Jesse's 2017 Hunting Debacles
- Thread starter bowhunter1023
- Start date
Time to wrap this thing up.
I’ve struggled with my love/hate relationship with deer over the past few seasons and this season would have moments that played to both aspects of that dichotomy. There are guys on this forum that are simply content with just sitting in a tree, but that’s not me most days. Bowhunting for mature whitetails stokes my competitive fire and that causes some issues when it comes to my enjoyment of a pursuit I’d still label a “passion”. Sure, I appreciate some quiet time in a tree; but my life isn’t one that creates a need for “just” quiet time. Besides, I get the same sort of “Zen experience” via a lot of other pursuits in my life including meditation and exercise. I also spend a ton of time outside, so I scratch that itch many times over throughout the year, leaving little need to do only that come deer season. I’m motivated by the opportunity to accomplish difficult tasks and winning; a fact of my personality that creates a lot of my “hate” when it comes to bowhunting. Bowhunting is about failure. As a bowhunter, you will failure FAR more often than you succeed and while I know how to fail, and actually respect failure for the great teacher it is, no one enjoys having their noses rubbed in failure. Coming into this season, I was confident I’d made a crucial adjustment that would ultimately allow me to find more enjoyment in my bowhunting pursuits: I’d finally removed my identity as a man from the results of my bowhunting pursuits. More importantly, I realized I enjoyed being a generalist far more than I did being a specialist.
I still experienced some frustration this season, which will never go away because I’m too competitive for that to be a non-factor. However, I enjoyed this season more than most in my career. I also hunted harder than ever before. Not measured by total hours, but measured by the quality of the sit. I sat longer per hunt for more than an hour on average, spending more time glassing, observing and staying engaged than I have at any point in my career. I didn’t skip hunts to sleep in, avoid bad weather or stay with the girls. (Ok, maybe a couple times, but that’s just being a good dad right?!?) I walked the extra few hundred yards to hunt the right stand. I made smart calls on where to hunt and when to hunt there. Simply put, I grinded all season. Had I hunted like I did this year my entire career, I’d have a few more good bucks to show for my efforts. Knowing this lends itself to my overall satisfaction: I know that I gave it 100% all season, even when I was frustrated or taking the “easy way out” by hunting over corn in my backyard. I put forth the effort and that in itself was satisfying.
A few days after I shot my buck, I had one of the best goose hunts a man could ever experience. Comparing and contrasting the two hunts reminds me that nothing can replace the feeling of seeing a big buck, of knowing you are about to get a shot, to calming the nerves and executing the shot. The feeling I get when I latch hold of a nice rack and begin dragging satisfies a primal urge buried deep in my soul in a way no bird will ever do. No waterfowl, turkey or small game hunt will ever put my heart in my throat the way a shooter buck will and that feeling is what I will chase the rest of my career. I may no longer place my value as a man on my achievements as a bowhunter, but I know that to my core, I’m a bowhunter for life. For all the frustration and failure this realization may bring me throughout the remainder of my days on this earth, I’ll gladly trade it for the rush of an encounter with a mature buck and the satisfaction of executing the shot during the moment of truth.
_______________________
2017 Stats
Antlerless Sightings: 100
Bucks Sightings: 25
Different Bucks: 15
Shooters Seen: 4
Total Sightings: 125
Deer Killed: 1
Morning Hunts: 12
Evening Hunts: 18
All Day Sits: 5
Skunked Hunts: 6
Total Hunts: 35
Hours on Stand: 141
Average Time Per Hunt: 4 Hours 2 Minutes
Deer Seen Per Hour on Stand: <1
I’ve struggled with my love/hate relationship with deer over the past few seasons and this season would have moments that played to both aspects of that dichotomy. There are guys on this forum that are simply content with just sitting in a tree, but that’s not me most days. Bowhunting for mature whitetails stokes my competitive fire and that causes some issues when it comes to my enjoyment of a pursuit I’d still label a “passion”. Sure, I appreciate some quiet time in a tree; but my life isn’t one that creates a need for “just” quiet time. Besides, I get the same sort of “Zen experience” via a lot of other pursuits in my life including meditation and exercise. I also spend a ton of time outside, so I scratch that itch many times over throughout the year, leaving little need to do only that come deer season. I’m motivated by the opportunity to accomplish difficult tasks and winning; a fact of my personality that creates a lot of my “hate” when it comes to bowhunting. Bowhunting is about failure. As a bowhunter, you will failure FAR more often than you succeed and while I know how to fail, and actually respect failure for the great teacher it is, no one enjoys having their noses rubbed in failure. Coming into this season, I was confident I’d made a crucial adjustment that would ultimately allow me to find more enjoyment in my bowhunting pursuits: I’d finally removed my identity as a man from the results of my bowhunting pursuits. More importantly, I realized I enjoyed being a generalist far more than I did being a specialist.
I still experienced some frustration this season, which will never go away because I’m too competitive for that to be a non-factor. However, I enjoyed this season more than most in my career. I also hunted harder than ever before. Not measured by total hours, but measured by the quality of the sit. I sat longer per hunt for more than an hour on average, spending more time glassing, observing and staying engaged than I have at any point in my career. I didn’t skip hunts to sleep in, avoid bad weather or stay with the girls. (Ok, maybe a couple times, but that’s just being a good dad right?!?) I walked the extra few hundred yards to hunt the right stand. I made smart calls on where to hunt and when to hunt there. Simply put, I grinded all season. Had I hunted like I did this year my entire career, I’d have a few more good bucks to show for my efforts. Knowing this lends itself to my overall satisfaction: I know that I gave it 100% all season, even when I was frustrated or taking the “easy way out” by hunting over corn in my backyard. I put forth the effort and that in itself was satisfying.
