try it out on the weekends. We may not have always caught fish, but it was always a good time and it was a good way to spend quality time with my folks.
Now I have children of my own and I have already started trying to get my oldest son introduced to fishing, the great sport that it is. If we can only get past the rock throwing – which I have to say, at the end of a day with no fish, is not a bad idea! – I am sure that he will become a much better fisherman than I am.
An important tip for fishing with your kids: Use barbless hooks! Not only do they make it easier to practice catch and release of fish, they also makes it easier on the catch and release of the fisherman. How is it that the teacher is the one that is constantly getting caught on the hook instead of the fish?
Take your kids fishing. They will remember it for a lifetime.
Dad, shoot the one with the big horns!
Friday, April 13th, 20072006 was a good hunting year. The best part was that I was able to spend some quality time with my six year old, Jacob. I am trying to teach him that hunting isn’t always about the killing or the size of the antlers, but rather the time that you spend out in the field and the people that you spend it with. I think that’s something we’ll have to keep working on next year!
Our first trip this year was to Wyoming to hunt doe antelope using their reduced price doe tags. Jacob had been antelope hunting there last year with me and we were able to harvest some nice buck antelope. So I figured this year would be fun as well. While I believe he had a good time, I am not sure that it was what he was expecting.
We left early that September morning with my father and my friend Tony and headed west out of Laramie for what was supposed to be a day of fun. For those of you who have been antelope hunting in Wyoming, you know that it is not very difficult to find antelope. Immediately we were upon a herd of over 20 antelope. Now remember we are using the reduced price doe tags … Jacob starts yelling “Dad, shoot the one with the big horns!†After twenty minutes of explaining that we were only hunting the females and the reasons why you need to shoot the gals as well as the guys, he turns to me with tears in his eyes and said “But I like the horns!†We talked some more, got things straightened out (or so I thought) and continued on our hunt. Shortly after this, I harvested a nice healthy doe. When my son caught up I said “What do you think?†His reply? “Neat, but how come you didn’t shoot the one with the big horns?â€
Lesson learned: Teaching a 6 year old that hunting is about more about the hunt than the size of the antlers may need some work. I am sure that most of you out there that hunt have interesting stories similar to this. Either as the one doing the teaching or doing the learning. I happened to be doing both teaching and learning that day and I am looking forward to many more adventures with my son Jacob and my 8 month old son Caleb when he gets old enough. So drop me a few lines and let me hear your adventures.
