The Most Rewarding Time

Hunting with my son is one of the most rewarding things that I have experienced. We started several years back with the two of us participating in open day dove hunts. These beginning hunting trips to the dove fields slowly progressed to deer hunting and then to duck hunting. Some of the most rewarding times of my life were spent in a deer stand and a duck blind with my son when he was at a very young age.

Then the most terrible thing happened. He began to grow up, discovering girls, video games, friends, paint ball, etc. He made fewer and fewer hunting trips with me as he found other avenues and playmates to occupy his time. My companionship and expertise was no longer required and I found myself without a steady hunting partner except for that traditional opening weekend dove hunt. These dove hunts started off when he was very young and have encompassed a three-state area over a 12- year period.

The years have passed and my son has grown up, but each year, he still reserves the Labor Day weekend to spend time on a traditional dove hunt with his “old man”. Immediately following each of those dove hunts, I begin anticipating next year’s hunt. I wouldn’t trade those weekends for anything.

The last few years have been especially rewarding as he has become a very good wing-shot, nor does he now require a constant train of food or entertainment. In fact he has killed as many if not more birds than I have. He does rib me a little about my advanced age and tends to over orate about his shooting skill, but at the same time showing a little mercy for his old man’s lack of youth, creaking bones, bad feet, poor eyesight, faded hearing, and everything else that comes with getting older.

He will be in the duck blind with me this year on opening day. Not only am I looking forward to the time we’ll spend together in the blind, but I am going to show this “smart-mouthed-whipper-snapper” a thing or two when it comes to shooting. That is, if I can find my eye glasses, a bottle of arthritis pain killer, sole cushions for my boots, my hearing aide, and also remember where my blind is located. If not, then I’ll just cherish the time spent together.