A week away... What drives you?

[pumper317]

Good evening,

I sit here tonight thinking of what is going to happen in 5.35 days or 7712 minutes from now. As my life changes, my priorities get stronger and more demanding, my call for the outdoors does not dwindle, but my time there does. When I was 12, 13, 14 my nights before opener of gun season were filled with magnificent bucks only pictured on magazine covers. My time in the woods was spent impatiently waiting for anything to move, which in most cases... It didn't. Imagining what it would be like to see a creature walk out and line up for a shot. Trying ever so hard to imagine what that feeling must be like when you get that so called buck fever. As years have passed, I know what the moment feels like when you pull that trigger, when you get the high fives, and that shot of adrenaline. I crave it still, more than ever. My dreams have not changed, I still want to hold that prefect 10 pointer in my hands am get the high fives that would go with it.

But things have changed over those years. I don't go out for blood as much anymore, lets be honest that it is why we are there, but it is so much more. I live now in the metro area, where I can't just escape to the wilderness. I have to plan a trip, clear it with my wife, and 2 small boys. It has become so much more to just go and hunt. I still dream those dreams, imagine those bucks, and wish that this year he may make that mistake to step out in front of me.

So as I think a week from now where I will go on the infamous opening morning, what drives me is to enjoy what is around me in those woods. To hopefully, lord willing, put some meat on the table, and luck willing, a shoulder mount in my basement ( thanks dear.) I know the odds are against me for the last one... I am a terrible shot with a rifle, I flinch, blink, snort, and whatever else when shooting. I know what I do wrong, but can't seem to fix it. I am also scared of my own shadow in the dark of the woods, which proves ever so tough this year especially due to my stand being 1/4 mile through a swamp, that in the day is dark (I can do this... Right?). I can't wait to just be there, for a few days, soaking up this fall in the culmination of 4 days. Usually I hunt a lot throughout the fall for deer with a bow, rifle, and black powder. Along with birds, upland and waterfowl. But the past couple years with kids, my time has been getting less and less... For now. So this will be my big trip of the year, which is better than nothing, right;-)

So my question, what drives you to go through hell and back for a deer? Is it meat, thrill, escape, bragging rights, or a culmination of those like it is for me?

Also, what is your dream buck? Mine is a perfect 10, for scoring purposes, about a 165 class (I just want a big swamp donkey with lots of mass and symmetrical points) or is it a gnarly old non typical with so many points you have to take a break from counting to catch your thoughts?

One week fellow hunters, until one great part of our culture turns another trip around the sun. Enjoy, be safe, and good luck!

[harvey lee]

Tradition is what I looked forward too for next weekend, friends and a 4 day hunt.

No dream buck, I have him on the wall.

I use to get very excited for the opener but, in the past 15 years or so, I almost always have taken a deer by now with my bow so the need for a deer is already in the freezer.

For me, just about getting together with my son and friends for some good times in the wood's.

[pikerliker]

Hey pumper I just want to say good post! I like posts like this rather than somebody talking just about who has the best toys or someone complaining about something.

What drives me is many of the same things that you talk about, being out in the woods, experiencing and being a part of nature, the anticipation and excitement of the opener, having my senses on high alert only to find I suddenly want to kill a squirrel a few minuts later , the adrenaline dump when a nice deer is coming and your getting ready for the shot, hearing other hunters shots in the distance and wondering if they scored and what they got, the critters you see that you never would unless you are sitting quietly for hours on end in the woods, the stories shared between hunters at camp, etc, etc.

I don't have a "perfect" buck per say. I am mainly a meat hunter but a big buck gets my juices going. I like the shape of rack more so than a certain score or number of points. My favorites are the racks with thick beams and hight points but not such a wide spread. Kind of the northwoods rack I guess. A big body with the rutted neck are also cool.

I also love to share the experience with my kids, family and friends. It's such a nice way to share something across generations.

[boXCar JiggY]

Cool post, love the scared part, after seeing "The Blair Witch", that had me spooked for a couple seasons when going to stand,lol! shake it off, just shake it off. Ive felt the same emotion growing as you an your post brings it all back, tough to old an watch alot of my family traditions die but knew ones made. Not sure what drives me anymore, it sure aint getting up an getting cold for a little brown animal that i could take out anytime i really want too. Its not the stress of gathering equipment the night before an forgetting half cause life is just to dang busy. I think I hunt for my kids more than anything, Im not even carrying a rifle this year cause its all about them, my Oldest daughter is comeing home to hunt which is awsome, last year she took her first deer an 322 yards, she was so jacked up she couldnt zip up her coat to go see it. Love that memory. My youngest daughter loves it an has the perfect mind set, dad screwd up last year when she was in the hot seat an nice 8 point at 60 yards, "Thats ok dad, he'll be bigger next year" as I mentally punish myself. My son could careless about hunting, and thats tough to swalow sometimes, but the good lord makes all kinds and we share our own memories doing other things.

I guesse I do hunt for me too but its not the deer anymore but I think I hunt for memories more than anything I think thats what drives me.

[leechlake]

I hunt by our cabin with my family. We don't kill many deer but that's where I started hunting and I'd never quit going. It's all about the tradition and hanging out and telling old stories.

