Boy Do I Remember The Excitement....

I was first exposed to a Wisconsin tradition when I was 9 years old and boy do I remember the excitement I felt as we prepared to hunt for the almighty Whitetail Deer! Many of my best memories began back then, as I observed, tried to be "one of the guys" and earn my place in the hunting party. You see, this hunt only comes once a year and lasts 9 days. That's not a lot of time to earn that respect from the seasoned hunters, so as a "hunter in training", you have to work extra hard.

Many people have had an impact on my growth as a hunter. My cousin Mike being the biggest contributer in my hunting education; he taught me pretty much everything I know today. Mike taught me how to walk the land, find my way and scout for the right spot to harvest my deer. He not only taught me how to hunt, he also instilled in me the need to take care of this great natural resource so that I can share it with my boys and generations to come. Mike sports a great bumper sticker that reads "Take a Kid Hunting...So You Don't Have To Hunt For Them". This says it all about Mikes love for the hunt and sharing it with our children.

I have also had the opportunity to watch Mikes daughter grow from the little girl that called me her "boyfriend" and waited for her yearly stuffed animal from me, evolve into quite the hunter herself. In recent years, I got to share in her success with a hat trick of Bucks; and beauty's they were. I was proud of her because she earned that success, it was Mother Nature paying her back. She is a mother now and I bet that little girl will experience the family tradition as she grows up. I know I'm looking forward to seeing that as well.

I started taking my oldest son with me to the woods when he was 9 and he has had to earn his spot in our hunting party. Although he still has some badges to earn, I enjoy seeing the excitement he has as the days near to the big opening day. Last year I had the opportunity to be with him when he harvested his first deer. I'm pretty sure I was just as excited as he was. I will never forget the look on his face when that deer took off running after the shot. I guess I would have run too if I saw a 12 year old kid running full steam at me as I lay on the ground...LOL!

There are so many memories that I would like to share, but this blog wouldn't be able to handle it! One thing I'm certain, we will and already have continued to make more of those great memories of the big hunt. Both my boys will get the opportunity to experience the excitement and it's my hope that they will pass it on to their children.

If you are heading out for the hunt this year, good luck, be safe and make sure you share the excitement with a kid. It will be a memory they will never forget; I didn't.

@markbolin