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Post by 10point on Sept 30, 2013 7:46:23 GMT -5
I had hoped to get my 14 year old out this weekend but couldn't get him to come along so I just went by myself since we are in the urban zone. I was really looking forward to this weekend but kind have had a feeling he might not go since he only went out for deer once or twice last year. It seems he has lost his interest in deer hunting. He still likes to hunt birds and we will be out for youth waterfowl. I think as he has become older there is just too much other stuff to do besides sitting in a tree. I'm wondering if he will come back to deer hunting or if he is done.
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Post by parson on Sept 30, 2013 8:02:02 GMT -5
We're all different. My son was gung-ho to take a deer when he was about 13. We spent a lot of time together outdoors, and he finally took a doe.
Then he discovered girls, and ol' dad became less interesting.
A little later educational pursuits kept him occupied all the way through Purdue's Ag/Econ PHD program.
Then, his career and family.
He has rediscovered the joy of fishing since his son is interested in it, but I don't believe that he has hunted since taking that doe many years ago.
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Post by swilk on Sept 30, 2013 8:02:08 GMT -5
My kids are still young (the oldest being girls) so I dont know if they will stick with it or not.
All we can do is try and make it as entertaining and fun as possible .... and not push them to hard. They are either going to enjoy it or they arent.
Only time will tell.
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 30, 2013 8:02:29 GMT -5
Ill bet he has a girl friend too!
they do have other interests than sitting in a tree.
I went through that with my son and now he hunts longer and harder than I do.
He might come around but the worst thing us dads can do is push them. A friend of mine did that and now his grown son never hunts. I never pushed my son, but if he made a commitment the day before to go hunting he got up the next morning whether he wanted to or not. That was all the pushing I did- making him honor his commitment.
Hunting is not for everyone, even though we want it be....
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Post by swilk on Sept 30, 2013 8:04:56 GMT -5
I will say that I went an entire fall without hunting deer ... I was to busy chasing girls around the campus of ISU.
And on the flip side ... I cancelled my first date with my future wife because I was tracking a deer I had shot.
Priorities can and do change ....
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Post by deadeer on Sept 30, 2013 8:58:50 GMT -5
My 3 godchildren, twin boys 9 and girl 11, all love to hunt right now. They each have deer under their belts, 2 of them turkeys, squirrels and rabbits, and are hell on groundhogs. I gave them each a pocket knife a few years ago, and they now can process an entire deer by themselves. Right now they are hooked. Even if it wouldn't last, they are having the time of their lives. On a side note, I did something similar as Swilk, I cut the first date with my now wife short, due to opening day of late muzzleloader season 8 yrs ago. I told her on the phone before we ever met that my truck was muddy, full of hunting stuff, and my beard was scruffy due to hunting season and winter coming. She laughed and said ok. The rest is history. Happy 7yr marriage and 3 yo boy now. Life is good!
Jay
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Post by henson59 on Sept 30, 2013 9:17:04 GMT -5
When I was your sons age I was all about hunting up until I hit highschool. I just didn't have time for it and as a kid so many other things seem important at that point in your life. I played football and since our team was good we always went deep into the playoffs and twice it even stopped me from the IL gun season becasue the semifinals were the same weekend. Once football was over it was right into wrestling. To me and my buddies sports was life and thats all we thought about besides girls. I graduated highschool in 2002 and from what I have seen from some of my younger cousins it really hasn't changed a lot.
Just don't push him, enjoy the times when he does want to hunt and just hope one day he will come back to it and when he does welcome him back with open arms. Some of the best times I have had are me and my dad after college when I returned to deer camp and the tree stand.
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Post by budd on Sept 30, 2013 9:55:46 GMT -5
I pushed my son early to go on the trapline with me, he went with on my spring beaver line from the time he was two till he started school, it was a ALL day everyday thing and he did get burned out on it, but had no choice at the time but to go with me, he now likes trapping but a little goes a long way.
I always set him up for quick success his first couple of bear hunts, three sittings and three bear, same on deer, I tried setting him up for guaranteed action so he never had time to be bored.....but I never ask him to go, I let him ask me if he can go. He still has his moments were he don't show interest but most times he is excited to go. I live and breath hunting, fishing, trapping and hounding and I can't and still don't expect him to have the passion I do..........but I hope he has enough to pass it on to his children.
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Post by ms660 on Sept 30, 2013 11:36:02 GMT -5
When I was much, much younger I lost a few girl friends because I spent to much time sitting in a tree. After 17 years of marriage my wife does not hunt, but has always supported my time in the woods and usually is happy to see me go.LOL
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 30, 2013 13:25:00 GMT -5
Although I've never completely missed a season, there were a couple years in high school where it was a low priority. I was spending all my money and time on cars and girls. Once I was out of college, though, I became more passionate than ever about hunting.
So while you shouldn't push him, make sure he always knows he is welcome. Things can be awkward between a father and son at that age, and if he misses a season or 2 he might even think he isn't invited to come along anymore.
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Post by jjas on Sept 30, 2013 13:40:06 GMT -5
My son went with me quite a bit when he was younger. He's in high school now and it seems that sports, friends and his social life have taken priority. It was the same for me @ that age.
As long as I have access to ground, I'll keep extending the invitation to him to join me.
But...ultimately it's his choice.
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Post by steve46511 on Sept 30, 2013 15:28:58 GMT -5
As grown men now, I honor their priorities as their loving Dad, but neither of my boys hunt.
The oldest did till he shot 3, then....eh, no interest. The youngest loves to help butcher but no interest in taking the life of anything.
Both however, spend LOTS of times with video games.....and "Dad" won't/don't/can't. Puts me to ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
:-)
While I would have loved to have them as partners, their life is their life to live and love as they so choose. They will defend my actions at any time, and I theirs.
As long as they are happy and healthy, I give Thanks!
God Bless
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Post by windingwinds on Sept 30, 2013 17:07:37 GMT -5
My oldest son is 17 and no, he doesn't follow me in the woods every time. He has a lot going on. Like so many others have said, just don't push it. MY youngest son, 13 changes from day to day what he wants to do. Not surprisingly, he tends to want to go early season or the day after I have shot a deer myself. (I make sure he knows in advance when I am going so if I am successful then I have plenty of fun rubbing it in that mom gets the job done if he wants to sleep in) They do have fun rubbing it in the days I have to work and they go hunting without me.
Also doesn't hurt to foster a love of many different types of hunting. Sounds like you already do that.
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Post by voodoofire1 on Oct 1, 2013 20:37:10 GMT -5
Yep, they have, but not for any of the above reasons, they quit hunting and shooting when their older brother was killed in 05, 3 weeks home from Iraq by a drunk driver, it was instantanious for them but I still hang in there, although it's very tough to hunt alone. especially this year as it's my first year as a disabled hunter, I went for the first time this evening matter of fact and I don't know if I can go on much longer alone now.......the joy seems to be gone.
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Post by Hoosier Hunter on Oct 2, 2013 11:40:43 GMT -5
All my boys lost hunting interest once they got to high school. Friends and girls were more important to them.
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