When my son was about seven we lived in Mobile, Alabama.  My parents still lived on a family farm outside Luverne, Alabama where we frequently camped and visited my parents.  One of my very special memories was the first dove hunt with him.  Before I get to that special hunt, I need to share some back ground information.  Our neighbor was retired and loved animals and children.  He and his wife always put out bird seeds for doves and wild pigeons.  We often discussed the dove’s beauty and ability to survive in the wild.  While watching them eat and fight I told him about some of my dove hunts.  After sharing with him one of my favorite dove hunting sites he pressed me to promise to take him there and shoot some doves.  I had taken a new job and had not been able to take him to the farm for awhile.  To make it up to him we scheduled a dove hunting trip to a spot where I had hunted as a teenager.  We had a spring on our farm where doves came for water in the afternoon and roosted in the surrounding trees.  There was a pasture a few hundred yards from the spring with a patch of black berry bushes which served as a natural blind or cover.  When I was young I only had 20 gauge single shotgun.  I would hide in these black berry bushes and shoot a few doves as they went over on their way to drink and roost.  Since I seldom failed not to get a few shots, I figured that we would have an adventure as well as get some quality father and son time.

On the trip up my son, always the thoughtful young boy, asked how we could distinguish between the wild doves and the “tame” doves.  After a few minutes, I told him that the neighbor’s doves could not fly that far.  Although he did not come out and say, I was certain he was uncomfortable about shooting the tame doves.

As anticipated, we had a great time and shot a few doves.  One or two landed a few feet from us just like I had bragged in my stories.  We were thrilled that we were able to create a similar experience as I had as a young boy.  What cemented the memory in my mind was when he put his arm around me and asked if we could spend another day and hunt again.

Although my new job prevented us from spending another day on this trip, I made a special effort to spend as much time as I could with him.  I now have a grandson and I can not wait until we get to take him dove hunting in the black berry bushes on the family farm outside Luverne, Alabama.  Maybe my little grandson can shoot the 20 gauge shotgun that my son now owns.

Take time out of your busy schedule to spend time with your children.  Outdoor adventures are a great way to spend time with your kids and you will create memories that will last a life time to you and your children.

Photo by NotQuiteSonic