First "Dub" Hunt

             On Saturday our friends, C & C, invited us to hunt outside of Rosebud.  The boys' first dove hunt was a HUGE success.  They had a blast!

             C & C encouraged us to bring the boys and were super accommodating, patient, and included J & L in everything, which was great since we want them to grow up enjoying and appreciating hunting as B and I have. 

             We got situated around a tank, where the boys walked at least 10 miles in the couple of hours we were there; traipsing through mud, 'helping' Remi retrieve, and asking 1,000 questions not in a whisper.

Love watching them enjoy childhood-brings back great memories of my own and hunting w/ my dad.  :)

            As far as a first hunting trip for a 4- and 2-year-old, dove hunting is perfect, as it doesn't require them to do the opposite of what comes naturally: staying still and quiet.  (I think we've got a better idea of whether or not they're ready for deer hunting this season.)

               Here they are 'helping' C (who tagged the first dove, by the way) reward Remi for retrieving the bird.  She turned to me and discretely said that they give Remi the head as a reward/motivator for her retrieving, and asked if it was okay for the boys to see that.  "Of course!" I said.  J enjoyed treating Remi to a couple more heads later in the hunt.

           I didn't get many good pics (most of the good ones are from B's phone), but here's one that gives a glimpse of the level of gross with which we were dealing.

             Hunting makes boys hungry!

             Here they are crossing from B to me, through the mud.  Look at L covering his ears.  :)  

            Their boots were so muddy that they had to wear tennis shoes to church on Sunday.  They're currently outside awaiting a good scrubbing and oiling.  The boots, not the boys.  Since I like to save oiling (saddles and boots) for a rainy day-Mr. Peters taught me that-they may be there for a while.

Update:  I just purchased an identical pair of boots (minus the mud; new, actually) in J's current size on Craigslist for a ridiculously low price.  Sometimes it's just my lucky day.  :)

Got this from cousin Rex after I posted a pic of the boys on fb:  

Ha ha!  Thanks, Rex!  :)