Thread: Raising an outdoors woman

It was a little more than 10 years ago when I got the news that I was going to be a dad. I can remember the feelings I had as if it were yesterday. I could not wait to pass on all of my knowledge and experience in the outdoors. The first time fishing, the first time in the woods, all of those first time moments. During my time on this earth there had been many instances where I have had mentors teach me things that I would later discard, forget, or disregard as being wrong or false. When it comes to hunting and fishing however, there is not one lesson, one teacher, or one tidbit of information that I would change. I wanted to teach them the exact same way that I was introduced to the things that would later become my main passion in life.

Looking back I can remember the ultrasound that would show whether I would be the father of a spitting image baby boy (god help us) or a tomboy baby girl. The look on my wife’s face was one I will never forget. It was as if she was studying me to see my reaction. To see if I was let down by the news. Truthfully, I could have cared less whether it was a boy, girl, or a yeti for that matter. We had tried so hard, had so many failures, and had come too far to worry about any of that. I can tell you that what was going through my mind was: How does a little girl go to the bathroom in a boat? How do I teach a little girl how to pee in the woods? I didn’t have answers to any of the questions that came to mind however I knew that I would figure them out the best way that I could.

I have been asked on numerous occasions how I introduced my daughter to the outdoors. How I got her interested, how I got her involved. The long and the short of it is that I did whatever I could to show her that I enjoyed what I was doing. She would sit on my lap while I read magazines and point at locations just behind the front shoulders of a deer. She couldn’t get the words out correctly be she knew that was where you make the best shot with a bow. I never shied away when she wanted to play 10 million questions. What is that daddy? That is a jig, I would say. What’s a jig? She knew what a crappie, perch, walleye, and bass was long before she knew what a goat, chicken, or horse was. When other kids were asked what sound a cow makes, my daughter was asked what sounds a deer, turkey, duck, goose, and coyote make. Engrossing them in the wild long before they ever get there is a great way to build their excitement, sense of adventure, and the longing to accompany you into the outdoors so they too can have the same amount of fun and enjoyment they see from you each time you return.

Someday I plan on compiling all of this information, writing it down for other expecting fathers to be able to utilize as a guide to help them avoid some of the issues that I have had, give them ideas of things to try, things to shy away from, and hopefully be able to help them actively introduce their young ones into the sports that so many of us enjoy. Fortunately, many of those chapters have yet to be written! I have many years to look forward to teaching, sharing, and making memories that will last both of us a lifetime.

I’ve never been one to take a ton of photos of anything that I have done. I always had the memories and never needed a photo to solidify my accomplishments. There are very few pictures that exist of me holding trophy fish, posing with trophy bucks, or fanning giant turkeys. Not because I have not gotten any of those things, but because I never needed to justify my accomplishments by capturing a moment in time. I’ve always said that I have a cell phone for two reasons: to make and receive phone calls. The smartest thing I have ever done is to change over several years ago to a smart phone. Not because I was able to utilize all the fancy apps, buttons, and gadgets, but to ensure I always had a camera with me at all times. The pictures attached to this story allow you a glimpse of watching my daughter grow up in the outdoors.

She will be 10 this coming Friday. From the photos you will see that she does not let fashion get in the way of going hunting, fishing, or being in the outdoors.

Al, I like the photos. My favorite is the one holding hands.

Vonna,
There is a part of me that wishes she would stay this way forever but I also cannot wait to see who she becomes. My favorite two things: she still calls me daddy, and still holds my hand