You know I've heard it asked often, what is the reason you really hunt, or what do you like best about hunting....

Last week I (unfortunately) had a couple of those patches where you find yourself reflecting on what it all meant. I was in the Hospital, and they had a hard time getting me revived from anasthesia, the proverbial slapping of the face and saying 'Come on Man!' thing and all.....geezzzzz.

Anyway, I should be all good now, they took out a 'non-essential organ' and I'm back home. Keeping fingers crossed hard.

I found myself rememnbering the 'moments'. A beautiful view here, a great hug with a hunting buddy there, the use of great knife for various tasks.

I remembered the moment of the shot and aftermath of some of the great critters I have been able to take.... I really thought a lot about the tuff conditions and the aftermath,

a warm meal after a brutal day in the cold maybe, a great nights sleep after a lot of stalking or scouting or just hoofing it.....A cup of coffee shared with a hunting mate as we watched a storm develop on the horizon.....the kiss of a loved one on return from a hunt....a photo of this or that along the way, a great mount at the house.....

I guess I just wanted to say 'CARPE DIEM' and to me 'it's all good'.

Long live the hunting and shooting sports!

Hope your health problems all clear up and you are once again able to return to the hunt.

That is a really good post, and a really good way to feel about the whole issue of hunting.

I have reached a stage of life where I get a lot more out of the peripherals of the hunt than actually hunting.

I enjoy the Camp Life and the comarderie of the camp fire.

I would much rather help someone get their animal than to shoot one myself in most cases, especially with white tail deer.

If someone asks me why I hunt, I simply say that it is because it is part of me, it is what makes me whole, no futher explanation is needed, or given.

Best wishes for a Full recovery.

quote:

What you really think of after the hunt

Next years hunt!

Hope you have a speedy recovery!

quote:

What you really think of after the hunt

How am I gonna get this thing outa here?

quote:

Next years hunt!

I was not going to admit to that one!

Thanks CHC, on my way back, couple new challenges popped up while in there!


I have had the 'how do I get em out thought' too!

This year I shot my first elk. It was antlerless and small. It made me realize about the lack of preperation to care for such a large animal. I didn't have anything to put between the legs when I hung it. I did have the rope and a place to hang and store the meat to age for a couple of days. The weather was perfect. The meat stayed just above freezing. It has also turned out to be some of the best wild game I have ever tasted. Next year if my son or I draw and are lucky enough to fill another elk tag I will be much better prepared. I totaly enjoyed the hunt the friendships the exploring of new territory. The periferals and boy were those backstraps tasty. DW

I think about a lot of things after the hunt. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to hunt and health that was good enough to allow me to hunt. I usually replay the hunt in my mind, to re-experience it again, and also to see if there are lessons I can learn from it. And yes, I start thinking about next year--will this hunt effect the way I hunt next year.

What part of the animal I'm going to cook third.

This is a big question to me...

What to cook first or second is NOT an issue

The Liver goes first.
I always do it up in butter & olive oil with lots of onions, Basil and Vinegar.

And the tenderloins need to get aged just a bit a bit, for flavor before I start slicing shallots.

But I usually need to make room in the freezer and something must get "Eaten out of the way"

ut on any new animal there is uaually a surplus of
small chunks so the question is:

Chili or Stew?

then I'm left to ponder why so many people place such an emphasis on the deer's headgear?

AD

GET WELL SOON!

I replay it in my mind for months until new memories replace the old.

I think what I feel most often after a hunt, successful or not, is 'damn it feels good to be alive and be able to enjoy this wonderful thing we call hunting'.

I like that Kamo---I really do......

Ted I hear you, as I get older I am running out of room in the storage system!!!!

thanks Doc, working on it!


Allen, I guess we each have our preferences, for me I like beef over venison, but elk over all!

I like to look back after the hunt and remember the good times around the campfires with good hunting partners. Me not taking an animal doesnt ruin the hunt or experiance. I also like to think about those people I have hunted with that have passed on. I usually say a small thank you and remember the good times with them. I am thankful to be able to spend the time outdoors and look forward to the day when my children are old enough to come along.

Greg

I always think I was born to late. But now with Mugabes little brother running the US I am certain I was born to late.

Last season my brother and I went after deer. WE was in a location where there wern't any road and the canyon was steep. My brother shot a buck in there at 8:45 am, and we didn't get him out til 4 p.m. Muscles aching and everything. That evening I told my brother I'm ready to do that again, he said I was thinking the same thing. That was the hardest buck that I helped gettin out. I remember that day like it was yesterday.

All of the original post, but also adding " Why didn't the almighty put more fillet & backstrap in the Deer?"

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Latham:
All of the original post, but also adding " Why didn't the almighty put more fillet & backstrap in the Deer?"

Amen brother, Amen.

After the shot, when I walk up on the buck I sit down and admire him a bit.

Then I say, "Fuck" as I gaze back up the steep ass mountain where my truck is parked on top, about 4 miles away.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
If someone asks me why I hunt, I simply say that it is because it is part of me, it is what makes me whole, no futher explanation is needed, or given.

"Gosh, I wish my dad were here to enjoy this."

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Latham:
All of the original post, but also adding " Why didn't the almighty put more fillet & backstrap in the Deer?"

Amen Squared!

quote:

Originally posted by Skinner.:
After the shot, when I walk up on the buck I sit down and admire him a bit.

Then I say, "Fuck" as I gaze back up the steep ass mountain where my truck is parked on top, about 4 miles away.

BTDT.

AD

One of my first thoughts is always..."why couldn't you have died closer to the road?" then I don't think about the PITA process of gutting a 350-500lbs animal thats about to take place lol. I just start wistling (I wistle a lot) and get to work.