A common question for people, both hunters and non-hunters is "why is hunting important". I will try to answer that question this week with a series of posts on the topic.

Reason #1: It creates a great tradition to bring families together

Like many duck hunters, my dad was the key person in getting me to love this sport. Over the years we have spent many mornings together in the duck blind and invariably when we get together outside of hunting it normally comes up in conversation. If it is not in the middle of the season, it likely involves scouting or what we are going to buy for the next season. This bond has been strengthened over the past 20 years and is key to the fabric of our relationship. It is great to have something in common with family members that everyone is passionate about. Even though you can probably recite the story that you dad tells in your sleep because you have heard it so many times, it still never ceases to put a smile on your face as he recalls the day that the divers just kept coming into the duck decoys. Yes, it is times like these that allow us the memories of family members when they have passed on by. It also allows for a deeper understanding of your family members through the time spent together hunting.

This is a key reason that duck hunting is important in my family. Do you have any reasons that duck hunting is important in your family?