Ben's First Hunt

[DoubleDown]

I was driving home from work the week before Christmas after picking my son Ben up from school. On the way home I got a call back from Drake Landing to confirm a bird hunt I had asked about for the coming Saturday. With the bluetooth phone in my truck, Ben could hear the whole conversation, and when I hung up the phone he said, "I want to go!" Ben turned 8 years old this year, and as much as I have wanted him to take an interest in shooting/hunting, etc. I didn't want to push it on him or introduce it too early. I wanted it to happen organically, and hearing him ask to go for the first time was music to my ears. He goes with me to shoot clays now and then, and enjoys riding in the cart and pulling the targets, but hasn't taken much interest in shooting, outside of firing one or two rounds through my 20ga and shooting 22's at my Dad's house. Last time we were at Drake Landing, Dan Andrews asked Ben if he shot while we were on the course. Ben told him yes, but the gun was too big for him (my Parker 20ga). Dan took us in the office and showed Ben a youth .410 pump he has behind the counter and told him we could borrow it next time we came out. Well, Ben remembered this, and when I told him he could in fact go hunting with me if he wanted too, his next question was "Can we shoot Dan's gun?" Wow I thought, two for two! Well, now I just needed to make sure it went well. Long story short, we went Chukar hunting early the Saturday before Christmas, and he had a blast. He was a little disappointed when he found out he wouldn't actually be shooting birds , but he lasted the whole morning, walking the fields from about 7:45 until 11:00. Sam and Diamond did their thing, and so did my Fox CE, we put out 12 birds and came home with 11. It was a little warm, reaching about 65 degrees that afternoon, but a nice breeze all morning helped the dogs. We even jumped a covey of quail in the corner of the field, although I don't think they were wild birds. At the end of the day, I'm not sure who was happier, me, Ben or the dogs. Ben enjoyed shooting the .410 at the contents of our recycling bin after our hunt, and wants to go with me this coming weekend when I go again. As luck would have it, he even found a Remington 870 Youth Model 20ga under the Christmas tree!

Mike

[10 bore]

that's just the start!

[Quigley97]

Outstanding Mike. I enjoyed reading the story "almost" as much as you did. Looks as though there will be many more of these outings in the future. Happy New Year.
Tom

[Dean Romig]

Wow! Does it get any better?

First hunts are treasured memories!





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[Gary Laudermilch]

Now that is a wonderful Christmas story. Guns, dogs, and a boy - it does not get any better than that. By the look on his face I would say he's hooked for life and you have a whole bunch of good times ahead. Congratulations !!

[Opening Day]

Mike, that's probably the best Christmas present that you could have gotten this year.......

[Double Lab]

Just wonderful Mike, just wonderful.

[C grade]

Mike
Thats as good as it gets. I remember those days with my two sons and now with my grandsons.
David

[charlie cleveland]

great storey and good pictures of the hunt i believe you have a new hunting parnter...charlie

[Harold Pickens]

I think you have him hooked Mike. As the saying goes, " Teach a boy to hunt, and you won't have to hunt for the boy."