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| Frank Richardson and son, Frank, are demonstrating their technique that's been letting young Frank to shoot a 12 gauge since he was 4 years old. Take a look at young Frank's deer on page 7. |
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The kids at our ranch spend time outdoors with family/friends (and guide),
have a great time, and also practice and learn adult-level responsibilities
-- gun safety and shooting skills, and proper and respectful handling of
game and meat. Hopefully they start to understand, first of all, that they are allowed to interact with nature, and that to really know it you have to interact with it. They then start to see for themselves the cycle of living things and the serious business that nature must take care of to keep life going...and how we and the game we hunt fit into the picture. We believe to have only "hands off" experiences, learned only in the school room , on TV or other indoor activities, and maybe some nature walks, is a poor substitute for spending days outdoors, taking on a challenging goal - whether it's hunting or something else. It actually deprives kids of their birthright to be fully part of nature and to experience it first hand. And to experience it in depth. We hope that through the excitement of hunting young folks start to appreciate our own native game. For example, how many kids in the US know about our own wild rams and goats -- awe inspiring and endangered, while at the same time they can tell you about endangered tigers and elephants? Pronghorn antelope - what they look like and how unique they are? How many know what an elk or a moose is (besides Bullwinkle), and that they are actually deer? That our, amazing whitetail were brought back from the brink of extinction. That they are not just a traffic hazard, or the cartoon character, Bambi ? That the first major conservationist in our country was the avid hunter, president Theodore Roosevelt? The hunting experience builds bonds among families and friends and shows the kids - in a way they'll never forget- what is real as compared to TV and computer games. It gives them a special kind of excitement and pride when they can see for themselves what they are able to do. Our goal is to give the kids not only a great and memorable experience, meat for the table, and maybe a handsome trophy for the wall, but also to help them know the fun and thrill of hunting and to get the young hunters started out right, and help them learn to be responsible hunters and outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen. We're happy to see kids have a great time and memories that last a lifetime, and also to see them develop confidence in themselves and pride when they participate in ethical hunting and all that goes along with it. While quality hunting, learned early, should be based on good personal ethics, another, important aspect is that how we and our kids hunt now could determine whether in the future our children will be able to hunt at all. We have lower kids hunt prices to help out families that want to introduce their sons and daughters to the thrill of hunting and the outdoors. Family and friends are welcome to come, bring along their cameras, and be part of the experience (and there are no extra charges for non hunters). Kids prices are listed at the bottom of the PRICES page. |