RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

I'd sit the boy down and explain everything about the deal (pros and cons) to him and let him make the decision. My bet is he would make the same decision his dad would (and did).

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

Especially when the answer to the question posed was already there but a post was made about it anyway for the sake of argument.:eek:

Come on opening day. Please get here soon.

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

Im only a few years older than him, and can see where you are coming from. I couldnt do it...I could have went to a high fence hog hunt in TN, but passed. I am waaaay beyond the whole kill something big to beat my chest stage, which IMO is the stage most high fence hunters are at. Dont get me wrong, I target big bucks, but not to the point of where I hunt them in an enclosure where I KNOW he will be in there somewhere at all times.

Me and my pops are doing something similar here in two weeks...we just chose to go chase speedgoats in the wide open prarie rather than a high fence hunt....relatively low costs for a hunt, fun way to try a new style bowhunting, see new places...I cant wait...Dad isnt even hunting, just going along to take it all in with me. This is a much better route IMO.But bottom line is, it is HIS decision should you even choose to offer it to him.

At 16, he may appreciate a high fence hunt just as much as a free range hunt...but smart money says if he continues hunting he will appreciate the free range hunt 10x more down the road. Could be wrong.

So I have been in your sons shoes last year, I turned the hunt down. This year we are going out to open country and try our hand at a totally new animal.

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

Your son is16 so he's no "dummy" to the real world by now. I think I would take him and I would hope he has a good time and takes a nice buck or anything really. But I would also make sure he was aware of the difference between this and "real" hunting(which he probably already is). This hunt is a gift so to speak and has many qualities of a real hunt but is very different at the same time. Hopefully he understands that but at the same time enjoys the success which may stoke his fire a little.

I'm 32, from the age of 17 to probably 24 I almost completely removed myself from deerhunting because ofchasing "dears" and doingother things related to that topic(raising kids). As I matured/settled down my fire rekindled itself(luckily) and I am as die hard when it comes to huntingas the next. What I am saying is something brought me back and maybe this hunt and other timesyou guys spenthunting togetherwill leave enough glowing embers to bring him back after he's done playing/chasing(which could last for a while).

On a side note my oldest son is 14 and I don't regret having him at such a young age but I am very clear when discussing girls with him that even though you are young you will soon be making decisions that can/will affect the rest of your life, and while chasing the "dears" is fun..... sometimes catching them can lead to growing up real quick which is often not very fun(lots more to my story but I think you get the point).

JMO, stoke his fire as much as you can and good luck with whatever you decide.

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

Kickin...valid point....but he sees the lengths I go to every season. he knows what it takes to be successful....it just hasn't meant that much to him in the past. Maybe it will, one day. Don't get me wrong....he's a country boy....lol. He loves the outdoors (fishes every day in the summer .....AFTER WORK;)). He's just been pre-occupied with DEARS. I don't blame him one bit, actually.

Not disagreeing with you in MY eyes....but who am I to say what one man's "trohpy" is? See those guys in the blinds on Tv shooting from 250yds? Now I don't begrudge them their trophy one bit! Is it for me? Where's that cat floss??? But to him...it's a REAL, GENUINE trophy! Kudos to him.

NOW.....GREAT question!! Thats where our talks will come in.;) Again.....You're one of the first to look at it from his side in THIS instance.

Thanks, KB. Heeded.;)

Don't have to have a son, Rob. He's sixteen....and I didnt have one until 4.5yrs ago;) I can tell you, though.....he makes me look at things, differenty. I have to force myself to think back and thnk about my days at his age....and wonder how I would have done things before getting on his ass too hard. I'm a freakin hard-ass with him, and if I didn't put myself in check, sometimes, I'd be tougher on him. I still ask him all the time, though...."Are we OK?". We are.:)

I give him more credit than most, I guess, to make this decision for himself. I couldn't tell you, right now, what I think he may want to do. I could.....but then I think back to being his age. For him.....he gets to go out of state.......go somewhereand see deer he may NEVER, EVER see again (not if he stays in this area....lol)......possibly take a great animal (trophy status notwithstanding).......and maybe in there somewhere is spending some time like that with me.

I'll tell you this.....

If I'd had a stepfather who would have done that for me......well....I didn't.

He'll make his own decision.

One thing I'm gonna do, though....is offer to have WHATEVER deer he shoots, mounted this year. If he can weigh the "trophy" thing (which would be more meaningful?) in his own mind ........that might help.

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

Thanks, Hillbilly. I'll keep that in mind.;)

I won't push him either way.....and I've been very clear about that.

BRy....the LAST thing I'm looking for here is an argument. Huntigson's first sentence didn't mesh (IMO) with the rest of his post. I just asked which part he was agreeing with. Rob's one I look to for advice in things like this...and he helped me make my decision, last year.

That's a great post, TEmbry. thanks.

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

I'd give him the details and let him decide. If he wanted to go I'd go and enjoy every minute with him!

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

Well then, I guess the question is: Are you helping to raise this kid or not??

If you are (and I suspect you are) then I think it would be reasonable for you to want to instill your values in him (if they are values of character and integrity).

After all, this is still a child that we're talking about, so you can't always "just leave it up to him to decide what's right and wrong", can you??

I bet stepdad is a little more precarious position, in general, than real dad, but, imo, you should decide if you're this kids buddy or his parent, and if parent is the choice then raise him to do what YOU think is right as opposed to let him decide for himself.

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

Thanks for that post, NEW. I appreciate that. And yes.....weve had those sit-downs.;) That's a really awkward conversation.......but you know that.;)

RE: High Fence - Real Life Scenario
 

I've been fortunate to have taken my son on several Bowhunts out of state & out west-Caribou being probably the most enjoyable as it was his 1st biggame hunt & he was 16. Since then, we have made a few other trips & a couple of them for Exotics/hogs under high fence. He understands it was not like Whitetail Hunting at home (for sure) but we had a great time. This particular operation was over 1000 acres. Like I said, we had a great time-he completly understood we were there for a good time & try for something we could not hunt at home or in the wild (another country). On the trip back, after we had seen several "really" nice Whitetails on this place-he said, "I don't think I would ever Bowhunt a Whitetail in high fence but I sure enjoyed seeing the other animals". Enjoy you time together whenever & wherever possible.