Privileged

layoutshooter · Nov 10, 2011

I had the wonderful privilege to hunt with 3 fine young people today. 2 boys and one girl. All were 11 or 12 years old.

I spent about an hour in the layout boat with the 12 year girl. She was riot to hunt with. She missed almost everything that came in. Her "style" of shooting, very slow, caused me to either miss or not even get a shot. I will never forget her squeal of delight and excitement when she finally got a nice drake bufflehead.

It was kind of sad to hear all 3 kids tell their stories of how they are made fun of and ridiculed in school because they hunt, shoot guns and bows and spend a lot of time with their parents.

"Johnny" (not his real name), from New Jersey, related a story about one teacher who told him that he was a very "bad kid" for hunting and that because he did he was likely to grow up to murder someone.

How sad that normal human activity is treated like this.

How wonderful it was to be given a chance to help shape these great kids into adults who have an understanding of the realities of life.

The day was capped off when Mrs. Layoutshooter made tonights dinner. A fine feast of fresh duck, that I shot and cleaned, never frozen. Full of flavor and great satisfaction.

I am more than thankful for days like today. I am a very blessed man.

Slacktide · Nov 10, 2011

That is fantastic that you take the time out of your time off to spend time with those kids. Is it some sort of program or just friends of the family? Either way it is a wonderful thing you are doing. I commend you, enjoy the rest of your time.

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layoutshooter · Nov 10, 2011

They are family of the friends that I hunt with. The boy from New Jersey is here with his parents visiting my hunting partner. They are cousins. I will get to hunt with him again tomorrow and the entire crew of kids again on Saturday.

Slacktide · Nov 11, 2011

Some of the best memories from my childhood are of the time spent with my father in the woods and on the water. It is my opinion that those times helped shape me in to the man I am today. There was so much more to that time spent than just the hunting and fishing being done. It afforded time to talk about a multitude of topics and bond along with lessons of responsibillity. Things would be so much better for our up and coming generation if more parrents took the time to do what my father did for me and what you and the parents of those children are doing.

LisaLouHoo · Nov 11, 2011

I was never one of those kids who was embarassed by their parents. My dad taught us all how to handle and respect firearms, he taught my sister and me how to wire, plumb, change car tires and oil (so we wouldn't feel dependent on others); mom taught us cooking, sewing, and budgeting.

I was fortunate, if you will, to be with my dad while he was still conscious and aware the last week if his life. I was able to tell him how much I appreciated him and loved him and couldn't have chosen a better father had I been given the opportunity.

My mom is my best girlfriend in my adult life.

My parents spent REAL time with us. I can't, nor do I want to, ever forget that.

I go through life with what I learned from them and adore how I was taught.

"Bruises fade and bones will mend-but a psyche can be ruined FOREVER" : LisaLouHoo, c. 2008

layoutshooter · Nov 12, 2011

It is now early Sat morning and we are preparing to take those same 3 kids, plus one more, out onto Lake Erie for another duck hunt.

Slacktide · Nov 13, 2011

layoutshooter said:
It is now early Sat morning and we are preparing to take those same 3 kids, plus one more, out onto Lake Erie for another duck hunt.

How did the yougin's do sat? Did they step up their game and take down their elder's final count?

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layoutshooter · Nov 18, 2011

Slacktide said:
How did the yougin's do sat? Did they step up their game and take down their elder's final count?

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The last youth hunt did not go so well. The kids were great but we had a problem with our primary tender boat. The ignition switch burned up and we could not start it. We always have at least one back up tender boat so we picked up the layout boat and decoys and came back in. We only managed 4 ducks prior to the problem. All 4 were taken by the kids.