A few days after I shot my buck, I had one of the best goose hunts a man could ever experience. Comparing and contrasting the two hunts reminds me that nothing can replace the feeling of seeing a big buck, of knowing you are about to get a shot, to calming the nerves and executing the shot. The feeling I get when I latch hold of a nice rack and begin dragging satisfies a primal urge buried deep in my soul in a way no bird will ever do. No waterfowl, turkey or small game hunt will ever put my heart in my throat the way a shooter buck will and that feeling is what I will chase the rest of my career. I may no longer place my value as a man on my achievements as a bowhunter, but I know that to my core, I’m a bowhunter for life. For all the frustration and failure this realization may bring me throughout the remainder of my days on this earth, I’ll gladly trade it for the rush of an encounter with a mature buck and the satisfaction of executing the shot during the moment of truth.
_______________________
2017 Stats
Antlerless Sightings: 100
Bucks Sightings: 25
Different Bucks: 15
Shooters Seen: 4
Total Sightings: 125
Deer Killed: 1
Morning Hunts: 12
Evening Hunts: 18
All Day Sits: 5
Skunked Hunts: 6
Total Hunts: 35
Hours on Stand: 141
Average Time Per Hunt: 4 Hours 2 Minutes
Deer Seen Per Hour on Stand: <1
- 6,192
- 126
As Rick said great write up... Remember above all its a Hobby and not a Career... Failure is why we keep comming back for more, its a big part of the game. Its why we do what we do. So remove that word "Hate Bowhunting" and go with the flow. Frustrated might be a better word.
I can’t even comprehend all that gay shit...
Lol, been fun following along man. Some real deep thoughts in all of your post here. I try and take a single moment from every hunt. Even if it’s that brief second that a squirrel took your breath away. That split second is what it’s all about. Even that moment you can hear your kids laughter while your mind wanders. Those moments are priceless to me. Doesn’t make a difference if that moment comes on a drive home from work or in a stand, same message is sent.
Lol, been fun following along man. Some real deep thoughts in all of your post here. I try and take a single moment from every hunt. Even if it’s that brief second that a squirrel took your breath away. That split second is what it’s all about. Even that moment you can hear your kids laughter while your mind wanders. Those moments are priceless to me. Doesn’t make a difference if that moment comes on a drive home from work or in a stand, same message is sent.
cspot
Member
Nice Write-up.
Only thing I would add is that the best hunting experience for you are those yet to come. Not sure of your daughter's age, but I would guess that she is getting close to being able to be in the shooter's seat? Anyway those future hunting experiences will be far and away better than anything you have experienced to date. I know with my kids, I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.
Only thing I would add is that the best hunting experience for you are those yet to come. Not sure of your daughter's age, but I would guess that she is getting close to being able to be in the shooter's seat? Anyway those future hunting experiences will be far and away better than anything you have experienced to date. I know with my kids, I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.
She turned 5 on New Year's Eve. She'll be shooting a crossbow this year and might make her first hunt in the late season if she can demonstrate proficient shooting skills under realistic practice conditions. I've been looking forward to hunting for someone else since the day I knew I'd be a dad! She has a very firm grasp of life and death has seen more animals killed, butchered and eaten than most of the 350 million people in this country will/have in their entire lives. The debate is always "when are they ready" and IMO, it's when they understand what taking a life mean and to her, it means food. Good enough for me.
I am stoked about what's ahead of me and if I never shoot another buck, but my girls stack them up, that's fine with me.
cspot
Member
Yep. I have had 3 kids and they have all started at different times. My son was 5, oldest daughter 11, youngest daughter 7. It just really comes down to the kid. If she wants to do it, then in my experience she is ready. Being exposed to the whole hunting scene from an early age helps alot. ALso them helping skin, hang, butcher really helps them understand how things work.
I get a chance I need to do a post on some of the tips for hunting with kids especially with crossbows. I have made a ton of mistakes with the 3 of mine, so I might be able to help you avoid a few. I will warn you that taking your kids can be very frustrating. I know for myself if I make a mistake or things don't work out on a hunt, I might be disappointed, but I get over it. When you are taking a kid, then you really feel bad when you make a mistake or things don't work out. I have a few instances that I still kick myself over.
I learn best from my mistakes, as well as the mistakes of others, so share away! I don't mind letting myself down, but letting my kids down isn't an option, so when it does happen, I can imagine the internal strife!
Enjoyed following along Jesse. I know that my hunting definitely got more enjoyable and frustrating when I started taking Connor along. I also made a few mistakes along the way that I kicked myself for a while. Looking back though I wouldn't change a thing. He learned from my mistakes as well as I did.
I look forward to continue following along. Thanks for sharing.
I look forward to continue following along. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed following along this year, Jesse. Keep hunting like you did this year and something is bound to happen. I'll be looking forward to next year, especially if Miss K gets out in the late season!
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Great reflection on your hunt Jesse. Those buck encounters over the years really do add up to a love that can't be replaced by other 'things' for me. About the only thing that does these days is seeing the excitement in the kid's faces when they have an encounter or get their deer.