This is �old fogey� talk, so bear with me.
Growing up in East Texas during the years of the �Great Depression�, folks lived off the land. Trapping, fishing, and hunting when a person could scrounge enough to by shotgun shells. Rabbits, squirrels, possums, coons, and quail for the rich folks.
I remember being in the woods with a 22 rifle as early as six years old.
I was fortunate being the kid of a schoolteacher. There wasn�t much money, but teachers were highly regarded in those days.
I loved to shoot a rifle � after WWII with an Expert rifleman qualification, I had a love for firearms. Loved to restock and covert military rifles to sporting arms, reload ammo, and bench rest shoot at the local rifle range.
Never had much chance to hunt while raising kids and making a living, but loved the sport. Hunted pheasant in N. Kansas/S. Nebraska area, and a couple of trips to Wyoming for pronghorn and muleys.
My sons are all avid outdoorsmen.
My �pondboss� son moved to the country a few years ago to raise their sons � all avid hunters and fishermen.
There is a lot to learn from hunting; self discipline for one, and respect for other persons and property - and above all, safety that carries over to everyday life.
When I got too old to prowl the mountains in a jeep � I bought a boat...
Just my 2 cents worth.
