Great job at "Passing it on"!
One of the biggest changes I have seen in deer hunting since I started back in 1966, is the opportunities for younger kids to have success. Around here, it is only in the last few years that youth younger than 12 could hunt legally. Back when I was twelve, my dad was excited for me to hunt, not because he wanted me to get a deer, but that he had another tag to fill and another driver for the swamps. Back then, only deer around were in the big woods to the north. Those farms that now have the most and biggest deer today, back then had none. Access to a stand in the big woods was not a 4-wheeler, much less a short walk.The stand itself was a tree you stood next to. The gun given to me was not chosen because it was accurate, appropriate and safe for me to carry, it was just the only one left(1897 12 ga.). I didn't sit next to my dad, because he was afraid that I would lessen his chances at getting a deer(that we badly needed for food), but was placed at another trail intersection with the idea that I would scare the deer back towards him. Wasn't my dad didn't love me, just that hunting was for food, not just sport. Same went for fishing. Us kids didn't get to cast when we went fishing with dad, we got to watch the poles with minnows on them while he walked farther down the bank and cast. If the bobber went down, we were not allowed to attempt to set the hook and reel the fish in, instead we were to hold on to the pole and yell out to him. Wasn't till we were old enough to go by ourselves that we were allowed to do differently. Bought my first deer rifle with money made washing dishes so I could have a gun I could hit something with. Bought a bow @ 12 so I could hunt by myself in the neighbors woods and actually see deer. I'm not complaining, just remembering. Last few years I have taken my grand-daughters out hunting deer and turkeys starting at the ages of 9. I personally don't even think of hunting myself when they are along. It's not about meat anymore, but passing on the tradition. Change is good.