My children, now 15 and almost 11, have been going with me for years as observers. My daughter took her Hunter's Safety Course at 10 and her first deer at 11. My son took his HSC at age 9 and his first deer last fall at age 10.

It costs me in various ways to "accomodate" them; but, I get it back tenfold. One of the greatest pleasures is to be there when they accomplish things and being able to teach them about the great outdoors and the quality of the hunt.

They are as much my hunting "buddies" as Davidmil and Will. The neat thing is that Davidmil and Will get just as much enjoyment out of them as I do and I commend them for that.