What’s changed? Why?

[Floki]

So I’m sure this will start a bees nest sorta speak. Anyhow, it’s purely my own opinion and thoughts, so it’s not meant to down anyone,or hell I may not even be right.

Anyhow, looking back when I was about as tall as Jimmney Crickets nut sack. My dad took me in to the woods. I guess I would say he didn’t have the best “Woodsmen ship, or maybe he did have the best.

Sorta A lesson in the learning maybe. But every branch he held back walking to where we were going he let go right at the right time. Ninety percent of the time.Face smack. I learned to put my hands up quick.

A lot of nights when we went coon hunting I would wake up to a dog barking with nothing but a flash light and a sandwich. No one was beside me. Usually the dog was treed within a couple hundred yards and I would make my way there. I would always ask why he left me, he would say we’re here to hunt not sleep.

The days we went rabbit hunting after a certain age, I was in charge of cleaning the game killed. Yeah I fugged some stuff up but eventually I got it down. I was showed once or twice and then it was what I was.

Pretty much the same when we went fishing. He taught me how to Bass fish then how to clean fish. The Process had to be double edged for both of us, slow and strenuous.
I guess what I’m getting at, is the lessons he taught me was to be independent. Sometimes in life your going to get smacked in the face in life. Sometimes your gonna fugg shit up! By golly tho if your going to do something be there for that purpose and that purpose is the goal.

So to the point.Last year I let my kid take a Nintendo DS with him while we hunted. I had a Certain time frame he could play with it,then shut off time. Looking back I totally regret doing this. Hunting isn’t playing games, looking at a screen.

Hunting is being at one with where you sit on what ever hill your on. Yeah there’s a lot of down times. Yet there’s so much more to learn and see than adding a game to things or screen time. What ever happened to a sandwich some hot chocolate or coffee and the view?As many years as most of us have spent in the woods. There’s so much to teach from birds, thermals, trees,bugs,the sun from east to west, the sky’s the limit.Yet just being still and watching is important.

I’m pondering what I’m really teaching my kid and what I should actually be teaching him.

This year the will be zero screen time/game time. This year will be a learning time for him. If not I feel in his future as a dad every deer blind will need an xbox 360, two laptops, Two I phones, A latte machine and some Tinks 5000.

Looking back I have a lot of stories with my dad.No matter the lessons Or how bad I thought it was. There never was a day that I ever thought in my mind I don’t want to go hunting. It was always a yes.

In hindsight, It shouldn’t take games and candy, maybe candy, Ugh, sugar highs but I firmly believe, there shouldn’t be any screen time involved. That time is sacred. As a parent A father, I firmly believe there’s no time for electronics, games , I pads etc.

Maybe a book. Looking back I feel I was taught right. Yet now, I contemplate why there’s a need to have games, laptops, IPads etc in a hunting blind with you.

What is so wrong with old school?Really ask yourself what went wrong, or why the change.

 

[tracker 6]

Yep , Same life I lived .

 

[Crappieking15]

I guess it’s just the way people want to entertain there children so they don’t have to... it’s easier to send them off to la la land in front of a tv and so to speak forget about them... I have five children no gaming stuff in my house my oldest daughter has a cell gone because she likes to stay home by her self and sometimes watch my younger children for allowance money... teaching them to work forbwht they want right.. also they are involved in cheer gymnastics 4h volley ball hunting fishing school and there normal chores they must do every day to earn there allowance money every Friday.. furthermore just my opinion the busier they are the more they will stay out of trouble and not care what joe or Susie has... not saying there’s anything wrong with entertainment things but there a time and place for them and parents need to set times on how long they can use them... lastly there is no one to blame other than the parents who provode this stuff for them.. all I hear is people bitching about these kids don’t want to work and are lazy well maybe some of these parents need to look in the mirror at them selves..

 

[giles]

We went wrong. My kids are at the ages now that they don’t want to take games or don’t get them out of the pack. It was a stepping stone to get them out. Nothing wrong with you raising you boy the way you want. Just have confidence in what you do and enjoy!

