Story and photography by Bill L. Olson

Everything in life is a progression of experiences that are part of the learning process.  This is true when it comes to introducing kids to hunting.  It doesn’t happen overnight and any shortcuts taken short changes both the child and parent.

The Christmas holidays are an amazing time to begin or continue the hunting and outdoors education.  My daughter Leigh and son Billy were introduced to both at an early age with regular and frequent updates.

With my daughter it helped sustain and grow our relationship during times she was away growing up in Ohio.  However, every time she returned to Texas her introduced to hunting, fishing, camping and other aspects of the outdoors our family so enjoyed continued.

From conception our son Billy knew he was going to be part of a hunting family.  During the September dove season before his January birth his mother Ann shot a dove.  It startled Billy and his reaction equally surprised his mother when he kicked.  I think that was the only time he flinched at the report of a firearm.

It is said one of the best gifts a toddler can get is a big box.  Billy’s mother was extremely creative and for his first Christmas one of his gifts was a hand painted, camo box complete with door and windows.  Billy knew it was his and spent plenty of time playing and even napping in his cardboard “deer stand.”

Leigh’s regular visits back to Texas included time during the Christmas holidays.  With hunting seasons underway she spent time in an elevated box blind I had made we dubbed the “Hilton.”  From there she learned to use binoculars and would glass a food plot and feeder positioned alongside a creek that ran through my father-in-law’s ranch.

She also celebrated the harvest of wild hogs and other game.  It is simply what hunting families do with their children.

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