That's the most common way but it's definitely not the way I would do it. First, I would buy a plane ticket to Albuquerque. On second thought, I would buy a new truck and drive there. I would much rather take the time to show my children the land, making stops in Jerome Arizona, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and any other interesting spot along the way. We would stop in Albuquerque for a bowl of Green Chile stew and then head up to the Sandia Mountains in search of my friend Gerald Reed. Gerald is a lifelong archer who has harvested countless deer, elk and turkeys with a keen eye and a reverent heart. Gerald would accompany us to the nearest archery store and we would all be fitted with bows, arrows and all the other neccessary accoutrements. We would then head back up the mountain and conduct an intensive training in the proper use and handling of our hunting tools of choice.
After a few days of this we would drive down to the Gila Wilderness west of Silver City to scout for game. This would not only give us the best opportunities for a successful hunt; it would also get us accustomed to the lay of the land. Not only that, we would also gain valuable insights that could be applied to future hunts.
Hopefully all of our hard work would pay off and we come home with more than one bird. Either way, the sense of accomplishment from a job well done and the sense of teamwork will be much more memorable than swiping the debit card at the checkstand. And on Thanksgiving Day when we are praying thanks, we won't be reflecting on a trip to the grocery store. We will be basking in the memories of doing something for ourselves. We'll be telling stories of the huge bull elk that almost trampled our blind. We'll revel in recounting that expert shot Trevor made. We will talk about the beard on the tom Jojo bagged. Excitment will abound as we discuss returning next year in hopes of adding a venison roast or two to the table. And maybe go a little further north on the Rio Grande for a Christmas Goose. Hell, we may even plan a trip to the Nugent Ranch in Michigan for some wild boar so we can add a ham to the feast. Sounds a lot more exciting than a trip to the market doesn't it?
I'm not a fan of the term "Bonding Time". Call me old fashoined but there once was a time when that term was uneccessary. It wasn't needed because "Bonding Time" was a way of life, not something a man had to work into his schedule. But since that term is much used these days, what would you consider a more important bonding experience; a 30 minute trip to the store followed by an evening staring at the tv or god forbid video games, or hundreds of hours spent referencing maps, studying animals, hiking the wildlands and connecting with Mother Nature? The end result on the table is the same but the similarities end there. I for one would choose the option that would instill discipline, gratitude and reverence in my children so that they may pass it on to their own. And if any anti-hunters don't like that, they need to know that harvesting your own meat is no more immoral than paying someone to do it for you .
Hope to see you on the trail...
