My grandmother always said "...life is what happens while you are making other plans." It barely seems possible that I joined this forum over 10 years ago. March of 2013 to be exact. Tempus fugit.
When I think about where I was and how I felt one year ago at this time I still wince just a little. Time does heal all wounds. Not always completely, but it really does if you let it. I can honestly say that my fervor for all things hunting is diminished now, probably permanently, in ways I never thought possible just a few years ago. Shooting my bows, listening to my dogs sing on a tree off in the distance, outwitting a deer good enough to be really close to them once in a while with a bow in my hand will always bring me great pleasure, but I just do not need to DO all of that as much as I once did to be happy. I have arrived at that terrible place in life where I cannot physically do all the things I do the way I have always done them, anyway. Inescapable, I suppose, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Dreadful adjustments have to be made when you fully realize that you are, in fact, "getting old".
Deer hunting went like it usually does for me. I did spend quite a lot of time in very close proximity to many deer. More than usual, and a few really big ones. Only one arrow and one .41mag round fired, two nice large does to fill the freezer. The best part was that I actually enjoyed myself deer hunting this year again. It was easy without carrying a heavy emotional burden and extreme physical pain around every day. I'm looking forward to more of the same with my dogs. I will only have to suffer the painful indignities that are inherent in running dogs every day as a less coordinated and energetic person, lol. Collars charged, rifle dialed in as good as ever, game vest clean and ready for filling. The dogs know it is time but have been quite calm about it this year. I guess we are all getting old. Tomorrow, we hunt.
When I think about where I was and how I felt one year ago at this time I still wince just a little. Time does heal all wounds. Not always completely, but it really does if you let it. I can honestly say that my fervor for all things hunting is diminished now, probably permanently, in ways I never thought possible just a few years ago. Shooting my bows, listening to my dogs sing on a tree off in the distance, outwitting a deer good enough to be really close to them once in a while with a bow in my hand will always bring me great pleasure, but I just do not need to DO all of that as much as I once did to be happy. I have arrived at that terrible place in life where I cannot physically do all the things I do the way I have always done them, anyway. Inescapable, I suppose, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Dreadful adjustments have to be made when you fully realize that you are, in fact, "getting old".
Deer hunting went like it usually does for me. I did spend quite a lot of time in very close proximity to many deer. More than usual, and a few really big ones. Only one arrow and one .41mag round fired, two nice large does to fill the freezer. The best part was that I actually enjoyed myself deer hunting this year again. It was easy without carrying a heavy emotional burden and extreme physical pain around every day. I'm looking forward to more of the same with my dogs. I will only have to suffer the painful indignities that are inherent in running dogs every day as a less coordinated and energetic person, lol. Collars charged, rifle dialed in as good as ever, game vest clean and ready for filling. The dogs know it is time but have been quite calm about it this year. I guess we are all getting old. Tomorrow, we hunt.
