My atv buddy old duck like me, doesnt hunt any more, but will help me
fill feeders etc and really has helped me understand sign,etc.!

I've had so many mentors, most of whom have long passed away now. My dad was a career soldier that had no desire to carry a rifle once he retired from service. My mom however loved to squirell hunt and this was my first hunting experiance . . .mom and I squirell hunting and occasionally taking a deer.
Later, I hunted with two of my uncles . . .Demp and Hump. Both of them worked for the Forest Service and were avid woodsmen. I'm grateful that they let me tag along, although I was mostly the official "gate opener, dog driver, and deer dragger". I paid my dues tho I guess and when they got to where they were no longer able to hunt they both gave me their secret little honey holes.
More recently, an old fellow by the name of Hubert Goff passed on. Hubert was an avid hunter. He also trapped hogs and would ask me to help get them from the trap. Come deer season he would let me hunt on his place. Often he would have insight on a good stand location and put me on it. I've killed a many of buck simply following his advice.
I find myself nowadays without any mentors but I often think about these folk while in a stand and it gives weight to the phrase "with you in spirit".
These were just common folk who in my mind as a boy were legends. I try to fill those shoes anytime a young person wants me to take them hunting. There's nothing like helping a youngin get their first deer.

Definatly my dad, he has taught me alot of what I know and to this day gives me information I did not know! Plus any friendly people willing to help and tolerate questions when needed!

My father was my hunting mentor. He never deer hunted but loved to hunt squirrels, rabbits and quail. I can remember going out with him as young as 10 and getting my 1st hunting license at 12.
By the time i was 18 - 19, he had just about given up with the hunting and only went out fishing for a few years after that.
My father was 44 years older than me so by the time i got to these ages i guess he just did not have the energy to go much anymore. I would always try to get him to go hunting or fishing, in his later years but he hated to leave the house unless it was to go to work.
For some reason i stopped hunting shortly after that. when i was in my mid 20's a relative asked if i wanted to go deer hunting, i said sure. He just took me in the woods gave me a gun and let me loose. I stuck with it though, did not harvest a dear for a few years. I usually get 3 -5 deer a year now with this year being the exception. I took My 2 sons out alot this year and did not shoot at some deer as i was trying to give them the shot.
Well, they did not get any deer this year and I got only 1. It's kind of frustrating when your trying to let your kids take a shot on the deer and by the time they are ready, the deer are gone. But it is also very rewarding at the same time.

My dad was my mentor. He taught me to read sign, the value of patience, the importance of concealing movement and other fundamentals. He also coached me on some of the mental aspects of the sport, how important it is to keep your attitude up. However, he had some shortcomings. He grew up a poor farm kid in the depression, and never had really solid outdoor ethics. He also didn't have a good scientific understanding of deer and their habitat. All he knew was lore and experience, and he hung onto some inaccurate ideas.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the man who touches deer. Tom Brown Jr. There's a guy who knows what he's talking about. I read a few of his books in 02, it changed my life, and I had the best season of my life.

furgitter, i agree with you 100%. Deer hunting WI gun season can get extremely discouraging. It's hard to make yourself get up and go every morning. You have to figure out scenic places to hunt, and just focus on getting out there and enjoying the day. I do a lot of stillhunting, and that helps me enjoy the hunt and keeps my interest up. Having said that, I took my best buck ever while stillhunting at 11:00 am on Wed. of 02.

My grandfather and uncles

my father got me started and from there ive learned on my own with the help of reading countless articles and forums of sites like this. i started deer hunting and squirrel hunting, but have taught myself coyote, TURKEY, waterfowl, dove, EVERYTHING. but if it wasnt for my dad id probably be doing drugs and listening to rap music (as some of my friends from the past now are). thank god my dad got me into hunting which has given me a lifelong hobby/passion as well as kept me outta alot of trouble by keeping me occupied.

Great stories guy's this is what hunting is all about heritage. If we know Ware we have come from, we know Ware we are going.

Keith Meador, He is a good friend of mine we hunt together alot and he knows his stuff.great bow hunter.learned alot from him.