By Austin Lang

In the brisk embrace of autumn air, the kaleidoscope of fall colors set the stage for 2023 to be a season of firsts with my wide-eyed and eager kids. Beyond the pursuit of game, this fall held the promise of passing down cherished traditions and forging lasting memories that would bind us to the great outdoors. Before fall, we could only imagine the twists, the lessons, and the strengthening of familial bonds that awaited us on our hunting expeditions.

Let’s set the stage: Living in southeastern North Dakota with our two boys, Karter and Bodee, presented a fascinating contrast. Karter, leaning toward the indoors, tends to find solace in admiring fall colors from behind glass while utilizing the luxuries of climate control. On the flip side, Bodee exudes a zest for the outdoors, a miniature adventurer keen on hunting everything, all the time, in his desire to amass a stockpile of fresh meat. While both enjoy outdoor activities like biking and go-karting, the world of hunting and fishing distinctly appeals to Bodee’s interests.

This year marked a milestone as Karter qualified for his first deer through the apprentice hunter license program, while Bodee, not quite old enough, armed himself with a .410 shotgun from Grandma as well as a stockpile of upland and Bismuth loads. The stage was set for our family’s fall adventure.

Long before the autumn air turned cool, our preparations began with finding a suitable rifle for Karter. Paper targets yielded satisfactory results, with his groups often outshining mine—perhaps a blend of coffee jitters and youthful precision. Transitioning to a more realistic scenario, we devised the “toaster drill.” As a throwback to the movie Dodgeball, I uttered “If you can hit a toaster, you can hit a deer”! If Karter could hit a toaster at 200 yards, I knew he could bag a deer. Our yard, shelterbelt, and adjacent hayfield transformed into a hunting ground. Sporting blaze orange gear, rifle, backpack, and binoculars, we embarked on a quest. The gleaming, no-longer-functional heap of stainless steel perched on a bale 140 yards away met its match as Karter’s shot sent it tumbling. He was ready! For Bodee, clay shooting and field-walking practice as well as some basic hunter safety set the stage.

Dove season kicked off with Bodee’s unwavering enthusiasm, spotting doves on every drive and expressing frustration at the unattainable “sitting doves” that always seemed to rest on the other side of posted land. How many times I got the “Dad…they are RIGHT THERE” line rapidly sent my way. Despite the challenges, determination prevailed, leading to his first dove harvest. Later successful puddle-jumping expeditions yielded a few limits of ducks, also much in part to retrieval help from our dog Trigger.  A harvest of Canada Geese and snow geese followed suit. Although Bodee claimed he got his first snow goose, I cannot confirm or deny who actually dropped “that” goose from the storm of geese we feverishly shot at. Succumbing to his insistence, I made sure to get a picture of his “first” snow goose to send to Mom.  

As for Karter, the toaster drill paid off handsomely. The crack of his .223 echoed success! I sprinted—Dad bod and all—to witness the result of a perfectly executed shot by him accompanied on a hunt with his Mom. His first deer became a reality, and the subsequent feasts of jerky, deer steak, and soon-to-come ring sausage were the savory rewards.

Reflecting on the hunting experience with my kids opened my eyes to the nuances I sometimes take for granted. It deepened my appreciation for volunteers in hunter safety programs and highlighted the profound impact it had on my kids’ experiences. Access to hunting grounds near our home also proved invaluable. The season unveiled the emotional spectrum between successful hunts and the humility that accompanies returning empty-handed.

Both kids learned that preparation and hard work enhances success, though sometimes success literally falls from the sky (and almost hits you if you aren’t paying attention). Encouraging others to mentor new hunters or reignite the passion in those who have been away for too long is a call to sustain the future of outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife conservation. Being part of others’ success in this timeless tradition is not just rewarding; it’s essential for a legacy we’re duty-bound to pass on.

Austin Lang is the North Dakota Pheasants Forever Precising Agriculture and Conservation Specialist in Jamestown, ND and a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer.

Featured Photo: Birds in the Hand. The author’s son celebrated success in the field on a number of goose hunts throughout southeastern North Dakota. DEO Photo by Austin Lang/NDPF.