AZLance Report post Posted February 2, 2014 Every year I take a new kid out hunting. I tell my son to pick one of his friends from school or baseball and ask him if he is interested in going on a free guided hunt. Then I talk to his parents and then get his license for him and apply for a hunt for him. I feel this is my way to give back to hunting. We all hear about it every year... the number of hunters continues to dwindle. Well that is something I can help turn around. Every kid I take hunting is usually hooked, and even if he never hunts again, he now has the knowledge and experience in him to support hunting. And hopefully when he grows up and is able to vote, he will cast a vote for hunting and against anything that will try and impeed hunting rights as well as maybe pass along hunting to someone else. This year it was Jackson's turn. He is the 8th kid I have taken, and he was not disappointed. I quickly glassed up one single pig this morning cresting a ridge. We quickly packed up our gear and raced (well not literally, it was a steep climb) to the top of the ridge. As I crept over the ridge I counted 8 javalina feeding 150yds away. I motioned for Jackson to come up to me and sit down. Jackson sat down put the rifle on the tripod and began looking for the pigs. Right about then I heard something that sounded like a train... it was actually Jackson breathing excitedly. I told him to take a few deep breaths and calm down. He did, and then squeezed of a round that struck the pig making him do a flip and then a death dance. As II looked at Jackson and said, " You got him", my reason for doing what I do was right there... a smile from ear to ear followed by a few high fives. He is definatley hooked and his first question was, "when can we hunt again". Mission accomplished... 14 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted February 2, 2014 One of the Best post ever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted February 2, 2014 Nice job, Lance. I'm hoping that Jackson's experience gets him closer to the real "core values". Reaching out to kids, the way you do, is great service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kidso Report post Posted February 2, 2014 Sweet deal! That is how I started hunting 30 years ago. A work friend of my father's asked if he could take me out on an archery javelin hunt. I have been shooting pigs with arrows ever since, and expanded to bear and now elk hunting. It changed my life. Thanks for giving back!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Meyer Report post Posted February 2, 2014 That's cool. Nice job. That's a nice piggy too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muledeerarea33? Report post Posted February 2, 2014 One of the best things I've read, good for the kids you do this. Good for the rest of the sportsmen too that you do this! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Will K Report post Posted February 3, 2014 That is what I'm talking about. Awesome. Way to bring up the youth's Lance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
520HUNT Report post Posted February 3, 2014 Wow, this is an amazing challenge to all of us hunters. Just imagine if every hunter did this just one time, we would double our numbers. I'm going to try and do this too 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
singleshot Report post Posted February 3, 2014 Quite inspirational. Nice job and a good lesson for all of us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkhunter1 Report post Posted February 3, 2014 Here I sit reading this post and I just realized that your respect level, although very high just topped the charts. You sir are a true sportsman!!!! Congrats to the young hunter! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Kid Report post Posted February 3, 2014 Nice pig and great job lance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted February 3, 2014 Great post. Taking kids hunting has been more rewarding than my own hunting experiences. Thanks for sharing the passion! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sherman Report post Posted February 3, 2014 This is such an awesome post thanks for posting something worth reading Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted February 3, 2014 This is what makes this site what it is. Members like yourself helping out and educating our next generation is what is needed by a lot of hunters. Thanks for that and congratulations to Jackson. Nice post! TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jim Report post Posted February 3, 2014 Great job Lance. Taking new kids hunting is always a great experience. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites