A FATHER'S LESSONS

June is the month for fathers…or at least has the Father’s Day event. Most dads are the primary reason that kids themselves become sportsmen. It was no different in my family but maybe a hair less conventional. I have to thank my dad for being the main reason I am the person I am today with the outlooks that I hold. I realized it recently when we were on the phone discussing each of our relatively old ages. He kept mentioning traits he developed as he got older that sounded familiar, it was inspirational for me as it was proof that I actually am his son and not adopted, as he “claims”.

For example, he’s been huffing and puffing, working hard training for another marathon. I too have been running and huffing and puffing. I too was working hard, so hard I could barely finish my cigar as I chugged down the road. There’s more. He likes to wind down with some wine and I like to cool down with a six pack of beer after the run (I only have three beers before the run). My Dad understands the science behind wine as a benefit to health, I know that sodium is good to replace sweat and beer has lots of sodium…and the similarities go on…he can’t deny this bouncing, bubbly, boy…with the cigar and six pack…

My father did introduce me to fishing. We used to fish for dinner every Friday after work and I got to go with him and help. He used me as bait my first few years until he realized I was pretty good at chores. Seriously, he did introduce me to trout fishing. We visited a relative in Northern Michigan and went to a world renowned trout stream. We didn’t have a lot of money at the time so my dad decided to sacrifice and not buy a license and just teach us to fish. That he did, too. After trying patiently to explain things, he finally decided to demonstrate. He picked up a rod and as he explained currents and where trout lay, he deftly laid his lure in the perfect place and as he talked, he picked up a beautiful rainbow trout. My father is an honest law-abiding man. So, after he landed the fish, he promptly went out and bought the expensive out of state license. Then he also fished at will…and didn’t catch another fish the rest of the trip. From that experience I learned that if you want to keep catching trout, don’t buy a license…

My pop introduced me to hunting, too. We hunted deer and a lot of small game. I would get to go along even though I was too young to carry a real gun, but he made me feel useful. Then one day while rabbit hunting, my dad had an epiphany, of sorts. A rabbit dodged out in front of him and he shot it with his shotgun. At that point, standing over the “over-shot” bunny, he said he felt small and silly being a grown man chasing little bunny’s with a shotgun. He was pretty much a sustenance sportsman and the rabbit not being usable changed his whole outlook on sport hunting. Even though my dad’s hunting trips dwindled following the incident, I was okay with it. After that I didn’t have to wear a collar or chase rabbits any more unless I wanted to.

Despite his drop off in hunting my dad still was able to continue my indoctrination to hunting and fishing by introducing me to my uncles who had no qualms about using me to run birds and be bait. To keep things rolling, he got me my first BB gun at an early age and set me loose. He also got me my first real bow as well as my first fake bow.

My dad also was an integral part of how I learned navigation and survival skills. Several times he sent me off to a camp or distant relative and when I returned home, our house would be empty and have a “For Sale” sign in front. Without those learning experiences I wouldn’t have learned such skills as how to find people on the witness protection program and to live off the land, not to mention lock picking.

Dad doesn’t come on hunting or fishing trips anymore but he does like to come to camp to socialize and relax. He also enjoys hearing the stories my brothers and I tell of our exploits in the woods. Sometimes he gets a little angry if I exaggerate the stories a little bit…well…remember to treat your father on Father’s Day and dads, return the favor.

See you along the stream.