Reader-Submitted Story
Passing on the Tradition
by Norm Brennand of Okotoks, Alberta
This story is dedicated to parents, or perhaps a grandfather, an uncle, or simply a close family friend who may want to encourage a young boy or girl to enjoy the outdoors by taking up hunting. So, if you’re keen on getting your little guy, or gal, introduced to this great outdoors activity, here’s hoping this may help in some small way.
The hunts I have shared with my son, Paul, have always been most special. Whether barely three-years-old or now almost 40, every day shared in the field strongly validates my good fortune. Any parent lucky enough to have already passed on his or her passion for the outdoors to a son, or daughter, would know exactly what I’m talking about. From day one, my good wife was very supportive of my desire to get our son introduced to hunting. Without her support, it just wouldn’t have happened.
Paul was the third of three children, our first two being girls. Looking back, I probably didn’t try as much to introduce hunting to our daughters as I should have... that was clearly an error on my part. Here’s hoping the present generation of new parents provide equal opportunity to their young ladies.
I started taking Paul out when he was three. His very first introduction to the outdoors was looking for grouse. Paul’s very first hunting memory was an evening shoot, hunting woodcocks, at the age of four. Woodcocks are an eastern bird and I doubt very few Albertans have ever hunted them. They are most challenging to hunt, as they come out at dusk in high gear, bobbing in and out at tremendous speed, almost like a bat with feathers only faster! Paul was by my side when I shot our first one. It landed in the bulrushes and we had to search for a while to find it but when we did, I’m not sure who was more excited? That was 36 years ago and I still have it proudly on my wall, the first thing shot with my little hunting buddy.
The two of us were forever on hunts together. We first focused on birds, ducks mainly, but by the time Paul was six or seven, he was also accompanying me on antelope and deer hunts. When he was eight or nine, he was occasionally hitting the mountains with me on day trips.
Introducing Paul to hunting at age three, instead of 13 or 14, was clearly the right thing to do. So recommendation #1, start them young, very young! I remember when Paul was seven and we picked up a young hunter, about 14, walking back to his dad’s truck. He said that this was his first year hunting with his father and how excited he was. When we dropped him off, Paul piped up and said, “Dad, he’s 14 and just getting into hunting, I’m seven and I’ve been hunting for years!” That was pretty special to hear those words.
I was forever taking pictures of him with fallen game, whatever I shot was “our” success, not just mine. And I was genuinely excited having him by my side and no doubt he fed off that. Recommendation #2, go out of your way to show excitement/passion of all the little things that make up the hunt—if Dad is excited, chances are your little guy or gal will be as well.
Although my utmost passion in the outdoors has always been sheep hunting, I basically parked my sheep hunts for a few years. Sure, I’d get out a bit on my own, but my focus was now ducks, and the two of us spent countless weekends checking out our secret spots for mallards, teal, etc. A bit of grub, my 12-gauge, bolt-action shotgun and a fishing rod. Not sure what was more fun, us knocking down the ducks or meticulously casting my line out to the fallen ducks to retrieve our birds... all great memories.
Having my hunting companion by my side opened up a whole new world to me. I loved every minute of it... WE loved every minute of it. So, recommendation #3, park your own hunting interests and focus on the game that your son or daughter will enjoy the most.
When Paul turned 12, I encouraged him to take the Alberta Conservation and Hunter Education Course. And regarding the safety that was always drilled into him, Paul’s namesake, my best friend, drowned in a hunting accident. In our early twenties, we tipped the canoe while duck hunting. I found out the hard way how life can change on a dime.
To this day I am very proud of how Paul handles a gun. Nothing irritates me more than watching a hunting video and the rifle, even for a split second, is pointing right at the camera man.
Once Paul had his licence, we cranked things up a few notches. From his early teens to his early 20’s, most hunts were chasing whitetails and muleys. Paul had tried sheep hunting but, like all young hunters, he wanted to shoot something, and he knew that with sheep hunts you seldom squeeze the trigger.
Over the years we had our “sweet spots” for chasing whitetails and to this day, we still find ourselves returning to the same location, year after year. But the best part of this one specific honey hole is that we have 30 plus years of fantastic memories to go with the hunt. Every few steps seem to immediately bring back a flood of good times together. By the time Paul was in his mid-20’s I could see his priorities were changing. Yes, he still loved his deer hunts but he wanted to spend more time dedicated to elk and sheep... he was starting to “get it”. Now closing in on 40, he’s had the sheep fever for countless years and he’s forever looking for the “next ram of his dreams”.
And throughout the many years, whether a very young child or the man he is today, a very important constant has been the drive to the hunt. It could be a short 40-minute drive together to hunt deer or 10 to 12 hours in the truck looking for antelope, the one-on-one time together is priceless. I chose from day one not to use our hunts to discuss school marks, choice of friends, or any other heavy duty subject matters. I wanted Paul to know that 99.9% of our discussions would be on one thing...hunting. Yes, the odd time I would exploit the opportunity to give my son some fatherly advice but even today, when we head out hunting, we seldom talk about anything else. So, recommendation #4, stick to hunting.
One big change over the years has been our roles. I no longer teach, I no longer lead; it is Paul who’s forever sneaking a peak over his shoulder to see how his dad is doing. Yes, I know he’s checking in on me, clearly the circle of life has come full circle, as it is meant to be.
Paul has one very close friend (Clint) that he hunts with most of the time but every year we still get several hunts in together. And ironically, the years I got away from sheep hunting to focus on what Paul wanted to hunt now sees the majority of our hunts being sheep hunting. So again, what advice do I have for young fathers, uncles, loving grandfathers? Start young, very young. Take pictures, and when you think you are finally done with the camera, take some more. It was a given that under the Christmas tree, every year, was a framed picture or two of Paul with his duck, deer, antelope, whatever. Go out of your way to exude enthusiasm. If you show excitement and passion for the outdoors, it only enhances the chances that your little hunting buddy will also pick up your traits.
And finally, most important of all, always keep it fun. Although we don’t talk about it, we both quietly know the sand is quickly passing through my hourglass. The day when I can only hunt down memory lane is probably not that far away. But I do know that my never-ending enthusiasm, and love of these hunts with Paul, continues to fuel my determination to not give in to father time, at least not yet.
The father/son hunts we have shared are countless, each one very special and unique in its own way. My man cave is home to countless memorabilia and pictures of priceless father/son moments. Here’s hoping that a few of you will now be encouraged take up hunting and share countless hunts in the future with your little guy or gal as yours truly has. It’s been a fabulous ride and whenever we share a mountain together, I truly feel so very blessed. So, if it worked for us, it can certainly work for you and your own little hunting buddy. Best of luck to both of you!
For the previous Reader Story, click here.
