Like many of you here, I've been taking my kids hunting since shortly after their births. All three are very interested in hunting and pretty much always want to tag along with dad on his hunts. My older two have both successfully hunted rabbits and whitetail deer, but until today hadn't tried swinging a shotgun on living targets. After limiting out this morning with a couple friends, I was free to spend the evening hunt focused on making the kids' first dove hunt a success.
20 years ago I would not have been able to believe that I'd have more fun watching and helping kids shoot than doing it myself. My, how times have changed.
My 12-year old daughter, 10-year old son, and I loaded up in the truck just after 4 o'clock and headed out to a dirt tank not far from home. I've shot a lot of doves over this little water hole in the past years, and had high hopes that it would continue to treat me right on this outing.
As you might expect when kids are involved, we got sidetracked on the way out. This time it was a jackrabbit that caught our attention. Unfortunately for him, the girl was ready to take the first shot of the afternoon.
After rabbit show and tell, we proceeded to the dove pond. We parked the truck in the brush well away from the water, grabbed our gear, and hiked out. We set up a few stationary dove decoys along with the Mojo and settled into the shade of a large mesquite bush. I wasn't long before the birds started moving. With just one kid-sized shotgun, the kids had to trade off. The boy was up first and used his turn to take these two mourning doves.
Not to be completely outdone, the girl used her turn on the trigger to kill her first dove.
By the time shooting hours had ended, several more doves had been downed.
I'm happy to report that the kids are hooked on wingshooting and I'm hooked on taking them! Down side? Yep, there is one. After all the fun they had with one shotgun, they're working on ol' dad to get a second so they can both stay in the action!
Second shotgun please, and make this one in Muddy Girl!
20 years ago I would not have been able to believe that I'd have more fun watching and helping kids shoot than doing it myself. My, how times have changed.
My 12-year old daughter, 10-year old son, and I loaded up in the truck just after 4 o'clock and headed out to a dirt tank not far from home. I've shot a lot of doves over this little water hole in the past years, and had high hopes that it would continue to treat me right on this outing.
As you might expect when kids are involved, we got sidetracked on the way out. This time it was a jackrabbit that caught our attention. Unfortunately for him, the girl was ready to take the first shot of the afternoon.
After rabbit show and tell, we proceeded to the dove pond. We parked the truck in the brush well away from the water, grabbed our gear, and hiked out. We set up a few stationary dove decoys along with the Mojo and settled into the shade of a large mesquite bush. I wasn't long before the birds started moving. With just one kid-sized shotgun, the kids had to trade off. The boy was up first and used his turn to take these two mourning doves.
Not to be completely outdone, the girl used her turn on the trigger to kill her first dove.
By the time shooting hours had ended, several more doves had been downed.
I'm happy to report that the kids are hooked on wingshooting and I'm hooked on taking them! Down side? Yep, there is one. After all the fun they had with one shotgun, they're working on ol' dad to get a second so they can both stay in the action!
Second shotgun please, and make this one in Muddy Girl!