First Time Boar Hunting with My Son: A Rite of Passage in South Florida
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For over ten years, I have been waiting for the day I could take one of my kids hunting with me.
Taking my son hunting for the first time was an experience I’ll never forget, and I know he
won’t, either. We went to a spot in the Florida Everglades, a tricky and unforgiving landscape
that has its boundaries whether you see them or not. This was the perfect setting for his initiation
into the world of hunting. But before we even set foot in the wilderness, I made sure he was
prepared. I wanted him to understand that there’s more to hunting than pulling a trigger.
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Preparing for the Hunt
In the weeks leading up to the trip, I took time to remind him of the fundamentals of gun safety.
He learned how to handle a rifle, check the chamber, and always treat the weapon as if it was
loaded even if he knew it wasn’t. But beyond the physical mechanics, I made sure he understood
the ethics of hunting. It wasn’t just about taking an animal; it was about respecting it and the
environment in which we were hunting. We spent hours studying, identifying what is beyond
your target and where to place his shot to ensure a clean, humane harvest. Ethical hunting
became a key lesson, and I made sure he grasped the importance of taking responsibility for each
shot.
To reinforce those lessons, we watched countless boar hunting videos together, discussing the
hunt’s techniques, challenges, and unpredictability. He also practiced his trigger pull repeatedly,
ensuring his shot was smooth and precise. I didn’t want him jerking the rifle when the moment
came. Patience and steadiness are key qualities for any hunter, and I could see he was getting
better every day.
Managing Expectations
When the day of the trip arrived, his excitement was mixed with a bit of nervousness. It’s one
thing to watch hunting videos or practice with targets, but another thing entirely when you’re in
the field. I reminded him of something crucial—hunting is unpredictable. We may not even see a
hog. If we did, there might not be an ethical shot. And even if he took a shot, it might not be
perfect, and we might not recover the animal. These were hard truths he needed to be prepared
for. Hunting isn’t always about success; it’s about learning from the experience, no matter the
outcome.
The Hunt Begins
By the time the sun was starting to set, just after 6 pm, we heard the unmistakable sounds of hogs
nearby. My son’s heart raced as we attempted to sneak up on them. However, the boars caught
our scent before he had a chance to aim, teaching him his first live lesson in the field—animals
in the wild don’t play by our rules. They had already vanished into the brush, reminding us that
nature is always one step ahead.
As the hours passed and the daylight began to fade, a thunderstorm loomed on the horizon. With
the rain the Everglades had seen recently, I worried about the potential challenges of tracking a
hog after a shot. The ground had a lot of standing water, and any animal running through it
would lose a blood trail.
Suddenly, we spotted a couple of hogs foraging about 45-50 yards away. This was it. He took the
rifle, steadying himself as he watched one of the hogs move from our right to the left. It felt a
little too long and my concern of being scented again grew. I was curious if he was going to fire
or back out, and I was also wondering what he was seeing through the scope, did I teach him
how to aim well enough? He had to reposition around a tree a few times, and I wondered if this
window of opportunity would close before he could take the shot.
Then, the perfect opportunity presented itself, and he squeezed the trigger.
The boar dropped instantly, and by the time we approached, it was clear that it was over. I could
see the pride in his eyes, mixed with a sense of gratitude and respect. He walked a little taller that
day, not just because he made a successful shot but because he had followed through with
everything he had learned.
The Aftermath and Preparing the Meat
He’d helped me dress deer before, but hogs are different, and I wanted him to experience that. To
prevent him from associating the strong odor wild hogs have with the food he’d eventually eat,
we hosed it down thoroughly before we began. We gutted, skinned, and processed the boar
together. He helped me remove the loins, quarter the meat, and brine it to prepare it for the next
stage.
We ground most of the meat for sausages and kept some cuts for meals. After brining it for two
days, the time had come for his harvest to make its way to the table. Our first meal was kids
choice, shredded boar shoulder grilled cheese sandwiches. We smoked the meat on the Traeger,
then finished grilling them on the Blackstone. It was a simple dish but loaded with meaning.
The Moment of Pride
Every night at dinner, the kids thank their mother for the meal she prepares. But that night was
different. After we all shared in the meal my son had brought home, it was me, his mother, and
his sister who thanked him.
In that moment, I saw a transformation. He wasn’t just a boy who went on a hunt; he was a
young man who had learned patience, respect, and the value of hard work. His first hunt had
tested him, but he came out the other side taller, prouder, and ready for more.
This is such a sweet article!!! I love how much care and respect you’ve taught him! And what a huge moment for a young man! To be so young and be able to provide for your family in such a meaningful way must feel incredible! And to start with such an invasive but still yummy species is just the icing on top. I hope he’s had many more successful hunts. And I have to say a shredded boar grilled cheese sounds incredible, this kid knows what’s up!