I hunt to be alone, and have my time. I hunt to see all the wildlife. I
hunt because it is fun. It’s not all about the kill. It’s not going to bed
when you get home at 3 a.m. after a Saturday night with friends because
there’s no way you’re gonna miss being in the stand/blind for daybreak
Sunday morning. It’s sitting there not moving, having the wind blowing
against you. It’s anticipating whatever living creature you can hide from
and quietly watch, and elude them. Hunting is sitting around with fellow hunters in the off season or the night after a hunt and trading stories, giving each other tips, throwing a
few I told you so’s in where necessary. Hunting is looking at your phone
after you walk out of the woods and seeing a missed call from a fellow
hunter and knowing that he or she has a story that they’re dieing to tell
you. Hunting is sending or receiving a text message that simply says,
“Deer down!” or “5 Point on the Ground!”

Hunting, no matter what you hunt for, or where you live, or the day the
season starts, is a yearlong sport. You start scouting for you location 5
months before opening day. You spend paycheck after paycheck, on the
latest gear, the newest scent covers. You prepare for months. You get your
bows/guns sighted in, and perfecting you form. You spend hours every night
shooting to make sue your in tip top shape for when Mr. Big comes in. you
spend every waking hour dreaming of the woods/ponds. In the off-season you
talk of hunting seasons past. Weeks before opening day you get your gear
washed, and put those clean clothes in a tub of pine cones, and dirt. you
put your stand up, and pay attention to the newest rubs, and scrapes.

Hunting is amazing. Even if you don’t fill your tags, or bag your limit
for the day. Every hunt you bring something back. A story. A lesson.
Pride. Respect. Next time you get home after a hunt, think about what you
saw and learned. Were you too noisy? How can you fix that next time? Did
you get out too late? Did you get busted? Why? You learn something every
hunt, every year. It’s the mistakes we learn from that make us better
hunters. Don’t get discouraged because you haven’t gotten anything yet
this season, because you did, you only have to realize that you came back
with…

Happy Hunting!!

–
Ryan Cunningham
Domka OUTDOORS Pro Staff