 

[brock ratcliff]

I went hunting with my dad and my brother growing up. We hunted a grand total of maybe half a dozen Saturday mornings a year. It was almost always cold. We had poor equipment, I don’t know how my brother and I survived. We hardly ever killed anything. I don’t really remember seeing that much game come to think of it. Yet somehow I learned to love hunting. My kid took games with him. I let him fool around with my phone. I’ve spent a small fortune on gear for him. He hunts more in a week than I would have in an entire season.... and somehow, he would rather hunt than anything in the world. Honestly, I think introducing a kid to the woods is all that’s needed. I don’t think there is anything wrong with letting an active youngster entertain themselves during the down times

 

[Floki]

I was always told crying only makes your face wet. Harsh but true. Problem solving makes ya smile.

Yep , Same life I lived .

 

[Floki]

I went hunting with my dad and my brother growing up. We hunted a grand total of maybe half a dozen Saturday mornings a year. It was almost always cold. We had poor equipment, I don’t know how my brother and I survived. We hardly ever killed anything. I don’t really remember seeing that much game come to think of it. Yet somehow I learned to love hunting. My kid took games with him. I let him fool around with my phone. I’ve spent a small fortune on gear for him. He hunts more in a week than I would have in an entire season.... and somehow, he would rather hunt than anything in the world. Honestly, I think introducing a kid to the woods is all that’s needed. I don’t think there is anything wrong with letting an active youngster entertain themselves during the down times

Yeah that’s where dad went wrong he didn’t buy me the right gear. Probably cause he couldn’t. But the universal saying was crying only makes your face wet. Walk in place till your warm son. Etc.

Fortunately I can afford to keep my kid set. In defense of my father there was no youth season back then. I’m just saying overall. Time in the woods is in the woods. What I believe made men go to the woods and hunt, was the getaway from everyday life. With a teaching about it. Disconnect..

I miss him, I often I ponder life lessons.

 

[Big Weff]

I'm probably one of the younger members on the site and therefore dont have the same experience or perspective but I would have to agree that as my sons get older and get more active in the outdoors I will have a no game system policy. I grew up in the og gameboy era and never once asked my dad to take it hunting with us. I think there were 2 reasons for this, I knew what the answer would be and I didn't want to see the look of disgust on his face haha. Never once did I turn down the opportunity to go hunting just for the fact of I couldn't take a game with me. Dont see why it should be any different for my kids.

 

[OO2]

All these dang millennials

 

[giles]

I think I’m the only one here that has met your boy. You are doing a fine job, don’t let yourself get in the way.

 

[Floki]

Anyhow life’s good. Just food for thought.

 

[Bigcountry40]

I have been on this band wagon for years and have actually gotten a fair amount of criticism, I would like to take it a step farther and get rid of youth gun season. I hate how kids are today, its not just in hunting, adults feel like we have to entertain and cater to their every need. My dad never took me hunting, he hates it, I went with my uncle who basically forced me to run as a boy to keep up and be the "dog" and kick all the brush piles getting thorns in every body orifice. I went rabbit hunting with a group which my buddy brought his 12 year old son. The entire hunt had to be catered around the boy getting shots, after 2 rabbits that wasnt enough, I have had similar experiences with other buddies and their kids. The fathers never made any of the boys walk through brush or put in work. I am all about kids getting a shot, but not every fuggin hunt has to be about spoil little boys s, its hunting, children are seen not heard. end of rant

 

[giles]

 

[Crappieking15]

Most importantly is to keep kids interested fishing or hunting teaching them your not always going to bag a deer or bring a basket of fish home... it’s about spending time with on another and relaxing getting away from all the hustle and bustle... making memories that you will never forget and to grow stronger as a family and friends

 

[Hunter II]

I never hunted out of a blind as a kid. Tree stands were exactly that. A piece of plywood with homemade angle iron brace. You stood the entire hunt unless you were lucky enough to have a branch to sit on. There were times when I all I had was a branch to stand on. When you hunt like that it’s hard to play with anything.

I’m still pissed my oldest had to spend every fucking labor at football practice because “we labor on labor day”.


