Hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking are the fun things I grew up doing…and doing well. So when my three daughters arrived on the scene, it was only natural that they started these endeavours at a very early age as well. Our passion for the outdoors has continued onto their children—passing on our family legacy for generations.
The many camping, hunting, and fishing trips into the foothills and bush around the Whitecourt and Fox Creek areas taught my daughters all the tarp and tent skills they needed. Our annual extended campout at Rock Lake, deep in the mountains, was a great training ground for mountain hiking, exploring, and honing their fishing skills.
I made sure to teach them all the finer points of rifle safety and shooting—starting with the .22 for grouse and rabbit hunting, and then onto the .270 Winchester for big game. My oldest daughters, Patricia and Andrea, successfully hunted moose, deer, and elk. While my youngest, Jo-Anna, well she's my angler.
Patricia, who I call the Moose Slayer, has taken many good moose. One in particular she called in within 75 metres before taking her clean shot—it was a beauty! I call Andrea the Deer Slayer as she developed an amazing skill at taking white-tailed deer. Before she specialized in deer, Andrea took a very nice large first elk along the Athabasca River. I told her story in the article “Andrea's First Elk” in the May 2010 edition of Alberta Outdoorsmen magazine. Definitely worth a read! And Jo-Anna, the Fish Slayer, has won provincial awards in both goldeye and mountain whitefish categories.
Over the years, our family has been fortunate to win several provincial awards in various categories. Now the third generation, Patricia's children, are naturally following in the family affair. We have all trained them in their rifle shooting and hunting skills, and given them many fine fishing tips.
Ian, my grandson, was a provincial winner in both the ruffed grouse and mountain whitefish categories in different years. Kaelynn, my youngest granddaughter, is already a camping and hiking enthusiast and will be introduced to the family outdoor hunting and shooting adventures very soon. But as the article's title hints, this story is about my 12-year-old granddaughter, Jenna.
Jenna has always been very interested in hunting and fishing, and keeping up with her brother and the rest of the family. She's a very good student and easily picked up the same instructions I had laid out for my daughters. Her skills quickly came to fruition in 2024.
That summer, her enthusiasm for fishing came to the fore. Jenna, her dad Rob, and I fished the Athabasca River. She began by pulling in a nice walleye, followed by an Arctic grayling which we admired, measured, and quickly released.
Then in the fall, Jenna, Rob, and I were hunting for deer. After an unsuccessful day, we were heading back to the truck when we spotted a nice sized spruce grouse in a pine tree. Jenna took aim with her .22 and, with Rob's enthusiastic support, harvested the bird at a fair distance.
On the next trip out, Jenna and I spotted a nice covey of ruffed grouse down an overgrown path. We put the sneak on them and, again at a fair distance while standing, Jenna harvested two birds—one of which seemed quite large. We took the larger ruffed grouse, along with the spruce grouse from our previous expedition, to be weighed at the Alberta Wildlife Federation (AWF) office. Both birds (and the grayling) earned Jenna nominations for provincial awards.
In May 2025, we attended the 61st Annual Alberta Wildlife Awards & Banquet as several family members, including Jenna, were nominated in various categories. Andrea received the Best Scenic Photo Award, and I took home the award for Largest Mountain Whitefish, yet again. But those are stories for another time. Jenna took the night as she was awarded three provincial honours—Largest Ruffed Grouse, Largest Spruce Grouse, and Best Arctic Grayling. Winning three awards in hunting and fishing categories in one year at such a young age is truly an achievement, and I am so proud of her.
Five provincial champions, spanning three generations, in one family—makes for one great night!
I am one lucky hunter, father, and grandfather.
Photo credit (top): John P. Thompson
