The world that we know today is host to a fast paced, hustle and bustle lifestyle of an environment. Get up early, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to bed, and do it again tomorrow. I believe it is called “The Rat Race.” With the tap of our finger on a little screen, we have access to whatever information that we desire and are served with instant gratification in most cases. No work needed and when work is needed, some of us get frustrated, due to how easily things usually come. Imagine that, your phone didn’t load Instagram fast enough for you.
Before I really got bit by the hunting bug, I am probably guilty of saying that I had “No Time to Hunt.” We say things like this from time to time, whether we are saying we have no time to hunt or we have no time to workout. The digging for excuses not to take part in said activity starts right when we realize how hard something can be. Without the promise of reward, some folks find it hard to justify taking the time to try and create opportunity for themselves. “There is probably too many people in the hills today. We are better off staying home.” “Last time I was out, I didn’t even see a deer.” Things like this cross our minds from time to time and inevitably cause us to miss out. The more you let these things affect your decision making, the less you will be in the mountains. We dream all year about running around the mountains with our bows/rifles or sitting in a blind waiting for that monarch buck to walk by. The second adversity hits though, discouragement sets in. Thoughts of a warm bed and home cooked meal gnaw at us like a caged rat. Adversity is a huge part of hunting though and having the ability to push through is going to keep more meat in your freezer, I promise.
Growing up, I went through many stages and had a multitude of hobbies along the way. Everything from playing guitar and skateboarding to football, basketball, bowling, and of course, hunting and fishing. I kept myself busy and was passionate about all of the hobbies I took part in. I can remember the late nights of playing my guitar until the skin was coming off of my fingers and then continuing to play thereafter. I can also remember trying to learn certain tricks on my skateboard until I could barely feel my legs. In the past I have called myself an extremist. My heart and soul has always bled into the things that I love to do. My wonderful wife knows this well about me and is a saint for putting up with my “obsessions.”
The most used word in archery hunting is probably the word, “ALMOST.” “I ALMOST filled my tag this evening!” “The bull walked right instead of left and I ALMOST had him!” How many times have you heard something along those lines or said it yourself? I hear it every single season and say it myself every year. I think this is why I archery hunt though. It’s the chase. The journey to the goal. Every engagement with an animal where you ALMOST are successful holds a lesson. Another tool in your toolbox and the next stepping stone to your objective. Even a failed stalk is a successful one.
When I was a kid, I was fortunate enough to be exposed to a lot of great memories out in the field that I will have for a lifetime. The first time that I had deer walk into an ambush set up is something that changed me forever. It felt like my legs were going to fall off, I was so nervous. On my first archery hunt I had a beautiful mule deer buck walk right past me at 10 yards. I was so worked up and in awe that I couldn’t even pick up my bow. The first archery javelina hunt that I went on, I missed 6 times before I actually harvested one. Some of these might come across as failures, but underneath the surface they are lessons and added chapters to my library of outdoor experiences that I can reflect on and share with others.
As most of you probably have figured out by now, I am a big fan of the podcasting world. So much so, that I almost find my self listening to hunting podcasts now more than music and that means a lot coming from a musician! They are a great way for like minded individuals to interact and help all of us become even better at our passion. In this case, that is obviously hunting. The knowledge and just pure entertainment that I have gotten out of these shows has been endless. My only problem is, as I have said in the past, finding the time to listen to them all! So many good shows and not enough time in the day!
Every year it seems that a select few individuals are ALWAYS notching tags. These people do this year in and year out. It doesn’t matter if they are hunting black bears or elk, they get it done, no matter the circumstances. How do they do it though? I am sure this is a question we have all asked ourselves at least once. What is different about these consistently successful hunters and everyone else? Is it their calling techniques or glassing skills? Maybe, it is their equipment that is responsible for their success? While those things can definitely aid one in being successful, it isn’t any of them. So what is it? In my humble opinion, I believe that the “secret”, if you will, is hanging out in between their ears. They have a positive attitude, loads of tenacity, and a colossal urge to never give up. All things that are mental.
How many times have you heard someone say, “Someday, I’d love to___________” and how many times have you witnessed that person actually fulfill this goal? We are all guilty of it, myself included. There are tons of things that I would love to do someday, but probably never will for one reason or another. Why do these things cease to happen though? I think it is just because we aren’t working towards these goals. Saying something and doing something are two different things. In order to do the things that we want to do “someday,” we must work at them. I’d love to go on a Dall Sheep hunt someday, but I can’t expect someone to just ring my doorbell and hand me a fat check and a tag with a note that reads,”HAVE FUN!” Although this would be nice, it isn’t likely something that is going to happen.
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