Hunting, Bonding, And Loving Every Day
I didn’t have the privilege of being born into a hunting family. We didn’t own a cottage up north, nor did we spend our weekends fishing. There were no hunting stickers on our car, and I didn’t possess any camouflage pajamas. We were simply a typical suburban family. Fortunately, I met the woman of my dreams, who happened to have a cottage. Her grandfather was an enthusiastic hunter, although sadly, he passed away before I developed an appreciation for this amazing pastime.
My hunting journey began with my eldest son, Anthony. He used to go up to the cottage with my wife’s father, whom we affectionately call G-pa. G-pa hadn’t been hunting since he was a boy, but he still fished. He would take Anthony out on the boat, and they would fish for hours. Anthony fell in love immediately. With a quiet demeanor, he would sit in the boat in anticipation while his grandfather would recite the plethora of stories he had.
Every once in a while, I would get the chance to go out with them. I quickly embraced G-pa as my own father, and we cherished spending time together. I didn’t do it for the fishing so much as I simply loved being in nature. Being alone on the lake surrounded by forest brought a sense of inner peace I had never experienced before. It was a bonus to see the joy and excitement on my son’s face every time the tip of his rod would bend forward. As he got older, the excitement only intensified.
In addition to fishing, G-pa’s greatest pastime was hiking in the mountains surrounding the cottage. Nothing brought him more joy than embarking on long, challenging treks while regaling us with stories along the way. With every tree and rock he passed, he had a tale to share. He reminisced about his childhood, recounting hunting adventures with his father and playful escapades with siblings and friends. He bestowed whimsical names upon his favorite spots like Lost Lake and The Cirque Du Soleil. His enthusiasm was contagious. The winter didn’t dampen his spirits. He would bring out the snowmobiles or snowshoes, and if those failed, we’d trek through waist-deep snow. Anthony relished every moment. Regardless of the difficulty or duration of our hikes, Anthony faithfully followed his grandfather. G-pa had a knack for persuading others to join him on these expeditions.
As we hiked through the forest, two thoughts kept creeping into my mind. Firstly, I realized I was in terrible shape. Being overweight, smoking, and not exercising were leading me straight to an early grave. Secondly, I began contemplating what kind of grandfather I wanted to become. Would I be the grandpa at 65 years old trekking through the woods, or would I be sitting in my favorite chair smoking my pipe?
Around this time, my wife’s father suggested that we try our hand at hunting. Coincidentally, that same year, I had a friend who wanted to take me turkey hunting for the first time and my brother-in-law’s father, who was also in his mid-60s, was seeking a workout partner. God indeed works in mysterious ways. So, I obtained my rifle license (P.A.L), and my hunting license, purchased a shotgun, and began exercising. This made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I wasn’t constantly trying to catch up, and my muscles didn’t feel like they were on fire. Not to mention, my self-esteem and confidence rose with every step I took.
I quickly realized that hunting would be a pastime that my son and I could enjoy for many years to come. Sitting there for hours in our designated spots, huddled up together, trying to keep warm, I thought to myself, no activity allows a son and his father to spend quality time like this. Anthony is now 16. He’s harvested everything from partridge to turkey, and this year he shot his first black bear. With every moment, our bond grows stronger.
The best part about hunting is that anybody can do it. One of my daughters has joined us on a few hunts, and my youngest son will join us for the first time this year.
We now have land of our own. We bought 84 acres in a prime hunting location, so hunting is as simple as taking a stroll in the backyard. Of course, we still reserve a few weekends when the fall deer season opens up to go hunting with G-pa at the cottage.
We’ve been hunting for 5 years now, and our journey has only just begun. The off-season has provided us with more opportunities to spend time together as we set up blinds, trail cameras, and feeders. Every step along the way, we are learning how to master our beloved sport, pastime, and way of life.
