| As you start reading this article, you may find | | | | looked for sheds and scrapes, observed feeding |
| yourself eagerly anticipating opening day of hunting | | | | areas and, of course, checked the photos from the |
| season. You probably recall that big buck that you | | | | landowner's strategically placed scouting cameras. |
| spotted and bagged, or missed. Some of you may | | | | They knew there were deer on the property and |
| be hoping to introduce a son or daughter, grandson | | | | were familiar with their habits. They saw several |
| or granddaughter to the sport-to share some | | | | does and a couple of bucks, but did not have a shot. |
| together time, appreciate nature, or make new | | | | The next day, they returned to their stand with |
| discoveries in the great outdoors. | | | | renewed hope. They were rewarded with the |
| Ohio has a great program for young hunters. It | | | | sighting of a small buck. At first, all the new hunter |
| offers an apprentice license for new hunters. This | | | | could do was whisper, "da...,da...,da..." He couldn't even |
| license was developed as part of a nationwide effort | | | | get the word "dad" out of his mouth. His dad |
| called "Families Afield." These projects were | | | | whispered assurances about remembering what they |
| developed to assist hunters in passing along the | | | | had practiced and slowly he raised his gun and fired. |
| hunting heritage by allowing new hunters, both youth | | | | The excitement of this first hunt lasted through the |
| and adults, to experience hunting under the | | | | tracking, the recovery, the trip home, and to school |
| mentorship of a licensed adult. A young hunter may | | | | the next day where he shared his experience with |
| purchase up to 3 apprentice licenses before being | | | | his teacher-also an avid hunter. |
| required to successfully complete the hunter | | | | Each time we make vegetable soup, his favorite, or |
| education course, pass the exam and obtain a regular | | | | spaghetti sauce with "his deer" he talks about the |
| hunting license. The fee for this license is $10 for | | | | time he and Dad were in the woods and how he |
| both resident and non-resident applicants. | | | | couldn't talk because he was so excited. Now, when |
| Youth season in Ohio is the weekend before the | | | | he enrolls in the hunter safety course offered |
| opening day of gun season. On the first day, our 9 | | | | through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, |
| year-old and his dad headed for their tree stand. | | | | he has both the motivation and the real life |
| They were hunting on private property and had done | | | | experience to help him succeed. |
| a lot of pre-season scouting. They had followed trails, | | | | |