A few years ago we hosted a daddy-daughter hunting event that, without question, became my favorite event we’ve ever done.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect with four girls between 9 and 11 years old.
By the end of the weekend, I was blown away. It was like hearding cats (kittens) but I was still blown away!
Not just by how well they shot. Not just by how quickly they learned safety. But by how they leaned in to every part of it.
They did not hang back.
They took over.
When it came time to butcher, they pushed their dads out of the way and said, “I got it.”
They watched Chef Joe break down a deer, then grabbed a knife and did it themselves. They asked smart questions. They paid attention. They cared about shot placement. They cared about doing it right. One of them talked about feeling bad when we could not recover a hog. That matters.
They understood it.
That weekend reminded me what the future of hunting really is.
It is not about pulling a trigger.
It is about becoming a provider.
It is about understanding that food does not magically appear at the grocery store. Something has to die in order for us to eat. The only difference is whether you are willing to be part of that process.
When kids see the full journey, from the field to the table, something changes. They respect it. They value it. They take ownership of it.
That is why we are doing this again.
This year we are teaming up with Ravin Crossbows and co-hosting this event at Cross Bell Ranch.
If you have been there, you know why.
There is no better place to carry this tradition forward.
Each parent-child team will have the opportunity to hunt 1 doe and 2 hogs together. This is not a drop-off camp. This is a hunt you do side by side.
And here is the part that matters to families.
Kids attend free. Parents pay regular price.
Your child hunts with you, from your list of animals. You learn together. You process together. You cook together.
That is the whole point.
Hunting has always been about provision.
Somewhere along the way, in some cases, we let it turn into something else. Trophies. Photos. Social media.
This event is about getting back to the foundation.
Safety first.
Respect for the animal.
Learning how to process meat.
Understanding where your food comes from.
Spending real time with your kid without a screen in your hand.
If you have a kid under the age of 18and you think they might be too young, they are not.
If they can understand safety, they can do this.
If you want to raise a provider instead of a consumer, this is a pretty good place to start.
We would be honored to host you at Cross Bell Ranch and carry this tradition forward.
