AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 43
20 gauges.
And we're getting started with
archery. The first deer they will ever
get will be with a bow.
Why are early teal and dove hunting
great for introducing children to
hunting?
The weather is good. You can hunt
in shorts, and the kids don't have to sit
still or stay really quiet like they would
have to during deer season.
It's also a sport that mom can go
sit and read a book. We've done
that. One year Steve's daughter came
with us, and she was able to do her
homework. Her mom was also sitting
against the weeds on a picnic blanket.
And everything is pretty that time of
year – golden. Most of all, it's a good
opportunity for us to be together as a
family and be involved in each other's
lives.
Even though the boys aren't ready
to shoot yet, I let them help me with
carrying ammo and setting up decoys.
I let them handle the birds and hold my
gun. And I'm talking to them the entire
time about safety and responsibility
and explaining it to them in ways they
can understand. To keep them happy,
I always make sure to bring water,
snacks and sunscreen with me.
Any ending thoughts?
I take my sons hunting because it's
important to get away from the TV and
to maintain a connection with nature.
But also grab your neighbor kid. It's
important to open up your garage and
reach out a little bit. I've had 10-15
kids go through the hunter safety
course just from the neighborhood.
Many of these kids, I could see that
they didn't have a dad, and I would
try to get them going. Even if they're
not interested in it – I just take them
anyway and give them the chance to
choose what they like or don't.
Like what Steve did for you.
Exactly. Give back. And he wouldn't
take me for a long time. I'd come up to
his house all the time, but he wouldn't
take me hunting until I went through
the hunter safety course. That was a
good thing.
If you care about hunting, you have
to do your part to pass it on the right
way.
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Cody Bisgard plays with shotgun shells while dove hunting with his dad.
