You can't force your child to be a sportsman. But if you find the right way to share your love for the outdoors with him or her, you can create the best hunting partner you'll ever have.

Call in sick. Vote late. Get engaged next spring. Whatever you do, just make sure you're in the deer woods on these seven dates, because there won't be a better time to tag a buck all year. PLUS: The Myths of the Rut, from Dr. Karl Miller.

The things you carry can keep you alive. Here are three survival kits perfect for outdoorsmen, plus a step-by-step plan to build your own. Today: The Pocket Kit.

Five tips that'll help you stick it out on stand until your buck shows up.