Thanksgiving Hunting Traditions

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llowry61

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When I was a kid growing up in west central Ohio it was tradition to go small game hunting Thanksgiving morning. We would all gather at a pre-determined spot, dad, me, my cousins and uncles. I remember hardly being able to sleep the night before. It felt like Christmas to me.

Those days are long gone, but I remember them fondly.

I can remember the first rabbit, pheasant, quail, squirrel duck deer and goose I shot.

When we got done, we would all head to the home of whoever was hosting the meal that year. The youngest members of the hunting party (me) would clean the game, and then we would eat a huge meal falling asleep watching football.

What I wouldn't give for one more hunt, one more meal and a nap after watching football with all those that are no longer with us.

This year I will give thanks for the time I had with them and the time I have left with those unable to hunt.

Anyone else have traditions that have faded with time ?
 
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When my wife's family was still large (12 aunts and uncles, tons of cousins), they gathered every Thanksgiving in N. GA. The men always went on a rabbit hunt using the beagles the TN cousins provided. Great time for all.
 
Depending on the weather and wins for the day, I would set the tone for what we might hunt.

I liked Pheasant for an easy walk and hunt , over chasing chucker or Quail
or sitting in a cold blind at dark thirty, for ducks and geese, but it was all good.

My brother and I were the youngest and also had to clean all the birds but
the nice meal and being with family & friends, made up for it.

It has been many years now and only my brother & I are all that is left
of the old hunting parties.

The "New" young kids, are not into hunting, so it looks like a dead end.
 
When my kids were young, one of my cousins bought an Adirondack great camp called Albedor for the use of the extended family. Up to about 70 of us would be there during the summer, but when the kids grew up, a guys Thanksgiving tradition began. It was just the fathers and sons, and they called it a "hunting trip", but no guns or game were involved.
I never asked what they did, but I'm fairly sure there was drinking.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk
 
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When I was a teen, my buddies and I did duck hunts on Thanksgiving mornings. Then a nap. Then football with the elders while the ladies got the feast ready. The smell of the turkey filled the house. Even got Champagne with my dinner. Miss those days.
 
My tradition is to freeze my butt off on public trying to get any of the millions of geeze overhead, or ducks unseen, to get close enough to blast, before admitting defeat and just eating normal Thanksgiving food. At least last year I found a couple cans of high life where I made my blind, a bountiful feast.
 
The bull elk rifle season in the units I hunt starts on Black Friday (some years it's a week later). Son #2 and I somehow managed to draw tags this year for the third year in a row. We'll be scouting on Thanksgiving and the day before, hunting the rest of the weekend.
 
Quail hunt then football when dinner was at my folks' house. When we went to my Uncle in St. Louis area it was goose hunting on the Mississippi then dinner and football. My uncles taught me to mix their drinks at a young age (probably 7 or 8) so I was always the designated bartender. My uncles and aunts are gone. Dad is 96 and my mom went into long term care in September. Things change.
 
When I was a wee lad each Thanksgiving we would have our Thanksgiving hunt. One year it would be at our property and the next year it would be at our uncle who lived about a mile away. Both he and my father each had a pack of beagles and we would use the pack on the property we hunted. There were always about ten or twelve hunters and the number of rabbits taken was from six to twenty four one year. Those were the good old days.
 
For 20 + years, I would spend Thanksgiving day with family and then sit down to dinner. After the pumpkin pie I’d anxiously asked to be excused. Getting the nod from Mom, I’d pack the tuck and head out to Maryland’s Eastern shore to the hunt club to setup for a week of deer hunting that started the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving.
 
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I too, used to go rabbit hunting on Thanksgiving with my two older brothers growing up in central KY. We always went early in the morning, came home to eat, and watch some football afterwards. I remember it always seemed like it was raining on Thanksgiving morning. We haven't done it in years, but they are fond memories. Kinda like those memories of Christmas morning when we kids. Man, I love looking back at those old slides and seeing all the cool toys we got for Christmas!
 
When I was a young adult, my dad had retired and he and mom moved to the country. We had a family friend who owned 4 sections of land and we had sole hunting rites to it by working for the guy who owned it or providing service to him at little to no cost. We had always had holiday meals and I come from a large family. 12 of us kids, spouses and grandkids.
When the folks moved to the country Thanksgiving pheasant hunts were ritual and mandatory participation. Some very fond memories.
This will be the first year I have been able to gather my little family at the ranch we manage for the holiday. Quail and pheasant hunting for 3 days is on the schedule.
Thanks for rekindling fond memories
 
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