I was going through some of my old photos tonight, thought I'd try to share them if I've figured this out!
This isn't about me, you can disregard my ugly mug in these pictures. It's about my oldest son and his journey thus far. I only wish I'd taken a million more! He's 27 yrs old now. I'm not sure of the dates on some of the pictures, but I'll try.
This is my son age 4 with me and my first trad doe- 1986  
This is HIS first at age 11  
Here he's checking out a good rub- age about 17  
This is the both of us on a good day a few years later  
The boy did good a few years after that...
Thanks for letting me share!

Neat pics! They grow up fast huh. Doesn't time fly!!

Looks like you did good.

neat story

Hope i can do the same with my kid... She's only 3 now!!

Lucky man, lucky son!      

Very cool!

They do grow up fast. Thanks for sharing some of your greatest lifes moments.

And the whole key to the build is right there in the first pic when he is about four.  You included him all along.  Probably some times it was not real conveniant for you I'm sure, but you still did it.  Great job on your part and a son to be proud of.

Thanks this are great pics

1kwikstik,
Great pictured story! Of course the greatest benefit of this is that both of you end up with a hunting buddy for life!

I attended a meeting of the Outdoor Writers of America in Spokane, WA about 5 years ago. One of the speakers reported that only 25% of the children of hunters are becoming hunters these days. This means only half the sons and still almost none of the daughters are being mentored the way most of us were and do.

My son is 31 years old. I was taking him on brief jaunts (squirrel to start with) by three years old. I made sure the weather was good and the trips were short with some action. The first two years he hunted squirrels I didn't take a firearm so I could focus entirely on his experience.

We lived in Kansas when he became mature and proficient enough with hunting equipment to bowhunt. In Kansas he couldn't hunt (in those days) deer until age 14. He was only 10-12 during our years in KS. We moved to Missouri when he was 13. I had him shoot my hat at 20 yards from his tree stand before walking to mine on his first bowhunt (for added confidence). He killed a Button Buck that evening. I saw the deer fall after 55 yards. He didn't. I let him blood trail to the deer. EXCITING!

He's still with it. In fact, on November 12th we both shot deer with our bows within 3 minutes of one another. We were hunting about 3/4 mile apart.

Thanks for sharing this with us. My oldest was my nunting buddy for years but life and work keeps us apart now.
I fletched him some arrows and sent them to him last week and we have a late season hunt planned for December if all goes well.
I sure miss spending time with my boys.
Fine looking young man. Thanks again.

Wow, that's very cool. Good job with him, looks like you taught him well.

That's what it is all about.

Very good job!!  

Hey, I like the '86 photo.  You could have co-starred on Smokey and the Bandit.  I was too young to get into the beard thing inthe 80's, I was just a 12 year old kid, but my Dad, he looked just like Grizzley Adams.  All of my friends thought so too.    :D  

God Bless,
Nathan

Very cool!

Chip off the 'ol block.

Great Pictures.  Thanks for sharing.

QuoteOriginally posted by monterey:
And the whole key to the build is right there in the first pic when he is about four.  You included him all along.  Probably some times it was not real conveniant for you I'm sure, but you still did it.  Great job on your part and a son to be proud of.

Well said, I couldn't say it any better,
Dan