I have a really different view of hunting than the mainstream. Being totally honest, I view hunting as a weakness. An addiction. A life-destroyer. Personally, I've seen it wreck marriages and put good people in bankruptcy. I've felt it bring out the greed and envy in good people, even myself. I've seen it crush lifelong friendships and bring businesses to their knees. I've even known a couple guys who lost their lives over it. My kids will hopefully never hunt. I'll do what I can to discourage it, and instead encourage them to spend their free time in more productive pursuits (education, team sports, etc.) Hunting literally almost ruined my life, and I'd do just about anything to make sure this obsession ends when I take my last breath. I battle a hunting addiction everyday, and frankly, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Stress, obsession, lost productivity, strain on relationships, time wasted, the mental and physical toll... It permeates into your social circles and even into the workplace. It's a year-long battle, just to keep feeding the lust to be out there while simultaneously juggling the rest of your life. It's financially, socially and physically crippling. My dad quit hunting because he didn't want me to start. Now I see why. There's no way I want my kids (or anyone else, for that matter) to live with this.
I was born on a pheasant / deer Ohio State farm. I can't help but love to hunt. It's never even remotely been a bad experience in my life. I can't imagine where you're coming from. But, everyone has their own slant on life.
In a few years hopefully my daughter Lydia. As of right now who's ever open for It and wants a hand shall receive!! Good thread Sunset!!
I am still having skills passed on to me! Rob, I'll be soaking up some knowledge on the boat come August. Let me gain some quick skills, and get back to you.
It's not funny either way. This probably will be the death of my marriage. It's doing a good job of making me broke. I don't own a business, but I'm sure that would have failed. I'm pretty down to earth, this probably wont bring out greed, or envy. but I might die from it some day. I don't know.
100% true story Cay. My dad really did quit hunting so that I never started. Out of all the guys I hunted with growing up, greed over whitetails and turkeys has ruined all but one of our friendships. One of my ex-best friends has an ex-wife and 2 kids that he'll never know, all because of his hunting obsession and resulting inability to keep his priorities straight. He's hunted all over the country, and as a result, is pennyless, with his life in ruins. All he's got left are a couple dozen guns, a beat-up piece of **** truck, two child support payments and a quad with no engine. Sad. His passion for hunting really did destroy his life. Another buddy of mine is well on his way to his second divorce. At least that's the rumor. Taking all four weeks of your vacation in November will do that to a marriage. LOL I've got family members whose kids look like they belong in a refugee camp, b/c dad's gotta dump his entire paycheck on his giant truck payment and credit card debt racked-up on a useless gun collection. Personally, I almost hunted my way right out of college. Twice. I lost at least one job because of it. It wrecked at least one serious relationship for me. I have to hide it in professional circles, because it's something that can cost you a job or a client. I wear the scarlet letter. I wish I could stop. But I can't. I could pick up a second job, or bill 10-20 more hours every weekend. I can't. I could sleep-in, and relax for a change. But I can't. I'd save thousands of dollars every year. But I can't stop. The "OFF" button just doesn't work, no matter how hard I press it. Hunting has introduced me to some grade-A losers. It attracts that certain lowly, scumsucking demographic. They bring you down. They bring everybody down. It's a reputation that precedes all hunters. The stereotypes . . . like all stereotypes - are all true. Your only defense is to walk the moral high road and try to distance yourself. I know I've had this conversation with others before. Maybe it's the unsavory crowd that hunting attracts. Maybe it's the socioeconomics of the whole situation. . . .
Smart man, on the boat is where I have the most skill to pass on . In the "woods" I'm not so sure of...
My 15 year old daughter shot her first deer this past fall. One shot, one deer. She's keeping up the family tradition quite nicely. not only hunting, but she's been baiting her own hooks, driving the boat, and cleaning fish for quite a while now. My 4 year old daughter is daddy's little outdoors girl. She loves to fish, walk in the woods, and has been saying ever since her big sister shot her deer that she's going to shoot a buck next fall. I took the girls to the MN Deer Classic last weekend and we had a blast! My 11 year old step son just got his first bow this past Christmas, and he's been bugging me to take him shooting ever since. Cool thing is, the 15 year old is gun only. She isn't interested (yet) in bow hunting at all. The boy says he has no interest in the gun hunting, but wants to bow hunt. I've got a partner no matter what! I totally disagree with you on this, Quicksilver. I know for a fact that hunting is one of the things that brought me, my brother and dad closer together. We look forward to spending the time in the woods together. It's also given me friends that I otherwise wouldn't have. I know that it's brought me and my kids closer as well. I have to question someone who allows his passion to become so consuming as to allow it to destroy his family. Something isn't right with his priorities. Hunting, fishing, and the overall outdoor lifestyle can bring a family together if it's done right.
Wow! No one ever takes Quick seriously when he's serious and now everyone takes him seriously! Dude, you can't win!!
My initial reaction to his first post was "good one". It was the second that made me think he was being serious. If he is serious, I disagree... if he isn't, well... Guess I don't know him well enough to have seen the humor? :huh:
My boys, first and foremost, they absolutely love living were we do, hunting and fishing. We shoot our bows a lot, we were out till dark last night! I am a NASP instructor as well. So a couple hundred kids a year pass through our archery program here school. When you see the alternatives kids choose these days to the outdoors, I am happy to share options.
Great post Jeff. I remember a conversation we had a couple years ago on HNI about you hunting with your son. I dont remember exactly how it went, but it was something along the lines of you wanting him to get into bowhunting i believe. Thats good that you encourage your son to hunt at his own pace. My dad was the same way, and now i FAR exceed his desire to get into the woods and hunt. Im glad he took me all those years ago for the first time.
My first was my brother, the guy in the middle ... next was my oldest nephew, on left another of my oldest nephew from last year Here is the brother of my oldest nephew .... he just got stationed in Alska for a few years ... he is stoked ... he got the place he wanted .. he wanted it for the hunting :d Andthen there is Andrew .... I have soooooo many other pictures I have to scan or transfer ...... These are some of my "students" :d
Jeff, my step-son was much like your son ... only now at 21 has he started to show some real interest ....
I have introduced a few friends to bowhunting. None of them have killed anything yet though so maybe I'm not a very good teacher. :d
