Well, I understand this perfectly. Hunting truly begins for me the very moment I kiss my wife goodbye as she sleeps. As I shower and get ready, I don't hum, don't say a word. My stuff is ready and loaded up. I leave, enter the woods and generally don't say a word until I get back later that night. During that entire time I usually experience some exquisite moments of real joy. So, I understand why you would not wish to ruin it by introducing someone else to the hunt.

The problem is, this makes it very difficult for new guys to break into the sport. I think we owe ourselves, the new guys and our American hunting heritage at least the relatively little time it takes to bring someone in and get them comfortable.

I did this years ago. There was a little guy. Wanted to hunt so badly he could taste it. So, one year I took him. It was very hard, very cold, but that little guy hung in there the whole time. It was awesome how that kid hung in there. We got nothing. But when we got back we both knew we had shared something very special. I continued taking the kid out, showing him things over the years, but mostly just letting him watch. I always stressed to him how important it was to cultivate the solitude of the thing - the quietness.

He is now 15, has taken many deer. On the morning of a hunt, we get up. I kiss my wife, his mother, goodbye as she sleeps; and I can hear the little guy already in the shower. He doesn't hum, doesn't say a word. Our stuff is ready and loaded up. We leave, enter the woods, he now to his stand and I to mine. Generally we don't say a word until we get back together later that night. During that entire time, especially after the hunt, we usually experience some exquisite moments of real joy.