Author: Bethany Beathard

I often joke about having to release my son Mason one day into the wild as a mountain man. He has taken on a deep interest in the “old ways” and hunting in general. This started with a generational connection to the hunting tradition that our family cherishes. His great-great-great-grandpa, Leonard, was a trapper, and his great-grandpa Larry was an avid muzzleloader hunter. Though there are many generations in between, those were the outdoorsmen Mason resonated with. He grew interested specifically in trapping and traditional forms of hunting. My mom has held on to old family relics like traps, deep-sea fishing lures, and lots of pictures. Mason has taken the connection to the past and fueled his passion for his future. As he says, “It was very interesting, and I feel like the old ways of doing things hold more value.”