This topic is quite old. Alley I hope you are still with us.
I started hunting because it was what my dad did. He worked his ass off pouring concrete his whole life after the Marine Corp. Semper Fi to all you leather necks out there. He took the time to take me out and appreciate the outdoors when he had time. In high school sports had pretty much taken over my life. But we still made time for a couple weekend trips camping out in the back of the truck. Then deer season came around. I have been away from home for every thanksgiving since I was 13. The rule at our camp was you had to have hunter safety and hunt with your dad for a year before you could come up.

My dad took the time to teach me how to build a " post" as they called it. Looking back it was sketchy to cut sapplings down to nail to a tree and climb up 30 feet to a platform you just nailed in. Its amazing we didn't loose and family members in camp from that. He watched me shoot my first buck, from a distance as he kicked it up walking over to get me at 13. He then gave me his rifle that I use to this very day every gun season. He and my grandfather also experienced my getting lost in a 12 mile square patch of hardwoods and iron swamp that same year. When dad says stay put from then on , I did it. Luckily I heard a chainsaw off in the distance and walked toward it. And recognized the road I was on when I came out. My compass kept pointing north in that swamp. We laugh now but boy did my ass hurt for leaving the spot he put me and said to stay in. After they hugged me and made sure I was ok of course.

Camp consisted of my father, grandfather, and great uncles Dale, Dennis, Douglas, Rollie, and Delain. We had a 16 x 22 cabin with a wood burner queen size bunk beds and cots. Some of my best memories of hunting came from that camp.

Then I went off to play college football, Made it up to camp for a weekend but I made it. Left after 1 year and I felt a calling to serve as all the men in my family did so off to the Army in honor of my grandfather, dad wasn't overly pleased but proud. Hoo Ah. I missed 1 season while I was in the Army, but my buddies made up for it by taking me bow hunting. I fell in love with bow hunting.

I came home after my enlistment was up and then started bow hunting and really got in deep with it. everything I did revolved around bow hunting. My dad took notice and asked me to teach him how to Bow hunt. I still enjoy that with him as well as gun Hunting.

My grandfather Cliff is still with us at 95 years of knowledge. As I have stated in another reply on the forums, His short term memory is fading but he can tell you about a hunt he was on back in 1935 so detailed you can picture that you are next to him watching the deer come in. He had to hang his gun up 5 years ago, as his eyesight and health prevent him from even coming up to the cabin anymore. He tells the stories and I try to record them for my son who is 3 and my nieces and nephews. I know take them up and take them out to a blind at least once a year and give them an unloaded 22 and teach them gun safety, muzzle awareness, and hunting techniques at least once a year. When they get home their great grand father wants to hear all of the details so he can still be a part of CAMP.

I am now 38 and still feel like a kid the day before opening of any season. I hope you enjoyed this story. I will post more about adventures I have had and any my grandfather Cliff or "PAPA" as I have always called him, that I remember.

Alley, I applaud your commitment to hunting, and the relationships you form in the process of hunting. I pray you are still with us even if it is only to hear the details of CAMP. God Bless you and your Family. and God Bless America.