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I love turkey!!!! :-) Fry them every year. But sadly, I hunt mine in the store. Good hunting! :tennis: Beth

My oldest was in diapers for his first camping trip. Destiny was also in diapers for her first elk hunt. Backpacking started at 6 or 7. Shooting started at about 9 or 10, fishing the same age. Kids take to the outdoors quickly, and they are washable. I taught Nick to pee on a tree at 7, and that to play in the fire, he had to bring wood into camp. At 6, Destiny learned the wood stove was hot, but she refused to cry. Now the kids are older and have jobs, or school functions. Kristopher, some states (Oregon) have classes to teach adults how to fish, shoot rifles and bows. We also have the chance to mentor kids on special hunts. http://www.dfw.state.or.us/education/hunter/ Various hunting and fishing groups have projects needed volunteers. http://www.rmef.org/Events/StateChapterEvents.aspx California RMEF events. Those big game dinners are fun, we have attended Ducks Unlimited dinners in the past. We do not know what deer season will be this year. My knee is really hurting, so Buck Season may not happen for us this year. Or we may do day hunts from a motel this year. But, My knees will be better by elk season. Nothing beats elk hunting, nothing. We have had elk wake up by walking through camp, talking to each other and lisening to the coyotes & Wolves howl.

Wow Rick, a 300 yd run is a long run! I chuckled when you said "People do not act like this in suburbia."...There is no way I could live in suburbia. You should try actually going to deer camp once. Deer camp is a special time for a man. You get to be a MAN. Throw beer cans at your buddies. Burp, Fart, cook meat over fire and drink more beer. Then wake up at 0430 to head out to your stand. Bow hunting is different. Bow hunting is actually very cool. I prefer to spot and stalk hunt while bow hunting. During bow season, the deer aren't spooked from all the gun fire. If you know what you are doing, you can walk right up on them. After work yesterday, I was stalking a herd on my fresh grounds. This property hasn't been hunted in over 10 years. I got within 10 yds of 2 yearlings before they snorted away. I watched as the herd of about 8 ran across the open field to the wood line. I paused for a moment to watch them and then continued on. Just as I started to walk. They ran out of the woodline and back across the field. The same 8 or so deer. One buck in the mix was a big 6/small 8...too far to tell. THEN... Then the real buck showed himself. He was at the rear of the herd. He trotted out into the open field and stopped. Looked directly at my buddy and I and stomped. He knew we were there and he knew we were watching him. What a show he put on. He stood there stomping the ground and grunting and snorting. Challenging us. He was easily the biggest buck I have ever seen with my own eyes..not on tv. He stood there for a good 2-3 minutes before taking off after his herd. It was amazing. I told the property owner and he said that I could take it if I can. I told him that I will let him take it. I am after freezer meat. Bucks that big and old arent good for much else than burger. Pretty cool though. Kristopher, that is the perfect age to take a kid fishing. 4-5 is the time to turn them on to outdoor sports. Not only is it fun, it is also a skill that may save his life one day. My youngest son loves catching bass. He is 7. He is also shooting a .22 now. He started with a pellet on his 6th B-day. He loves the .22 because it actually makes noise. Now he wants a bow...

^ Well that is real positive. Fishing should be fun when first starting out at a very young age. Ryan's suggestion of simple bluegills or sunny's is a great idea. Little fish, usually bite on most anything, and easy and fun to catch for a little guy. Don't remember being quite that young and never had children. But would imagine a few hours without a catch or action would be a bit of a boring stretch for a youngster. Time spent with a small child is important. Fun time spent is more valuable and ingrained. Back to the thread about hunting. Long story, will try and be short. 2 Thanksgiving's ago, we spent some time with my (inlaw) nephew and family in central NY state. Arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and as soon as out of the truck, my nephew declares, "We're going deer hunting early tomorrow morning". Well OK, I'm up for something new and unusual. Problem is, I've never hunted and the last time I shot a gun was around the age of 12 with a 22 long at YMCA camp. He takes me out on his property, hands me a 30 ought(?) 6 rifle, and gives me 5 rounds to hit a target at ~ 80 yards. I did manage to hit it around the edges with 2 rounds, and thought my right shoulder was permanently damaged. Next morning, at friggin' 5:00 AM, we up and at it. Private property of a friend of his. Sit in a tree stand and gaze over the woods. See a few white tails running out of range, and after 4 hours go back to the house. Beer time. Next morning, drags me out of bed before the sunrise. "Let's go again!" Cracks a big smile, hands me a beer. People do not act like this in suburbia. Same place, different tree stand. Quiet. lovely morning, warm when the sun comes up. Peaceful, almost meditative., but I'm watchful. I swear that this deer appeared right in front of me, like it was "transported" from space. Maybe 70 or 80 yards away. Never saw it browsing through the field right in front of me. Took a shot. Went down to the ground, struggled up, and ran like a bat out of hell. We tracked the blood for about 300 yards and it was down. Never heard the report of the rifle, or felt the recoil. Maybe an instinctive genetic memory when man really had to hunt for food or starve.