James has always been an outdoors type kid. He was about 2 and a half when I first took him to the hills off the Peace River. He climbed around and didnt seem to wear out so my buddies nicknamed him "the Sherpa"....and if I go out to the shop to do some work, he comes out on his own and I will spray a bolt and he spends 10-15 mintues wiping it with a rag......that kinda thing.
He just seems to take a real interest in what I do so I simply take him along whenever I can, even if it means my chances of bagging game are lessened. I figure I can always shoot a moose, but my time with him is probably limited.
I don't do anything special other than getting him a good target to hit and teaching him to be safe and not to touch the bow/gun unless Im with him. He respects that and I have had no trouble with him.
Guys usually grumble when I show up with him, thinking he will cry, whine etc....as kids sometimes do. But when they see how he acts, he gets treated pretty good. And the next time we arrive at camp and there is a newbie there who grumbles, the guys that know James set it straight.
My other boy would rather pee blood than hunt. He is more of a "techno" type, has all the electronics figured out and such. And that's great too. Has a good head on his shoulders and a good heart. The bush ain't for everyone.
Some think I force James to do these things....but anyone that has kids knows you cant force them to do anything if they really dont want to.
I encourage guys to take their kids out. If they don't like it, they let you know. If they do, save up cause the taxidermy bills are a killer.....lol
