Winchester stole some of my thoughts.


I would also throw in leases. When I was growing up (39 now, so I'm not that old), my dad and I could take a short drive down the road and about any farmer would let us hunt. Now, it seems that they would let you, but they have leased the hunting right and can't. We just had too many things going on to have had a lease half way across the state.

I think we as parents are also to blame. At dinner time, we make them eat their desert last, at christmas we save the best gift for last, but when it comes to hunting, it seems many fathers take them from the hunter safety course to the deer stand. I bet most of us, like myself, cut our teeth in squirrel woods, or rabbit hunting, quail hunting or hunting bull frogs with our first 22 or shotgun. Deer hunting was something we worked up to after years of honing or skills and accuracy shooting at tiny targets. So when we finally did start deer hunting we already serious hunters who paid their dues. Now I think many kids have hit the "climax" of their hunting experience too soon and move on to something else. I have a tons of students nowdays that have never killed a squirrel, rabbit, coon or quail. They believe hunting is sitting in shooting house overlooking a field of biologic. That do not appreciate the hunting heritage and diversity of hunting the volunteer state has to offer. They are just not as "invested" into the hunting experience as we were, so it is easier to walk away from.