I was 12 when I killed my first deer and have hunted all of my life since then. I have killed a bear, a mountain lion, an antelope, three caribou, six elk, a bunch of deer, including five axis deer in Hawaii, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasant, quail, coyotes, sage rats, and other critters. But the highlight of my hunting career was being with my boys when they got their first deer and elk. Several of my grandkids have shot their first deer in the last couple of years, as well as elk, and one of my grandsons has killed several wild pigs and some axis deer. My grandson in Idaho killed his first elk a couple of days ago, and he just turned ten. After the kill, there comes the field dressing and the pack out, often many miles in rugged country. When you get the elk home, you cut it up, grind it, vacuum seal it, and put it in the freezer. We usually processed all our games on the dining room table, and the whole family was involved. I think the camping we did as a family on our annual hunting trips was one of the most powerful parenting tools we had as we raised our eight kids. When God delivered the nation of Israel from Egypt, He promptly took them on a forty-year camping trip. God planned to develop character in His people. Hunting is like life. You have a goal, some accomplish it, but most do not. The ones who work hard, plan well, and acquire many skills usually succeed, just like in life.