5 People to Share a Hunt with Before It’s Too Late

The connection between a grandparent and grandchild is unique. It’s a relationship where both people seek what the other possesses. A grandchild benefits from a grandparent’s lifetime of wisdom, while the grandparent is bolstered by the energy and vitality of a young person.

I’m fortunate to have a close relationship with my paternal grandfather, and I’ve found that these two desires, wisdom and vitality, often feed off one another. Our time spent together injects youthful energy into my grandfather just as his knowledge is abundantly available to me — so long as I’m willing to listen. Spending time outdoors strips away so many of the distractions we face today, and makes it possible to connect with those around us on a deeper level. This time is irreplaceable. If you have a grandparent in your life who hunts, make time to go afield with them. You’ll likely learn a thing or two about hunting, and plenty about life.

Even if your grandparent has never hunted, share your passion for it with them. You’ll likely find that they’re full of questions and eager to learn more. Don’t worry about the outcome. Much like ball games and piano recitals, your grandparent will understand that it’s not the activity that they’re there for, but their grandkid.

Hunting is generally passed on through our fathers, and that certainly holds true in my case. By the time I ditched the training wheels on my Huffy, I was tagging along with my dad on deer hunts and jumping from one of his footsteps in the snow to the next. Hunting runs deep in my family, and my male ancestors have been hunters as far back as anyone can recall. My mother had only sons, and as we grew up, she found herself home alone more and more. She’d always been involved in our lives, and she soon realized that if she wanted to see much of my brother and me, she would need to learn to hunt.

By the time she did, however, we were both teenagers seeking our independence. As the page turned to college and then out-of-state hunts, I spent less time hunting at home and even fewer days in the field with my family. This trend is a common one, and natural: Young people have always struck out to find their own paths. These years are necessary for growing into adulthood. But it’s also important to return to where you started.

In recent years, I’ve made a point of doing just that. I’ve had the realization that most of us eventually have, if we’re lucky: My parents are getting older. It’s a funny feeling, but with it seems to come a level of clarity about the time we have ahead of us and appreciation for the time we’ve shared.

So make it a point to hunt with your parents this season. Return to some of your old haunts. Plan a trip with them to one of the places you’ve discovered while hunting without them. If you were introduced to hunting through someone other than your parents, reverse the typical roles and help them discover what it’s all about. If convincing your mother to try hunting sounds like a hard sell, consider this: My mom stuck with it and has taken a handful of animals over the years on her own. Last year, I called her first turkey into range and she spent her first September of retirement chasing elk with my dad and me in Southern Colorado. Even if your mom doesn’t want to pull a trigger, she might like to sit in the blind with you.

Hunting can test and strengthen any relationship. I’ve heard it said that sharing a hunt with someone is a litmus test of a person’s character, and I’ve found this to be pretty accurate. I’ve ended hunts and vowed to never share camp with offending individuals again. But I’ve also come away with lifelong friends. Like life, hunting encompasses so many highs and lows. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, it tests your resolve. Facing challenges with a hunting partner isn’t all that different than the challenges we face in relationships. Sure, the context may differ but the path to resolving an issue is often the same.

Sharing a hunt with your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend might sound like a recipe for unneeded stress and a potential argument. But you’ll likely find sharing a hunt with your spouse will bring the two of you closer and improve your communication skills. Now, I can guarantee every minute of your time hunting together won’t reflect the blissful happiness of a blockbuster love story. But the shared experience can have a positive impact that carries over to your day-to-day lives. If your spouse has never hunted, or is new to hunting, choose activities that you can both enjoy, and make sure your expectations are realistic.

As the years go by and life’s responsibilities increase, we can become more distant from our siblings. This is very similar to what some people experience in their relationships with their parents. Hunting with a sibling is a great way to strengthen those bonds. It provides an environment where you can explore, have fun and sometimes compete a bit, just as you did as kids. Establishing annual hunting traditions with a brother or sister is a great way to ensure you spend quality time together as you age.

Including your parents in these traditions can make the time together even more memorable. Activities like waterfowling, upland hunting, turkey hunting and fishing are great options for these annual outings. Make time to go afield with your siblings every chance you can. You might even start to like each other.

As we become more proficient and successful as hunters, we often drift away from our early teachers. This can occur within a family unit, but it’s even more apparent if the mentor is a distant relative, family friend or acquaintance. These may be people you see from time to time but haven’t hunted with in years. While you’ve still got the option, organize a hunt with this person and make some new memories. You just might find they’ve still got more to share after all.

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