A learning experience

[pumper317]

Hello all,

Just wanted to pass on a little story of my fall. I had my second son this summer, and knew going into the fall that this year was going to be a little different than other years. I did, however, have 2 new and exciting trips planned for fall. One trip to Canada for ducks and geese, which was guided and TOTALLY not what I am used to in the hunting world, but lived up to it and was a ton of fun and action packed. Secondly, I was going to SD for a rifle deer hunt. I wanted to hunt opening weekend of gun season, but due to my older son having his birthday on November 5th I only hunted opening day. So, my lesson of the year... I bow hunted the friday before gun opener, just to get the stick and string in my hand. Putting up the stand at 9 am after walking in a half mile to new turf, I had a doe get chased by a nice 8 point right under my stand. I hand my stand in one hand, and my phone in the other to get a picture. So I was a little too late for that, but it was looking up. I saw another couple of does at around noon, and they walked within 5 yards of the tree as well, but I passed waiting for the buck... no go. At last light some guys came in (public land) and busted out my spot looking for their stand for the morning. So then came opener... I sat all day, and saw a mouse at 530pm, and a deer at 540. I kicked myself all of the way home for not shooting a doe to one, fill the freezer, and two show my 3 year old a deer.

SD, 3 hours into the hunt I passed up a nice 9 point whitetail waiting for a mule deer... Never had the chance at anything with bones again. I am still kicking myself for not shooting that deer that would easily pass my biggest deer to date.

So, I got to hunt 5 days this fall for deer. I did not waste any moments... My question, why is my brain so in tuned with holding out for something better. I was given 2 GREAT opportunities at great animals, and I passed them both... Guess that was Carma kickin me is the rear. I love to eat it, so much better than tag soup... And this year I passed. It will be the last year I do that. I would love to shoot a big buck, but I think passing deer where I hunt is really not an option. You could never see them again up there.

I am going muzzy hunting this coming weekend, and historically it is slim to no chance of getting a deer, but you will not see me passing up showing my boy a trophy, and putting meat in the freezer, IF a critter by chance passes me by.

Sorry for the rant, just was thinking...

Good hunting to all, and congrats to those for some darn nice deer this year!

[Bear55]

We all have to make our own choices on what we shoot, sounds like your learned from your experience and will be more prepared to take some meat next year.

[Musky Buck]

For me just a touch after helping give life to my daughter I wasn't all that kinda tuned into taking a life even though it was a deer and have and will do so again, for me fatherhood changed me some especially in that first year, do what you got to do, you had some great experiences and it isn't all about getting even though we love venison. Sometimes not getting can be just as rewarding to an old dairy farmer like me, not that I want to go to many years without but it's all good.