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[brock ratcliff]

I have been on this band wagon for years and have actually gotten a fair amount of criticism, I would like to take it a step farther and get rid of youth gun season. I hate how kids are today, its not just in hunting, adults feel like we have to entertain and cater to their every need. My dad never took me hunting, he hates it, I went with my uncle who basically forced me to run as a boy to keep up and be the "dog" and kick all the brush piles getting thorns in every body orifice. I went rabbit hunting with a group which my buddy brought his 12 year old son. The entire hunt had to be catered around the boy getting shots, after 2 rabbits that wasnt enough, I have had similar experiences with other buddies and their kids. The fathers never made any of the boys walk through brush or put in work. I am all about kids getting a shot, but not every fuggin hunt has to be about spoil little boys s, its hunting, children are seen not heard. end of rant

You’d hate hunting with me. Don’t sit by the mailbox waiting on an invite. Lol. I love to run out beagles. I rarely take a gun but my son and his friends pile carcasses. Call me weird but I’ve killed enough stuff. You apparently have not.

 

[xbowguy]

I know every kid is different. So whatever it takes to get them out there and get that seed planted...Do It.
I would rather take a kid and watch them get a deer then shoot one myself anymore. I remember several years back having ZJ in the blind with me. It was extremely cold wind blowing hard I mean it was snowing sideways and you couldn't hardly see past 25 yards. I seen him shiver and ask are you ready to go home? He shook his head no and I was amazed because I was ready to go home. About 10 minutes later a real nice nine-point came out of the snow storm somehow from somewhere and he harvested that deer. He taught ME something that day....Priceless!

 

[5Cent]

This is what I love about this site, great topic but you know you're gonna get both sides of the line on the responses. While I completely understand where you are coming from Floki, I disagree and can hope that the choice to bring something to keep them entertained is what keeps them engaged and coming back for more time with dad.

There were hunts/years where I swore I was gonna die on that huge cold rock in the middle of the Allegheny NF hunting with my uncle and cousins, but that was deer camp. No TV, outhouse, gun drawings, etc. It was different. I also believe that today's hunting is different. From the guns/bows we use to the personal and safety gear.

I will happily bring a small electronic, where my biggest fear is he switches on the noise lol, so he can be by my side, the conversations that wouldn't happen do happen, and where doing something new and just he and I is happening.

I will be the first to raise my hand and say that I spend too much time on my phone when in the stand. Would you feel different if it is a rubix cube, crossword puzzles or a book? People pass time, we have just found more entertaining ways to do it.

Trying to figure out if it's the old school, stay focused 100% of the time or it's just electronics that trips u're trigger. If I am trying to introduce a young'n, I'll make the sacrifice. But if it's a hunt where I am after meat or chasing a buck, it's full attention. If it's a hunt I traveled a good distance for or have $ out of pocket, it's all business. Most of the time there isn't a big buck to chase, meat in the freezer is good ....I'm just there to clear my mind and bend the ear of friends and family who have passed.

Lots of different scenarios and reasons I guess is what I'm trying to say....

 

[bowhunter1023]

"It sucked for me, so it has to suck for you." Implementing Hammurabi's code into your parenting is a surefire way to make sure your kid's hate doing what you love doing. The "old school" tends to treat the "new school" with this "eye for an eye" approach. Those same people tend to ignore the concept of "continuous improvement" and lead lives of quiet desperation as they long for days past. They blame the new generation for being different, but make no effort to get to know them, and often forget they too were a "damn kid" at one point. Don't blame the kid. Don't blame the generation. And don't blame the device. Look inward and challenge yourself to connect with your kids in a way that's unique to you, your kids, and this point in time. Don't take the easy way out and say: "Well, this is how I did it, so you have to do it too..." That's just being lazy.

 

[Tipmoose]

Ive introduced five people to hunting over the years. Four adults and 1 early teenager. None of them took games or electronics to the stand other than their phones and they left them in their packs.

My gf's son enjoyed the chance to go out and shoot at some doves and explore. We went tree rat hunting quite often and have stories to tell about it. He's bagged a deer almost every time he's been out. He prefers comfy box stands and a chair...and yes, he falls asleep. That tendency was cured one day when I shot a deer while he was dozing.

I think the most important thing is to keep them interested when they first go out. I want their first few trips to be easy and fun. If its work, or unpleasant, then there is a very good chance they won't go a third time. Zach is 18 now and will happily go deer hunting with me...but will pass on dove and squirrel now. He passes on dove because he went five times in a row and we took home 3 birds. Its hot and boring to him. He doesn't kill tree rats anymore because he doesn't want to eat them and cleaning them is a pain.

I know when he has kids of his own he will take them hunting and will bring them to me so the three of us can hunt. That's more important to me than arbitrary rules. Maybe I will get him back out onto a dove field one day too.