Sunday, March 29, 2015

Hunting Heritage



S.O.L. #29 out of 31
Hunting Heritage
Overhauling my outlook on my husband's hunting hobby

I might have been the first to complain about my husband's hobby.   He is an avid outdoorsman.  He hunts deer, turkey, bear and more with every sort of firearm available including bow and arrow in every surrounding state and Canada once or twice. We have lots of deer heads and turkey tails hanging on the wall and  he spends  a lot of time in the woods.  At first,  I thought all it took to be a hunter was the ability to sit quietly while completely camouflaged. But now I learned  that it actually takes a lot of knowledge, skill, dedication and passion.

  Today I want to be the first to acknowledge my husband for pursuing his passions.  To my husband, hunting is more than a hobby, more than a passion. It is his heritage.  His most fond memories are the days growing up and hunting with his late grandpa (his only father-figure). He taught him everything he knew and he is so grateful for that.  Hunting is how they would bond. Now I realize being in the outdoors is how he reconnects, how he relaxes, how he refuels.  Yes, he is sitting quietly in the woods but he is also noticing the little nuances of nature, breathing in the fresh air, calming in the quietness, finding joy in a crazy little squirrel, capturing the birth of the early morning sunrise or soaking up the warmth of the evening sun settling into the horizon.  
Sunrise from the goose blind
I am grateful that my husband has the desire to preserve his past and pass this tradition on to our children.  He has taken my son hunting for every youth season that they have had the opportunity. He has gotten several turkey and his first deer last year.  My daughter is only four and already clad in camo.  I am sure as soon as she is old enough to go with him that she will be tagging along as well.  They will know that hunting is part of their heritage. For that, I am proud to say it is our family's tradition.   

My husband and our two kids-
several years ago

My son with one of his first turkeys
Addendum:   "In 2011, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (PDF), ...Back in 1955, about 10 percent of Americans hunted; today it's around 6 percent." 
I didn't know that is was such a rare skill set to have until I saw this statistic.  Now I am even more proud of my hubby for preserving his past and passing it on to future generations.  


13 comments:

  1. You have eloquently captured the importance of your husband's heritage. Heritage is always so important to our identity.

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    1. I totally agree. I just didn't realize that hunting is so rare in other areas.

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  2. I loved this line: Yes, he is sitting quietly in the woods but he is also noticing the little nuances of nature, breathing in the fresh air, calming in the quietness, finding joy in a crazy little squirrel, capturing the birth of the early morning sunrise or soaking up the warmth of the evening sun settling into the horizon.

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    1. Thank you. Yes he usually comes home and tells me about something that is actually totally unrelated to hunting. Like the beautiful sunrise picture (above) that he texted me one morning from the gooseblind.

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  3. I loved this story about this part of your husband's heritage. My husband also is from a hunting background...but as he jokes, he hunts only with his camera. Even though he didn't get the hunting gene, he does have love for growing things from his farming background. xo nanc

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    1. I didn't grow up around hunting or farming, but my husband did. So he has taught me a lot. I still prefer hunting with a camera myself! :)

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  4. This helps me understand the whole concept of hunting! Thank you for helping me see a bigger vision!

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  5. Your blog has changed my thoughts on hunting. What a special tradition to pass on to your children!!

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    1. Thank you so much. I take that as a very high compliment...to change someone's thinking is powerful! I appreciate that. :)

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  6. Your blog has changed my thoughts on hunting. What a special tradition to pass on to your children!!

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  7. Very nicely written Cyndi. Thank you for sharing your feelings. I am thankful you are both such great parents. Even tho I am not a hunter like Scott I Respect the time and efforts he shares with his family..love you guys. :-)

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  8. Very nicely written Cyndi. Thank you for sharing your feelings. I am thankful you are both such great parents. Even tho I am not a hunter like Scott I Respect the time and efforts he shares with his family..love you guys. :-)

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  9. Very nicely written Cyndi. Thank you for sharing your feelings. I am thankful you are both such great parents. Even tho I am not a hunter like Scott I Respect the time and efforts he shares with his family..love you guys. :-)

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