NATCHEZ &8212; Hunting is mankind&8217;s oldest tradition, passed on from generation to generation since the dawn of time.

This weekend&8217;s start of the youth gun season marked the passing of that tradition from one generation to the next here in the Miss-Lou, as hunters from all across the region brought their children out to experience their first taste of what it means to hunt.

David Glenn McMorris of Livingston, La. brought his 10-year-old son David Nolan McMorris to the family deer camp located outside of Natchez, to share a little quality time together hunting this weekend.

&8220;To me it&8217;s about togetherness,&8221; McMorris said. &8220;It&8217;s not about shooting something, as it is spending time together. My son and I have become good friends. After he kills a deer, I tell him what a good shot he made, and we high-five and hug. I hope that when he is 18, we will still be sharing a high-five and hug.&8221;

In his three years of hunting, the younger David Nolan has harvested three deer, and he hopes to get his fourth this weekend. For him, moments in the woods hunting with his dad are special times. When he talks he echoes the same sentiments of his father, giving testament to the fact that the time they&8217;ve spent together is time well spent.

&8220;Me and daddy, we act like we&8217;re professionals,&8221; McMorris said. &8220;We whisper and stuff like the professionals on television do.&8221;

The McMorrises didn&8217;t harvest a deer Saturday morning, but it didn&8217;t seem to take away from the enjoyment of spending a few hours together.

&8220;This morning it was hard to get up because it was so cold,&8221; the younger McMorris said. &8220;We didn&8217;t see anything but a bunch of squirrels, but we did some scouting and found a hog-wallow, some white oaks and some good places for later. We sat on a log for about an hour and a half and talked.&8221;

Although he is only 10-years-old, the younger David has a few of his own hunting stories, and doesn&8217;t mind sharing them with anyone that will listen. His favorite one to recount is when he shot his first turkey this spring with his uncle Troy Wheat.

&8220;The turkey was down a ridge. When I saw him my heart was beating so loud and hard, I thought I was going to scare the turkey away,&8221; McMorris said. &8220;He came right in front of me, and daddy whispered for me to shoot him. I did and by the time I had gotten up, daddy and uncle Troy had already picked him up and were busy high-fiving each other.

&8220;Uncle Troy handed me the turkey. They&8217;re heavy, a lot heavier than a chicken.&8221;

The McMorrises are a family that hunts together. Both Dad and Mom came from families that hunted together, and they enjoy sharing the same experiences they had with their son and two daughters. One day, they hope their children will the tradition will be passes on to their children; and with memories like the ones made this weekend, little doubt exists that they won&8217;t.