It was last January, while out hunting coues deer with a buddy, when I made the decision to chase javelina with my bow the following January. My friend was nice enough to offer up some help and show me the country he was so familiar with to try and get me a javelina. I had always heard that they were the perfect introductory animal to archery hunt, due to how relatively easy it was to get in close to them. Having not harvested anything with my bow yet, I was eager for the following year, jumped at the opportunity, and applied for the archery javelina tag when the time came. Later that year I found out that I was successful in the draw and that I would indeed be chasing these “stink pigs” down in southern Arizona. The hunt couldn’t have came quick enough.
I am sure that you have heard many people say that hunting is all about luck and that someday you are just going to get lucky and get your opportunity. I don’t know about you, but that sounds really discouraging to me. When I think of it like this, it almost makes me wonder why I am doing this and if it is even worth it. If hunting is all about luck then there are more than a few guys that I know who “get lucky” every single year they go hunting. How is this, if it is all about luck? What separates these individuals from the rest? Give up?
The sun has started to make it’s daily climb up above the mountains. Your thoughts seem to be the loudest thing in the woods at the moment. Silence is pushed to the side with the crunching of leaves not far away. As fast as this sound comes, your heart starts to beat faster and faster. Adrenaline and curiosity envelop your whole being. What is it? Is it what I am after? Is it a squirrel playing tricks on me? It is then that reality hits you with the welcoming sight of antlers coming into view just 20 yards away. Curiosity turns into relief, but it isn’t over yet. Ever so slowly you raise your bow up, clip on your release, and begin to draw back. As you look through your peep sight and try to control the sudden blitzkrieg of shakes that has just come over you, that 20 yard pin that has become so very familiar begins to rest just behind this monarch’s shoulder. Breathe in, breathe out, squeeze the trigger. You watch the arrow bury into the vitals of what you have worked so hard for. Chaos erupts through the mountains as your quarry takes off quicker than they appeared just a few minutes ago. You did it. All of the scouting and hard work finally paid off. Hopefully…..
My 2014 early archery deer/bear hunt started back in March. This is when I went out to place a trail camera in a very promising spot that I had found the previous season in hopes of seeing what was moving through the area. The spot did not disappoint, as I was greeted with thousands of pictures of deer, elk, and bear over the next few months. My scouting trips would happen every 3 weeks or so and consisted of checking my camera, lots of hiking, shed hunting, and glassing. The more and more pictures I got of these deer, the more excited I got for the opener on August 22nd.
When one hears the term trophy hunter, what comes to mind? Personally, when I hear the term, trophy hunter, I think of someone with a strict standard on the animal that they will or will not harvest, a person that is after big mature animals, or a hunter that holds out for an older animal for conservation reasons. Most people would probably think of a person that just wants to mount a big set of antlers on their wall. Trust me I get it. You have waited 15 years to draw an early bull elk tag in a premium unit. The last thing that you want to do is come home with a spike. A person wants to get their 15 years worth because, they might never get to go on that hunt again in their life. This is a totally understandable situation.
Almost one year ago I had an experience like no other. It was something that to this day, I question if it even happened. Was it a dream? I can assure you it wasn’t. Will I ever see something like this again? The answer to that would be, “doubtful.” In a few days, I will be heading out to the same area that this story takes place in search of black bear and the ever so elusive coues deer with my bow. It is the coming events that struck my memory and brought me back to this special day that you are about to read about.
I don’t know about you, but I wait all year long in anticipation of that magical time when I can grab my bow or rifle and head out for the start of hunting season. Getting up before the sun, enjoying a hot cup of coffee while embracing the peacefulness of the outdoors, and finally grabbing my pack to start the morning’s journey is something that I truly cherish. That rush of adrenaline that comes over you when the silence of the woods is broken by the sound of something walking towards you or the glint of an antler that jumps out at you through your optics is a foreign feeling to a lot of people. Unless you have experienced these things firsthand, it might be hard for someone to understand why we obsess over this time of year so much.
I think that when most hunters hear the term, “dialed in,” they immediately jump to the thought of getting your weapon sighted in for the upcoming season, and rightfully so. You have all heard someone say, “I got my bow dialed in,” or “I have to get my rifle dialed in.” It is a very common saying in this regard. While I will probably talk a bit about this, that is not what this blog is going to strictly be about. Will there be gear reviews? Probably. Tips that I have learned? You bet. Just general hunting talk? Absolutely. More importantly, it is going to document my personal journey as a hunter and my quest to get dialed in with myself and with nature. I hope you enjoy!
Copyright 2019 Dialed In Hunter
Design by NXNW.
