May 12, 2019 | Christensen Arms

For my family, hunting is the tradition of generations. Long before I was a wife or a mother the sport came to me by blood in my youth, following in the footsteps of my own parents. I was eight or nine years old when I joined my mother and father on one of their mule deer hunts for the first time and discovered for myself what would become one of the longest and most important family traditions of my life. It was their passion for hunting and the guidance they offered that instilled in me the lessons I strive to teach my own children today.

Thanks to our similar upbringings, my husband and I have been hunting together since we met. We’ve been married for more than twenty years now and have been lucky enough to fill so much of that time with countless tags and memorable seasons, both good and bad. Of course as soon as our children were old enough, we wanted them to be a part of it too.

I’ve been blessed with two daughters and a son who all began coming along to hunting camp when they were only a few years old. To us, spending time in the outdoors is about the tradition. Quality family time together we know is coming every year. We do everything including the processing ourselves because I wanted to teach my children the importance of the entire experience, to know where their food comes from and to respect the outdoors and the wildlife they will someday have to cherish and preserve for their own.

It’s not just hunting either. I love shooting with my kids, and we do it all the time. I want them to be comfortable with firearms, to learn patience and discipline through proper use and practices. I hope to empower them with all of the skills and knowledge they need to be successful wherever their own interest in the sport may take them.

Not too long ago I tackled a once-in-a-lifetime goat hunt. An unforgettable experience on its own, it was made infinitely more important to me by the experience of going the distance and taking that shot with my two daughters by my side every step of the way. As a mother, there are no words to describe how proud I have been to watch my children become accomplished hunters themselves over the years.

Someday, it will be their turn to make those memories of their own with the next generation. I hope that they find it as rewarding as I have to share the outdoors with their children. Hunting is so much more than meat when we move through the field together.

This guest post has been contributed by Desirae—a Christensen Arms employee.