Last month, I dedicated this column to “Enjoying the Experience”. It was a reflection on my view of what our hunting world has come to. It was from the heart and apparently it resonated with many of our readers and followers. I’ve never had so many comments from you about an article. For this, I want to thank you. It is good to know that others feel the same way. I think by the results of our recent election, there are a lot more of you in this country who feel the same way about a lot of things, and far more of you than I ever thought possible. It truly makes me proud to be an American and even happier to know that I served this great nation as a U.S. Marine.

This last month, I’ve spent the majority of my time in the field and away from my family. However, I usually get to spend that time with fellow blood brothers and sisters as Mr. Ted Nugent would call them. These are the folks who enjoy hunting and fishing as much as I do and it is always great to make new memories with these extended families. Hunting and fishing is a major part of our heritage. It isn’t just a hobby, but more of a way of life. So, it is always fun to share these things with the next generation.

One of my good friends and Sportsman’s News Pro Member, Bohm Townsend from Nevada, informed me last year that he would like to take his grandson on a hunt. Having three children of similar ages, I know that they have a challenging attention span to say the least. So I knew the very perfect place to take him. Wyoming, with Bighorn Outfitters, would provide us an opportunity to see a lot of deer and the rut would be in full swing. It would keep Bohm’s young grandson excited.

I didn’t know when we booked the trip that I would have just started getting feedback on enjoying the outdoors or even the fact that I would write that article. However, the trip was a total reinforcement of what I had just written the month before.

Josh was a fine young man and would celebrate his 14th birthday the week after our hunt. I took great pleasure in showing him how to hunt, how to spot, how to glass for deer, what to look for in identifying a buck. He was an absolute sponge when it came to learning these things. Although his grandfather has taken him waterfowl and upland bird hunting, this was his first experience at big game hunting. When it was all said and done, we had harvested his first deer and a pretty darn good buck. We not only got to enjoy the experience, but I was able to share nearly forty years of knowledge of hunting. I’m pretty sure Josh enjoyed the experience as well. All except the opportunity to field dress his first gut shot deer. I’m sure it is a memory he will share with his own children when he gets to do the same thing with them. I truly did “Enjoy the Experience” and am thankful for my good friend Bohm Townsend for allowing me to be part of this.

With most of the big game seasons’ closed for the year, we can sit back and reflect on all memories we created. Over the holiday season, we can also enjoy some of the wonderful protein we harvested with our families. Most importantly, we can make plans to share more of those good times in the future with our family and friends in the woods and help shape our younger generations to insure that our heritage of hunting and fishing is here long after we are gone. It is very easy for these young kids to get caught up in the electronic world and sometimes it’s hard for them to step out of it when you get them in the woods. I will assure you that the memories created in the field are the memories that will last long after you are gone.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.