Hunting Season Is Here!

[Marc]

Now, I enjoy turkey hunting, but my passion is wing shooting...  September 1st marks the opening day of hunting season for us here, and ever since I was a small child, it has been an exciting day; now I am trying to pass on that enthusiasm to my own kids.

Turns out the shooting was a lot slower than expected, and it took me a while to get my birds, and the kids were a  bit more of a handful  than expected...  By the end of the afternoon, we looked a bit like a homeless  family , and I am sure I aged about 10 years by the end of the afternoon, but both children are asking to go again, and fun was had by all.

Sisters (Kierra age 5 and Saidee age 3):


Group photo with my sister in the mix:


Kierra took a great picture of Saidee and myself.  Kierra is the veteran hunter, but this was a first for Saidee. 


Final count was a limit of mourning dove and a few bonus Euro dove in the mix (and the girls fighting over the BB-gun):


Crazy picture for a crazy day:

[1iagobblergetter]

Congrats. Looks like a lot of good fun. I love to go hunting with my son also. Even if everything doesn't go well according to grown up standards I tend to forget the few little discrepancies and remember the good..

[Farmboy27]

Sounds like a great day with family. That's what it's all about!

[sixbird]

Awesome Brutha'! Looks like a nice little family. Girls look like sweethearts and that dog...I WANT THAT DOG!!!
Some great memories there...

[mtns2hunt]

Good to see a family having fun! Us old Geezers had a blast on our opening day yesterday. Wondering if that dog was retrieving birds many will not.

[Marc]

Awesome Brutha'! Looks like a nice little family. Girls look like sweethearts and that dog...I WANT THAT DOG!!!
Some great memories there...

Monte, he is 12 years old, and this is the first year he has shown some signs of his age...  Still runs hard the whole hunt, but is a bit more quiet at home when we are done now.

I have owned several great dogs, and they each have their qualities and faults.  Monte has the best nose of any dog I have ever hunted over, and has maintained his youth a bit better as well.  Terrific dog to hunt over, lies still, and takes off like a rocket when I send him.  His biggest fault is that he is a bit over affectionate, and he believes he is a lap dog.

I have a pup in training, so this is the last season that Monte will be my primary hunting partner.  Next year he will be sharing hunts.

Thank you all for the kind replies.

[hookedspur]

Great Pictures of what sounds like a very memorable hunt...

[Happy]

Those girls must be pretty wicked with that bb gun.  great pictures and glad you guys had fun.

[ncturkey]

Congrats on your awesome opening day success. Great pictures

[MISSISSIPPI Double beard]

Congrats on a fine hunt!

[jepcho]

Congrats!  Looks like a lot of fun. I am excited to take my 9 year old little girl on her first deer hunt during youth season here in about a week and a half!  We will see how she does.

[Marc]

Congrats!  Looks like a lot of fun. I am excited to take my 9 year old little girl on her first deer hunt during youth season here in about a week and a half!  We will see how she does.

I make the hunting and fishing trips with the kids about the kids...  They did not need to be in camo, but it made it a bit more fun...  Finding downed birds, handing me shotgun shells (even though they are in my vest), watching for dove...  And making it entertaining and making sure there is entertainment for them.  Yeah, and they really enjoyed making "dirt castles."

I took the oldest turkey hunting last season, and she did NOT enjoy the experience.  Had to sit too still, and we had some ant issues (which she is terrified of), as well has her feet getting cold (which was probably the biggest deal breaker).

Make sure you have "special snacks," warm clothing (especially for their feet), something to entertain them (binoculars and a BB-gun are great for my oldest), and make sure you involve them and make them feel useful in the experience.  "Sit down and be quiet" does not work out so well as far as creating enthusiasm for the activity.

Post some pictures up of the experience, and good luck!