Do we make it to easy?
#7387394
10/24/21 09:14 PM
10/24/21 09:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,574 MN
Donnersurvivor
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,574
MN
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I was thinking back to my first season, think I caught a few possums and a couple muskrat. I trapped alot of hours with a couple hand me down traps from my uncle and no real instruction.
My first bow was much the same, saved up 75 dollars and bought a used compound, practiced with it and after much struggle got a nice doe.
I see alot of kids now have instant success, they go out hunting for the first time and dad puts them on a nice deer. They have nice guns, bows, traps, boats but they seem to lack the passion that some of us who struggled when we started had.
I think part of the passion may come from the struggle, the season without getting a shot at a deer, the first year of putting food scraps over a old Victor long spring and being proud of the possum.
Curious what the members think, is passion born from struggle?
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387400
10/24/21 09:18 PM
10/24/21 09:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,324 AK
FairbanksLS
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,324
AK
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Only when the struggle ends. Passion comes from the reward after putting in the hard work.
Last edited by white dog; 10/24/21 09:21 PM.
formerly posting as white dog
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387410
10/24/21 09:28 PM
10/24/21 09:28 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,900 Central MN, sort of old
MnMan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,900
Central MN, sort of old
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I agree with the OP on this one. It seems like the harder you work for something, the sweeter the reward.
But, on the other hand if we make it too difficult they might become discouraged. Encouraging them and showing enthusiasm yourself goes a long way toward keeping youngsters interested.
Last edited by MnMan; 10/24/21 09:33 PM.
I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387423
10/24/21 09:39 PM
10/24/21 09:39 PM
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J Staton
Unregistered
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J Staton
Unregistered
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I remember my first deer hunts. A pair of uninsulated rubber boots, wool socks, insulated under britches, blue jeans, long sleeve shirt, and heavy jacket. Froze my *(%^ off !
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Deerkiller]
#7387430
10/24/21 09:46 PM
10/24/21 09:46 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,558 Green County Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,558
Green County Wisconsin
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I have done the same. When my kids started hunting I put them on them! The other day my son now 16 said he has not seen me kill a deer in years. I asked him you know why? He said yes sir you letting us hunt the good spots. This year I’m going to kill a few. yup , my son knows he got the sweet spots for those years some need a little success to get hooked others maybe don't it needs to be enjoyable and not just working for a bunch of old guys at deer camp. he is 18 now I think I would still rather let him shoot the deer but it doesn't mean I am not going to shoot any I don't mind walking every drive if it keeps my dad and uncles hunting a few more years I know uncle Bill put me on some sweet spots early on back then we traded drive stand once Uncle bills knees were shot I was happy to let him stand well more like sit in the lawn chair just far enough in from the road to be legal and I would drive we lost Uncle Bill 2019 the Tuesday before opening day to cancer he had been doing well in Nov 2018 and we had a good year hunting my son shot 2 and my dad shot one I think my son gets it in 2018 he was 16 and lent his gun and set up Tony uncle Bob's grandson in law in a good spot and Tony got his first deer even though he was in his 20s. it was the first year Tony had hunted with us having just married into the family. Tony's first deer was a good size body fork.
America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387462
10/24/21 10:19 PM
10/24/21 10:19 PM
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672 Ohio
Willy Firewood
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
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I have helped several kids and young men get into trapping. Only one has stuck with it mostly because he works for me in my wildlife business doing nuisance trapping. He traps a bit on his own during fur season.
I cannot imagine any young person today having the interest, motivation, drive, and passion that I had as a kid, young man, and still do as a graybeard. Starting out with a few very rusty number 1 longsprings and jump traps in a burlap bag walking miles to trap muskrats made me feel like a mountain man. Receiving a small black and white trapping catalog or later an FFG magazine was spiritual. My first whiff of Hawbakers muskrat lure was intoxicating.
Working to build up my arsenal of traps and gear and was exciting. I was fortunate to trap during the fur boom beginning in the late 1970s. To really pay my dues I worked tirelessly to oppose the 1977 legislation on the ballot to ban the leghold trap - and we defeated it. Trapping turned me into a good hunter, fisherman, and person. Fur money helped pay my way through college and law school.
I am proud to say that one of my mentors was the great Charles Dobbins. It was a privilege to work with Charles and 2 other guys to start a local FTA chapter and build up to having our own fur auction. He taught me to modify traps and gave me autographed copies of 2 of his books. It was a pleasure to share the trapline with Mr. Charles Dobbins.
Long ago, a special gal caught my eye. She enjoyed the adventure of the trapline. Watching her struggle and succeed carrying a huge beaver was very entertaining. Forty-some years later we are still together and she still asks “What did you catch today?”.
