Just had to take this past Friday off due to the great weather in S.E. The kids was pumped up to shoot his first "hooter" and I was willing to call the school and tell them he had to go on a "trip with his father."



I think I've shot at least one grouse every year since I turned 14, except one. Drove out the road to my "secret spot." Parked the car and saw a nice blacktail on the beach below us. Could hear a couple hooting from the road - always a good sign and provided motivation.



Lots of black bear sign on the way up the mountain - had my .44 in a side holster stoked with 300 gr hard casts, just in case. About 2 hours later we had our first bird treed at 1,500 foot elevation. Not much whining from my 12-year old boy. He made a perfect shot on the first blue he'd ever seen. Quite a steep climb as the bird was in a tree on top of a 30-foot cliff. Even I almost chickened out on the ascent.



Treed a couple more birds, but did not get them. Tough shots, even for me, but I let him have first crack at all the birds. He was hunting with a Marlin stainless .22 single-shot and I had my ancient Mossberg 640K Chuckster in .22 WMRF - a rifle I've had since I was 16. We quite while still in a good mood, even though we were starting to get into them pretty good. Wanted to end the day on a postive not and not push him to hard.



Always a tough decision this time of year on a nice day - hunting, or fishing???

I'm thrilled for you. Quite frankly I'm a little jealous every time I read about sons that actually like hunting.

Glad you were able to take such an outing with your boy. Rufous.

Congrats and thanks for sharing. Next it will be a big blackie.

My boys are 3 and 4. They like to shoot my .22's with my help of course. Can't wait to get them in the woods too.