My Young Son

[Big_Dave]

Back when my son turned old enough to go, I enrolled him in the Firearms Safety Course and bought him his first .22 rifle (it was a requirement for the course) a couple months before the course started.

Between the time I bought him the rifle and the course started, I taught him how to be safe when handling a gun and how to shoot it. When the time came for the course, he passed with flying colors and several inspiring comments by the instructors.

When he turned 15, I bought him his first shotgun...a Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump. He had fired mine many times in the past, so I figured I'd present him with one that he was familiar with. A couple months after I bought the Mossberg for him, we loaded up all our guns and went down to the Sportsman Club with about 6-7 other friends and shot clay pigeons and targets one warm Saturday afternoon. Just between my son and I, we shot up around $400 worth of ammo that day. It was an 'expensive day', but the smile on my sons' face and the time we spent together doing 'man things', was worth it!

Over the next couple years, we did quite a bit of pheasant hunting each fall. Due to dwindling numbers of pheasants in southern MN, our luck was less than desired, but we had fun spending time together doing 'man things'.

One year, he came up to me and asked me if we could go deer hunting. Of course we can! So we did. Unfortunately, we didn't get any deer over the next few seasons, but we had fun spending time together doing 'man things'.

Lately (the past 5 years or so and he's gonna be 26 this summer), we have both been too wrapped up in our own lives to take the time to do 'man things' together. :confused:

I hope to change that this fall! The pheasant population is back up to the level it was 25 years ago and the deer are as 'thick as fleas' around here now.

There's no better time to 'renew' my friendship with my son. :cheers:

***Note to Bookworm: Thank you for your story about fishing with your Grandson. It made me think of the times I spent with my son in the great outdoors. :cheers:

[BigChicken]

Sounds like you and your son have had some good times Dave.

I am working up the courage to take my first firearms course. Hopefully this summer.

Just wondering what brought your phesant population back? I never see them anymore around here. I remember they sounded like a helicopter taking off when we used to roam the woods as kids, scared me to death.

One of my favorite memories is sitting on the kitchen floor in my neighbors house, with him cleaning phesants, and me waiting patiently for the tail feathers. Never would eat them, saw him scrape out too many grashoppers and stuff for me.

[Big_Dave]

I am working up the courage to take my first firearms course. Hopefully this summer.
Good for you! If possible, try to get in some practice before the class starts so you're familiar with the firearm.
Just wondering what brought your phesant population back? I never see them anymore around here. I remember they sounded like a helicopter taking off when we used to roam the woods as kids, scared me to death.

One of my favorite memories is sitting on the kitchen floor in my neighbors house, with him cleaning phesants, and me waiting patiently for the tail feathers. Never would eat them, saw him scrape out too many grashoppers and stuff for me.
Well, there's a lot of different factors that are the reason for the increase in the pheasant population. The past few winters have been milder than they were back in the 90's. That's one of the biggest reasons. Also, more crops are being planted, reducing the number of 'set aside' (CRP) acres. Also, there's several organizations like Pheasants Forever and MN Pheasants that raise birds and do things to improve their habitat.

As far as how they taste? Properly prepared, pheasant is one of the better meals one can eat.

As far as what you saw when your friend was cleaning one, you gotta remember that they aren't fed like chickens in a farmyard.;)