F or Jay Stewart and his son, Dray, deer season is a way for them to catch up on lost time.

&8220;I might make a decent living and think I&8217;m providing what is best for my family, but sometimes all they really want is to spend time with me,&8221; Jay said. &8220;Deer season provides that time.&8221;

Saturday, the two spend the evening hunting on their land near Fenwick.

Jay is a petroleum geologist, with a wife, three daughters and one son.

Often, Jay&8217;s job takes him offshore or out of state for days sometimes weeks at a time, he said.

&8220;I&8217;ve missed one of my daughter&8217;s birthdays for three years in a row now and that really gets to me,&8221; Jay said. &8220;Deer hunting gives me the chance to make it up to her.&8221;

Dray, 12, is a fifth-grader at Cathedral High School and rarely sees his dad during the daytime.

&8220;I see him (Jay) at night sometimes but most of the time he comes in late and I&8217;m already in bed,&8221; Dray said. &8220;Hunting season is probably the most time I spend with him during the day.&8221;

Dray said he got the chance to hunt for the first time by himself on Friday while Jay ran an errand.

But Dray said he prefers to hunt with his dad.

&8220;When we hunt together we have time to talk, tell jokes and look at the deer together,&8221; Jay said.

Like any responsible parent and hunter, Jay teaches his son responsibility through hunting.

&8220;Being safe is the most important lesson,&8221; Jay said. &8220;I try and teach him the basics like never walk anywhere with a loaded gun and always wear your hunter&8217;s orange. He&8217;s a good listener and a responsible hunter.&8221;

But the son sometimes teaches the father a lesson or two, such as lessons in generosity, and sharing the joy of the outdoor experience.

&8220;A lot of my friends hunt but they always tell me how they never see anything,&8221; Dray said. &8220;So I offer them the chance to come out here and try kill a big buck or at least a doe.&8221;

Jay said he is happy to oblige by taking his son and his friends out hunting.

Jay said his son is also becoming a savvier hunter than he is.

&8220;Last week I thought he was having trouble so I asked if he could shoot this big buck that walked out and he told me, &8216;well if you&8217;d quit shaking and breathing so hard I could,&8217;&8221; Jay said with a chuckle.

Although the two came up empty-handed Saturday, Dray said it didn&8217;t matter because he just enjoyed spending the time with his dad and watching the deer.

&8220;Besides, tomorrow when I come out here I&8217;ll probably see more deer and maybe even a big buck,&8221; Dray said.