FRAC LIVES MATTER
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387595
10/25/21 08:06 AM
10/25/21 08:06 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715 Eastern Shore of Maryland
HobbieTrapper
"Chippendale Trapper"
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"Chippendale Trapper"
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715
Eastern Shore of Maryland
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I was thinking back to my first season, think I caught a few possums and a couple muskrat. I trapped alot of hours with a couple hand me down traps from my uncle and no real instruction.
My first bow was much the same, saved up 75 dollars and bought a used compound, practiced with it and after much struggle got a nice doe.
I see alot of kids now have instant success, they go out hunting for the first time and dad puts them on a nice deer. They have nice guns, bows, traps, boats but they seem to lack the passion that some of us who struggled when we started had.
I think part of the passion may come from the struggle, the season without getting a shot at a deer, the first year of putting food scraps over a old Victor long spring and being proud of the possum.
Curious what the members think, is passion born from struggle?
Not certain I agree with this. Passion/Desire is born before the struggle. When I wanted to learn how to play the guitar, I was always told, “If the desire is there, you’ll do it.” Like most other self taught guitar players, you wore out the groves in an album playing over and over the parts to learn. lol Now my sons just lookup the tab online. It shows them the what to do but they still have to do it themselves and learn the small details that make it sound right. Passion keeps them engaged to do that. I agree the curve is shorter but there is still enough to learn to keep the fire going. There is reward in the success of each song learned just as there is with each critter caught. Complacency and disappointment reminds us when the fire is getting low.
-Goofy-
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387603
10/25/21 08:21 AM
10/25/21 08:21 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,868 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,868
williamsburg ks
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I read everything I could get my hands on when I was in grade school. By Jr high I had read everything in the school library that interested me. What interested me most was stories about the fur trade when Europeans were coming here just for fur. The “mountain man” era as well. I think that some people are just more in touch with their predatory instincts. Have a natural drive. Just like our pets. Centuries of civilization have bred it out of a lot of people but folks on Tman likey would have got on the ship headed to the Aleutians in 1630 or packed up and went over the Cumberland gap or followed the Missouri to the Platte and lived with and fought the Indians while gathering beaver plews just to blow it all at big drunk fest every summer.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387658
10/25/21 09:41 AM
10/25/21 09:41 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,898 michigan,USA
seniortrap
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,898
michigan,USA
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I have an issue on the too early of age for youth hunt. Seems to only satisfy the city folks to start a 6 year old and kill a 8-10 point buck.
Personally I think 12 is good, and shoot a doe only the first couple of years. Go through the process of gutting, hanging and taking care altogether.
At the age of 6 and up to 12, they don't carry a gun in the woods. Or do they really understand the safety issue here? A little common sense needs to be here.
Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers
"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." "After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387663
10/25/21 09:54 AM
10/25/21 09:54 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,868 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,868
williamsburg ks
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Im taking my grandson deer hunting Saturday. He will be 10 next month. Shot his first deer last year. Going to do the same thing this year. Sit in the blind with him. He has been well trained in gun safety. No I wont let him deer hunt alone. Your common sense comment is out of line.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387668
10/25/21 10:01 AM
10/25/21 10:01 AM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 910 WI
Badger23
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 910
WI
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Yes. Most kids now days are used to parents that want to make it easier on them than they had it. Ironically it's the parents that then complain when the kids just keep wanting more and for it to continue to be easy. That's society in general not just outdoor sports. Millions of parents are to blame for where we're at but about 1% will accept it.
Let me ask this. If your kids had to go through what you did when you started out hunting or trapping do you think they'd keep with it? Be honest here too. To me from outside looking in as I have no kids they seem to have a much shorter drive to do do what's needed to hunt or trap like I did 30 plus years ago.
BTW there was no youth hunt when I was growing up. Make the youth hunt doe only and see how many kids stick around for the regular hunt. That would be a true sign.
Last edited by Badger23; 10/25/21 10:04 AM.
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Re: Do we make it to easy?
[Re: Donnersurvivor]
#7387672
10/25/21 10:05 AM
10/25/21 10:05 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,558 Green County Wisconsin
GREENCOUNTYPETE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,558
Green County Wisconsin
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we have mentored hunting one gun between the 2 of you and you are never to be out of arms reach of them until they are 12 and have passed hunters safety.
I did that when my son was 11 he had a hard time sitting still enough
we worked on his skills and he was solid at 12
at 12 with hunters ed it is not out of sight or sound distance for us that is about 50 yards but depends on terrain and weather
he did shoot a nice doe on the very last drive of Sunday afternoon that year
he has only shot one buck the rest does
I see the OPs point it shouldn't be too easy and too much success right out of the gait if your first deer is a gimee with a boon and crocket score what have you got to work up too.
but putting them where they have a good chance of a deer isn't too much success and they can once they have their deer for the season be a DD dedicated Driver helping get others deer to pay their dues
although we shoot a fair number driving also
Last edited by GREENCOUNTYPETE; 10/25/21 10:07 AM.
America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
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