Father and Son Outing

orvis17 · 02-09-09, 12:22 PM

Had to share...
Took my son out with me this weekend on a short dog hunt. He is two years old and is always upset when I leave him home, so I threw on a backpack, put some blankets inside, and threw him on my back.
Went to a spot about a half mile from the road, and on the walk in he fell asleep so it was nice and quiet. Got set up, could see a dog about 500yds out so I called nice and quiet. Watched the sound get to them and sure enough, two started trotting our way. I turned to my son who was propped up against a tree behind me a little and off to my left. I watched for a couple of minutes as they trotted toward me. I looked to my son and whispered that they were coming and that he needed to be quiet and hold still. As I was telling him this, his eyes got real big, and I realized he must be watching something. As I turned I saw two dogs running full speed directly towards us at about 70 yards. One caught my movement and stopped...so he got it first. Didn't get a second shot, even though I should have. Turned back to my son, and he was all smiles...I think I was more thrilled than he was to share this with him. On the way back to the truck, he told me we should have had two...if he could have brought his gun!

inthewall · 02-09-09, 01:03 PM

That's pretty cool. I bring my kid hunting all the time too. It's hard for him to sit still while calling coyotes.

Liam · 02-09-09, 01:49 PM

that is an awesome photo....

Fly Rod · 02-09-09, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liam

that is an awesome photo....

+1.

Cool.

bigndn · 02-09-09, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly Rod

+1.

Cool.

Hell yeah! I took the 3.5 YO and 10 YO out icefishing on Sat and had a great time. Good on ya, Orvis!

PS- I'm gonna try to make it over to shoot some whistle pigs in the spring if the offer is still open.

orvis17 · 02-09-09, 05:38 PM

Heck of a day, loved every minute with the boy. Offer is open to all of mud. Best time is early spring when they are just poppin out. Not yet educated and a good white background to outline them. Give me a holler or I can let you know when they start pokin their heads out.

Thanks for all the positive comments...I was awaiting the "he's too young" bit.

JLH911 · 02-09-09, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orvis17

Had to share...
Took my son out with me this weekend on a short dog hunt. He is two years old and is always upset when I leave him home, so I threw on a backpack, put some blankets inside, and threw him on my back.
Went to a spot about a half mile from the road, and on the walk in he fell asleep so it was nice and quiet. Got set up, could see a dog about 500yds out so I called nice and quiet. Watched the sound get to them and sure enough, two started trotting our way. I turned to my son who was propped up against a tree behind me a little and off to my left. I watched for a couple of minutes as they trotted toward me. I looked to my son and whispered that they were coming and that he needed to be quiet and hold still. As I was telling him this, his eyes got real big, and I realized he must be watching something. As I turned I saw two dogs running full speed directly towards us at about 70 yards. One caught my movement and stopped...so he got it first. Didn't get a second shot, even though I should have. Turned back to my son, and he was all smiles...I think I was more thrilled than he was to share this with him. On the way back to the truck, he told me we should have had two...if he could have brought his gun!

Maaaan, how I long to one day be able to do this. And by that I mean when I have a kid. (might have to go through the Invitro Fertilization route)

Fly Rod · 02-09-09, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orvis17

Heck of a day, loved every minute with the boy. Offer is open to all of mud. Best time is early spring when they are just poppin out. Not yet educated and a good white background to outline them. Give me a holler or I can let you know when they start pokin their heads out.

Thanks for all the positive comments...I was awaiting the "he's too young" bit.

I would love to get out there for a digger shoot. I have a two day shoot scheduled in April. We'll see if I can sneek another one in.

Too young?! Even my wife saw how much my kids loved shooting a 22 when they werer 2 1/2 years old. I gave a friend a pkg of elk burger last week. My son started crying "bring my elk meat back."

IdahoDoug · 02-09-09, 11:11 PM

That brought back pleasant memories of taking my 2yo daughter on snow hikes up the local mountain in a backpack. She'd fall asleep halfway up and wake halfway down. I'd point out all the little animal signs, tracks, etc. One trip we followed bloody deer tracks a ways. Thanks for the memories of my now 10 year old when she was in a little pink body suit....

DougM

PS - if you have any thoughts on worlf ballistics, I have a thread here asking about what it takes to defend against them in a handgun. Thanks.

orvis17 · 02-10-09, 09:15 AM

Nothing like the great outdoors for a learning environment.

kruzinboots · 02-10-09, 07:47 PM

My grandson stayed overnight this past Saturday. He's 4 1/2 years old now. When he got up, I already had a hunting show on tv. Some guy was about to make a shot on a deer, and my grandson started yelling out " Shoot him! Come-on shoot him." I started laughing; but I am looking forward to taking him hunting with me later this year.

ten80one · 02-12-09, 11:33 AM

That is as good as it gets. My boy will be almost three this spring for turkey hunting. We practice sitting inside the blind and being quiet while daddy makes funny "cluck, cluck" noises.

FLATU8ER · 02-12-09, 01:21 PM

orvis17, you've got my vote for dad of the year.

Atticus · 02-12-09, 03:35 PM

That's awesome. I don't mean for this to be a "trap" question or anything, but were you concerned about the kid not having any hearing protection? This is something I've considered with my little one.

flintknapper · 02-12-09, 04:42 PM

No "too young" stuff from me, but a word of caution (if you are not already doing this).

Make certain someone knows where you are going to be (and don't change locations), how long you will be there (call if you are going to be longer), and be ultra careful.

In the environment in your post if something were to happen to you....your two year old would be all alone in the cold...not knowing what to do about dad.

Outings such as yours ideally should be done in threes (with two adults) IMO.

Otherwise, "Good on Ya" dad....keep it up.

Flint.

hkeller · 02-12-09, 05:22 PM

flintknapper, you are the man. You are very knowledgable and all of your post are very mature and reasonable.

Gold Boy · 02-12-09, 07:08 PM

way to young!

not, thanks for postin, great pic!

orvis17 · 02-16-09, 02:59 PM

Hearing protection was an afterthought...I agree, should have had something more. He was wearing a tight fitting IH8MUD hat, and then the white hood, but I do wish I would have thought about the hearing issue...he was also well behind the muzzle...

As far as distance and safety, the wife new we were gone, exactly where we were, and how long we were to be gone. I would agree...two adults would be better in a perfect scenario.

cajun65 · 02-16-09, 06:17 PM

Great pic, and for taking the little one. My son is already talking about the next season, the retriever we're getting, spending every weekend at the camp, etc......Once you hook 'em, it gets awesome.