Thanks all. We have 2 daughters. When they were young I desperately wanted them to shoot and hunt with me. The oldest one was our little lady. She did a little archery but quickly lost interest. She never hunted with me, though I tried hard to get her to. She did sit in a tree stand once with me deer hunting and read a book the whole time. A button buck came in, she saw it first, warned me and then greatly enjoyed it as I tried to shoot him though he'd spotted us in the tree stands. He dodged 3 arrows before running off. She had a great time, but never saw the need to go again. Music was the thing we did together and I have wonderful memories of singing together.
The younger one was my shooting buddy for several years, starting at about age 8 until she discovered boys at about 16. It was a wonderful time. She was a serious 3D and target shooter through some of that and we traveled to the IBO worlds in WV the year she turned 12. She killed a deer when she was 15, but it's the only one. She now has 2 daughters of her own.
Marcela is the oldest daughter of our older daughter.
I say all that to say this. Your kids may or may not shoot and/or hunt with you. In my experience the harder you try to get them to like it, the less likely they will. My advice is to be patient, be ready when they want to shoot/build, and above all, let them have fun. I botched it with one and did better the second time. I'm letting Marcela go at her own pace. When she wants to work we do. When she wants to swim we do. She says we're going hog hunting and if she really wants to we will. I want her to have a great time and remember this summer long after I'm gone. To borrow from Pappy, Life is Good!
George
