Should a mistake happen , maybe a buck wasn ’ t quite legal , the doe you thought you were shooting ends up being a legal buck , or you accidentally kept a fish you weren ’ t supposed to , own up to the mistake . Call the local game warden and be prepared for the repercussions . Mistakes happen and we owe it to our children to teach them how to take responsibility for those mistakes when they occur . Yes , it is humbling and yes , our pride is wounded . It might even prove expensive . However , we must be willing to admit our mistakes and have the personal responsibility to see that those mistakes become righted . Again , little eyes are upon you , be the example you wish them to be in the future .
Fun & Success
What child does not like to have fun ? I am sure there is a clinical case out there , but I have never seen it . This is a culmination of the aforementioned categories coupled with some imagination . One thing my kids look forward to are snacks when we go on an outing . For some reason , hot cocoa , cookies , or cheese and crackers all taste better riding in the truck home , in the canoe , or in the field watching critters .
In the spring , we will occasionally plan a turkey hunt and scouting trip where we leave the house about daybreak . Our kids are a little young for walking all morning long , but riding around in the truck , going from place to place to see if turkeys are hot and gobbling all morning does not work well either . I always try to plan a route close to a lake or creek , so that by mid-morning , we can get out and stretch our legs while the kids play . If we are near a spot the fish may be biting , we will have our fishing poles with us and switch gears . On the other hand , the kids might toss rocks into the creek while I pan for gold slightly down stream ( in case they were to fall in , I can play catcher ). The key here is to break up the monotony of one activity with several smaller activities . As long as we are outside and in the timber , it is all good .
One of the key reasons I like the last few hours of evenings for activities is that nightfall gives us a curtain , a reason to pack up and go home . This often occurs long before the kids are ready to call it a day . I always try to make sure we are headed home or at least to the next activity , before the kids get tired or bored of what we are doing , especially at the younger ages . Again , this is their time , so if they are done fishing or hunting , or have gotten cold , regardless of the time , we pack it in . Even if this means we only have 30 minutes on stand ! Now that my eldest is almost eight , if we are by ourselves without her little sister , I will ask her to wait a few more minutes , maybe ten or fifteen . Our modern day society does not reinforce patience in children well and with a definitive time frame , she is usually willing to wait a few more minutes before we go . Once that time is up , regardless of what we are seeing or how much day light we have left , we will head to the truck unless she has changed her mind about leaving . However , I do try to structure activities so we are headed in before they wish to go home . Like a good comedian , end on a good performance and leave them wanting more .
I also do my best to make sure we have some level of success , even if that means we are simply seeing the critters we are pursuing , not necessarily filling tags . The Montana Fish , Wildlife , and Parks , stocks a small fishing pond in our community for the kids to fish . This provides an excellent opportunity with high odds of success . The trout do not always cooperate , but we regularly have a bite or two , or see fish rising to the surface when we go out . Our kids love to head there for a quick hour or two of fishing , mostly because they do have some success . Similarly , I try to get permission for some smaller tracts of private property during deer season , where we do not have far to walk and can often see deer , even if they are not in range . My children enjoy these opportunities to see wildlife and it excites them knowing when they return there are good odds of seeing animals and maybe filling tags .
A fall run of Kokanee Salmon presents many opportunities to play and splash in the river .
Continued on page 10 .
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