Teacher, advisor, educator, what ever they are to you; aren’t you glad you have one? It’s the person who introduced you to hunting. Maybe it’s a group of individuals. One person that took you deer hunting. Another showed you how to duck hunt…
Teacher, advisor, educator, what ever they are to you; aren’t you glad you have one? It’s the person who introduced you to hunting. Maybe it’s a group of individuals. One person that took you deer hunting. Another showed you how to duck hunt…
And then you were hooked!
Dad continues to be my mentor.
Without these people, we may never have known how great hunting is. Think for a second who brought you on your first trip. Think about how much you know now. Now think about this: You might be someone else’s mentor. You don’t have to prove omniscience and pass a class to qualify. If you have the chance, all you have to do is bring them hunting with you. If you don’t know everything, (and who really does) don’t worry. You’ll figure it out together.
My father was introduced to hunting by his father and his brother-in-law. He learned a lot from them. Guess what? I soon became old enough to bring with him on trips. Everything else he learned, we learned with me. That’s part of the fun. Don’t wait ’til you think you know it all. You’ll never get to that point. Go now. Learn as you go down that trail with your hunting buddy. Start Xperiencing it so y’all can Xpand your file of lessons learned.
Sharing the Xperience.
Here’s a thankyou note from a dear friend that was written to my father and me years ago:
This was my first real hunting season and I learned so much from it. A few dove, 2 ducks, few jackrabbits and cottontails, a missed doe, and a missed coyote. Not an impressive season to most hunters. Hoewver, I gained so much knowledge and respect about the outdoors that will aid me in future seasons.
I learned that hunting isn’t a ‘gimme’ sport. Pointing and shooting definitely does not guarantee a kill. Thank God it doesn’t either. I learned that the animals we hunt are to be admired and shown a great deal of respect. Being a part of the outdoors is something that many people will never get a chance to experience. Just being outside and seeing everything the Lord created is more than enough. The kill is a bonus and a gift.
But what I enjoyed most about the season was being able to experience the outdoors with friends. Getting a chance to know a person in a way that an urban setting could never provide. Spending hours away from each other in the mornings and evenings, but all the while knowing that in the afternoons and nights every person will reunite to tell about their individual hunts. Thanks a lot guys for bringing me in, teaching me, and letting me be a part of your hunting part of life.
Sincerely,
Nic
Jan ‘05
- When mentoring newcomers, don’t forget to mention EYE RELIEF! Ouch!
It’s possible you may enounter a few bumps and bruises along the way. Regardless, it’s these “character marks” that will no doubt integrate themselves into your stories that you and your fellow hunters will be telling around the campfire season after season. Take time to thank someone who has taken you out of urban life to go watch nature at its best. Someday soon, you may be fortunate enough to take a hunter on a trip where they may enounter instant, classic, retellable, shared adventures. Get out there. Thank your mentor and let someone else “be a part of your hunting part of life”.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at 7:46 am and is filed under Deer.
The picture says a million words…
Ouch! Looks like the scope won that round. Oh, well. I bet next time that guy is all the more aware of his surroundings.
Some of us are still looking for our first hunting mentor!
- I’ve got the equipment (depending on game)
- I’ve gone to the range
- I’ve killed clay and paper
I need somebody let me tag along. Turkeys, hogs, and deer are my primary interests. Rabbit, dove, or quail would be right after those. (Well, since there aren’t many elk, moose, or bears in Texas.) I definitely need to get immersed into it before my kids are old enough to go so that I can pass it along to them.
My dad and grandpa loved camping. My grandpa loved fishing. I caught those from them – but neither of them were hunters.