If you are either starting out or you have been a long time bowhunter and have not started your family in archery or bowhunting, it's time to get the kids started. Hey, if you enjoy it so much, why wouldn't your kids? I'm a grandfather of almost 9 grandchildren (one due any day now) and I try to take them out into the field as often as possible. Even when my two boys were growing up, we would make our little journeys to the back yard or woods to hunt and learn more about God's great outdoors. Why not teach those youngsters when their little minds are so curious and full of questions? Teaching children the difference between right and wrong and how to respect nature is so important at that early age.Here is a short story that I know stuck into my two boy's heads when they were about 3 and 6 years old. We started out one chilly evening on a deer hunt only about 200 yards from the house.

My youngest, Brent, was strapped to my back while I climbed a tree just a few feet up to our treestand. My other son, Brody, was sitting on the ground just a few yards away in a brush pile. A flock of geese were flying overhead and Brent was telling me to take a shot at them. I explained how dangerous that was and I'm sure he understood the point I was trying to get across to him. At that same moment a small deer had started wandering down the same fence row that we were in.

Brody, who was sitting on the ground with his little fiberglass bow and wooden arrows with field tips hadn't seen the deer yet. He was still gazing at the geese in amazement. Brent and I couldn't say anything to Brody because the deer had walked right in on us. The deer was only about 5 yards away from Brody before he had noticed.

I just sat there and laughed to myself as he started to get so excited, that he could've wet himself. He pulled his bow back (which could not have hurt the animal) and released his arrow. The arrow never made it out of the brush pile he was sitting in. He only had one arrow, so he turned and looked up at us and quietly said, "Dad, shoot it." The deer had only run just a short distance but it was not a good shot for me to take. Even though it was a small deer, I probably would have shot it, just to let them see how it was done.

The lessons that both boys learned from this little hunting trip have been burned into both their minds and will be taught to their own children. Two lessons, first the safety lesson as to never shoot straight up. Second lesson was to make sure of your shot. Never take a chance, always look at objects that could be in your line of fire.

Take your kids or grandkids out for a youth archery hunt. It doesn't have to be a long journey, it can be so simple. I can't think of a better way to bond with your family than to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.

Life is short, so don't miss out!.

By: Ted Lake