A follow-up to my pet peeve blog, I said I would elaborate on kids in the outdoors so here it is. I have included new hunters and fisherman too because they too are kids in the experience level of hunting and fishing. Some of this might sound familiar because when I started this on one category to my pervious blog. I had to expand on the subject.
This one is going to be a touchy one with alot of people so bear with me. I have been battling to write this for a long time but I need to get this off my chest.
Yes, we are losing hunters and fisherman in the industry, but like the old cliché’ you can take a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. They are many reasons why. More interests, convenance of fast food joints and grocery stores, the media and the instant gratification society, I believe are the biggest reasons why, but I won’t get into the reasons why…yet. I am all about getting people in the outdoors and trying to show people what God has to offer in his playground, BUT everyone is different and in this day and age. I know it’s hard to understand but it is true. People ask me why I don’t golf, my reply is “You can’t eat a golf ball”
You need to take a long hard look at you. Do you have the time, patience and sacrifice to introduce someone to the outdoors?
You have a tremendous responsiblity. You are representing not only the present outdoorsmen, you are representing everyone that has ever loved hunting. Make sure it isn’t ego or driven by something else like not being able to find or offered a babysitter. You are going to put yourself second doing all the dirty work and you will not get the high fives that you deserve. Is it worth it? I think it is but it is hard and time-consuming.
If you have a friend or a kid that is interested you better be sure that it better be a successful hunt or fishing trip. You also can’t just take them out a couple of times pat them on the butt and send them on their way. It is a long process, I still am learning from my mistakes and my friends. If not they will think it is a waste of time and you could lose them forever.
Kids are the same as adults if not worse. I don’t understand when someone takes a kid in the outdoors and takes a video game, a pillow and snacks with them. Yeah, I admit it, I do that to, in moderation. Show them different things like where you think where the deer are bedding or the different tree and why you are hunting there. Don’t go out an open up a pop up blind day care. I think you need the kid to want to go not because you want them to feel the same way as you, you can do as much damage forcing them to come out and hunt with you.
Also,don’t ever use them as an excuse of not being successful because you are hunting with them. If you say I didn’t see anything because I took my kid out and I didn’t see anything.
SHAME ON YOU!
You need to do your homework more than ever and work harder than you ever did to get them interested in the outdoors. You need to make sure you have a sweet spot and you need to make it fun, educational and entertaining.
If not, they will resent the outdoors.
I have talked to many people say they don’t hunt or fish anymore because they were forced by a parent. I’m sure they ment well but they were thinking about themselves, not about the heritage.
Also, I think you should have time for yourself, take them out every other time. I believe they will want to be out there more and will do better because they need to make the time out there count. Take people out but don’t be a guide. With today’s world and work schedules you need time to enjoy the woods or water.
Drive Safe.
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6 or 7 