During the holiday season, hunting activities are generally carried out in the department stores or retail shops, where people scavenge for last-minute gifts, supplies and crucial cooking ingredients.

For those who are more inclined to the outdoors however, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day represent sublime opportunities for hunting as a family. Actually, Thanksgiving is perceived to be one of the final days of the peak season for deer hunters because the year’s finest days for a pursuit are nearly finished.

With the majority of hunters enjoying the day off from work, combined with it being a last chance to snare a massive buck, it would be wise for them to pounce at this juncture.

Clayton Sustala, an ardent outdoorsman and an avid hunter, has explained how engaging in outside activities can bring families together throughout the holidays.

Community Of Belonging & Support

Sustala claims that spending time with a group of individuals who are after the same goal will establish a community of trust and association. Children can receive support and guidance from their parents in these surroundings, as they learn hunting methods and gain valuable time bonding with the family. Before your kids grow up, you should get them involved in outdoor activities that you are a part of, passing down your love of hunting to them.

Hunting Instills Tradition

Numerous families that partake in hunting possess strong deer camp traditions that have continued to be honored over the years. Typically, the process sees extended family members meet, camping out in tents, trailers, ice houses or shacks as each hunting season is on the calendar. Here, older members can narrate details of previous hunts, catch up on relevant life matters and carefully plan out the following day’s hunting activities as they are gathered around a warm fire. Traditions of this type commence when everyone is invited to join the hunting season and savor quality moments with the family. Setting it up does not require extensive efforts, and your family will cherish the joyous memories from the get-together as they all partake in something they love.

Away From Technology

Occasionally, everyone can use a breather from technology, the endless scrolling that is prevalent in its use, our eyes refusing to break eye contact with the screen. Hunting parties offer a tremendous outlet to accomplish this, as people can gain separation from their cell phones, work emails, social media or video games, which will also reduce mental stress and connect them with nature’s beautiful presence. Watching the sun rise, hearing the forest come to life through the cries of animals, wind whistling at your side; these are remarkable scenes to appreciate.

For those who struggle to separate themselves from technology, Clayton Sustala recommends that you teach them of the technological advances that have helped the hunting community such as stealth cameras and scent eliminators.  Show the youngsters how to utilize these devices and point out why they are essential pieces of the overall hunting approach. If you put your own phone away and focus on something else relative to the hunt, like teaching new tracking skills, the children will be more likely to copy your actions and take your advice to heart and find that the time spent without their electronics will be very enjoyable.

Passing The Torch

Hunting traditions are crucial, especially when one considers that recruitment and retention are serious threats currently. Hunters are acknowledged as some of the world’s finest conservationists, as they donate millions of dollars on a yearly basis to support wildlife management and habit conservation efforts.

While these traditional hunters inevitably age, there is a noticeable lack of youthful insertion coming in to fill the gap, according to Clayton Sustala. Less hunters are purchasing licenses and specific wildlife stamps or initiatives, which directly results in fewer dollars being spent to keep the wildlife population healthy and well-balanced.

Again, this harkens back to the whole idea of tradition, a concept that could be lost if this pattern fails to slow down. However, by involving your children at a young age and taking your family hunting during your holiday time together, you can inspire the next generation of your family to continue your traditions of holiday hunting.

To find out more about Clayton Sustala, visit his website at https://www.claytonsustala.com/