WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY DAD IN THE OUTDOORS

Growing up, I always looked up to my dad. A man of few words and a kind smile, he seemed to always have the answers no matter how difficult the situation. To this day, he’s my first call when I need advice. Throughout all the phases of my life, he has taught me important lessons.

In subtle ways, he managed to ingrain independence into my character by letting me make mistakes. He showed me how to do so many things I still do today, like casting a fishing rod, grilling venison, and even cutting the grass. He had a big impact on who I’ve become.

In honor of Father’s Day, I asked some of my outdoors-loving cohorts to share the impact their fathers had on them. Turns out, I’m not the only one who had a pretty awesome dad.

What My Dad Taught Me

My dad placed a high value on time spent outside over everything else, regardless of the activity. Missing school was an OK thing in my family as long as your time was being spent outdoors either hiking, fishing, hunting, or exploring. In his mind, you learned more by being outside in the natural world than you did in a classroom. That transferred to my method of learning. So, in college, if I skipped class I tried to make that time productive.

- James D.

I learned patience by sitting alone in the woods.

- Ben B

If we were hunting or fishing we were taught how to process anything we killed, and that it had to be eaten and used. For example, we went squirrel hunting as kids, and skinned the animals as soon as we got home to either freeze for later or eat that night. We preserved the skins for use in dad's college courses. He taught in the Wildlife and Fisheries Department at the University of Tennessee, and they used those skins for mammals classes.

- Chase E.

We learned to identify trees, plants, birds, and animals by sight or sound. As we spent our days outside, dad would quiz us on trees and shrubs as we walked (still does).

- Dan L.

In the summers, my dad would take me and my brother fishing out at the state park. He taught us how to bait the hook with a worm and cast our line, and that if a fish wasn’t big enough to take home to eat, we had to throw it back. My brother and I developed a respect for living creatures, and we learned patience – it can take a long time to catch a fish for dinner. And sometimes, you come home empty handed.

- Lee M.

My dad taught me to always carry a bandana and a pocket knife, because you never know when you will need one or both. Still do this to this day.

- Dan B.

I remember early mornings walking through the woods in the fall with my dad. He would walk really slowly, and I would always be one step behind him. Sometimes when he stopped, I would crash into him. He told me I needed to slow down and just enjoy the solitude of being in nature. I learned to appreciate how alive the woods are. All the creatures coexisting and going about their lives, wind blowing through the trees with their branches falling – it truly is a world of its own. Ever since then, I walk slowly going to my tree stand, not just to avoid spooking a deer but to take in that moment.

- Eric K.

My father taught us how to use a compass and a map so that we always knew where we were, and if we got lost, we knew how to find our way out of the woods.

John L.

My brothers and I learned hunting as a tool for helping maintain healthy wildlife populations and saw it as necessary for conservation and stewardship.

- Sam S.

He taught me gun safety, and how to shoot without injuring an animal. Same goes for using a knife, hatchet, or axe.

- Matt S.

My four brothers and I were all involved in the Boy Scouts, with three of us earning the Eagle Scout rank, so in combination with spending time with dad in the woods, it provided a pretty healthy dose of outdoor respect and knowledge. Two of us went on to obtain degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, which I feel influences everything I do, and I know my brother feels the same.

- Chad P.

Every Thanksgiving my dad would take me, my brothers, uncles, and our friends on an annual “deer drive” out on our land. We scouted the brush for the best spot for everyone to sit and made sure everyone was aware of their surroundings for safety. I remember my first time sitting alone. I was so excited and nervous. I had a hard time sitting still at that age, so I had to teach myself to stay calm and not to move. I had a shotgun with double ought buckshot loaded and ready. I remember seeing a six point headed my way. I had a good shot, so I took it. I couldn’t believe I hit it. This is where I had my first buck fever moment. It was like a shot of adrenaline came out of nowhere. I was shaking for 30-45 seconds.

- Freddy R.