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I hunt pheasants and deer, but haven't gotten to go out for deer in several years because finals week was always during shotgun season. I don't get to go out much anymore, but that's ok because the bird numbers just aren't there right now. And with 7.50 corn its not going to get much better. Farmers are pulling out of CRP to farm more land, combine that with some bad winters/springs and you have a recipe for severely reduced bird numbers. Sad, really.

I was an avid hunter when I lived in Iowa - duck, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel. I haven't hunted for years, but deer hunting is big down here and I going to start next season once my shoulder is healed. Down here, though, you hunt from a stand in the woods with a rifle.

Isn't that how most people hunt for them in Iowa?

Huh. Both times I went was with a rifle, I think. One was a .270 rifle. I've got a nice scar on my forehead from the scope.

Oh. Apparently I wasn't doing things the legal way because there's no way in hell am I sitting outside in January up there. I didn't shoot any, anyway. Actually I think one of the places might have been in Missouri right on the border. Maybe it's different there.

I took my 3 year old squirrel hunting yesterday we shot 3 he was really pumped. The only bummer was he wanted us to shoot a bear I had to keep explaining to him that bears don't live around here so he had to settle for the hunting channel version of a bear hunt. I only shoot what I'm willing to clean and eat and man I forgot how tough cleaning a squirrel is. People really need to understand how meat gets on your table and cleaning a varmint is a good way to teach your kids food doesn't magically come in wrapped up packages. I live in the city but grew up on a farm and I want to teach my son's the same things I learned while growing up and so far my oldest son loves the hunting and fishing and even enjoys watching me clean them.

I've really only been pheasant hunting, with regard to what I've ever gotten a hunting license for. And with the numbers being as terrible as they have been I haven't bothered with that for the last couple years. This will be the third year I haven't gone. I kinda miss it, but there's just no birds to shoot.

Gone coyote hunting a couple of times. We used to go shoot pigeons quite a bit from barns and bridges.

No problem the only hard part about cleaning anything is getting over the fear of cleaning it, you have to realize its going to be bloody and messy however there's a great deal of satisfaction after its all said and done. Take your time and Youtube has videos on cleaning about anything the anatomy of animals are all very similiar dig in and learn to marinate. My three year old has caught a bass, bluegill, perch, catfish and almost a carp it broke his kiddy poles line at the edge of the boat. He has also eaten all these along with some frog legs from some big Bullies we got out of a pond. I give him some ranch and he goes to town we havent tried the squirrels yet but he keeps talking about when are we going to cook them dad. The wife will even eat them after I'm done marinating and cooking them with onions and garlic they turn out very good and people are surprised what they are actaully eating.

I like fishing, thats a great time. I'm a catch and release guy though.

My brother (he's 14) went hunting for the first time about a month ago. Hit a 12-point buck. We're having it stuffed as we speak. We're also going to have waaaayyyy too much deer meat.

I personally have never been hunting. I don't think I would enjoy it that much.

Have this cat show you how to clean a deer.

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Freaking nuts.

Can't hunt this year. Usually deer and squirrel, maybe quail and occasional pheasant. My real passion is fishing. Both soft and hard water. Probably none of that this year either, since the surgery. Next year look out. My dream is to elk hunt at least once before I croak.

Go for it Barry. Get em started early. Fishing is great fun.