I also hunt in South Dakota with some friends and have been doing that about 7 years. We see hundreds of deer and attempt to sift through bucks and only kill ones that we would mount. I've killed two that are on the wall and enjoy going but it isn't near as fun as the Northern Minnesota hunt where if you saw 3 deer in one day it would be a lot. I guess that answers why I hunt and what I enjoy the most.

[Gordie]

Being able to see my sons take part and being able to watch them grow into the young sportsmen that they are becoming is what drives me these days. When my oldest Joey (17yrs) told me "dad, don't be mad, but I have to work opening weekend". I was some what depressed that this the first time he can not share opening day in the woods with me, but his response was don't worry dad ,I'll be there the following weekend. he is unselfish in that way and that makes me a proud father.

Another thing that will be nice is not worrying about the daylight savings stuff in the middle of the hunt. , but it is always fun telling the other hunters don't forget to turn your clocks ahead . Its kinda of a on going joke

[Fowlmouth]

Archery is where I try and get my big buck so a biggie with the rifle is just a bonus but what drives me is Deer camp! Aint nothing like it, hang with good friends and family!

[slimngrizzly]

To me its an all year thing of getting to know the bucks im hunting. I love the unknown of how they will grow and what personalities they will have and then how to apply it to hunting them. Im a trophy hunter... but its not just the biggest antlers I want, its following a deer to maturity and getting him!

Doing this with my circle of friends is what fuels the fire! I can not get enough!

[icecold]

I started hunting deer when i was 13, shot many bucks since then, but now my 2 sons go deer hunting with me and i am just excited for them to see a deer or even shoot 1, i have kind of lost my drive for deer hunting over the past 35 years,{duck hunting is my passion} but i still buy a lisence and sit in the woods and enjoy the surroundings and if that buck comes along, that is a added bonus, good luck to everyone and have a safe season.

[g_anoka]

That has become a common joke with the group I hunt with also. I am going to miss my son running around in the morning trying to figure out if the clocks changed automatically , or are they all wrong, and what time is sunrise.

[barebackjack]

What drives me is bed time, cant get these last 6 sleeps out of the way fast enough!

[tunrevir]

I think it is the anticipation of the hunt, the camaraderie of the deer camp and the time and shenanigans of camp and just enjoying all the characters that make camp such a great place to be. It has been really a blessing having my kids come along to camp as they have gotten older. It is just a magical time of the year!

Tunrevir~

[MUSKY18]

Interesting post, considering my girlfriend's father and I were just having this conversation on the way up north to the hunting land yesterday. He has always hunted very close to home, where he could return to his house every night, watch TV, sleep in his own bed, etc. On the other hand, I have been going up north to "Deer Camp" for the last 18 years and its always an awesome time. The thing that drives me is sitting in camp at night around the camp fire, sipping on a few brain grenades, and talking about hunting. Everyone in camp stays right there for the weekend, so it's all about the commaraderie with the party. Hearing the stories of how such and such shot this deer, or how they messed up and missed that deer. Always nights filled with laughter. Now this year, I get to introduce my son to deer camp and bring him on the tradition. Just makes it that much more exciting for me. The next 4.71 days, 129 hours, 6797 minutes or 407,004 seconds can't go by fast enough!!!!

[ozzie]

I loved the up north tradition hanging with family and friends and I still do but after years of futility and lazy hunting partners I had a chance to hunt close to home in farm country and took the change. I still miss sitting under the stars by a roaring fire the evening before and during the weekend but having meat in the freezer all year long has been a good replacement for the missed times! I now try to spend first weekend in farm counrty getting meat and hopefully go to a deer camp for the commradarie on the second weekend but sometimes that commradarie gets pushed back to 3rd weekend!! I love being in the stand before sun up enjoying the stillness and the world waking up...I love spending hours in a stand knowing that any second everything can change....That is what I love about deer hunting!!!

[96trigger]

I love the challenge. I love being in the woods when it "wakes up". First darkness, then greyness, then light, with the light comes the crows, then the squirrels, then god willing, the deer. It's a ritual that I never get tired of.

I love the time spent with family. I am bow hunting a 300 acre farm that has some nice bucks on it, yet opening morning I will abandon those stands and head to a small 40 acre woods that I have been hunting with my father in law for 20 years. If I do get lucky enough to stick a nice buck this week with my bow, I will still have a tag to take my 6 year old son out for his 1st ever opening morning.

I love talking about the "mythical Big Doe" that was shot 10 years ago. We never weighed her but she gets bigger in our memories every year. She will probably be 350 lbs this year.

This year we will most likely rehash our idea after a few brain grenades of moving my Dad's blind at 10:30 the night before opener because we thought it was in a poor location.

I love rehashing the old hunts, the old days doing deer drives and going over our most successful hunts and comical misses. There is a lot of talk flying around, sometimes we even pull out the old photo albums. It's a good time, wouldn't trade it for anything.

[JBone]

So pumped! Year 10 of the northwoods deer camp

[BoxMN]

"My" best/favorite buck was last year with my 15yo Grandson, we were together and he got his first buck, a nice 8 pt and great shot. He got his first deer the year prior with me. This year he is hunting with his Dad (my stepson, I duck hunt and fish with him, but not deer hunt) at his camp - so I am chopped liver

So I will probably duck hunt this weekend, as my main "deer camp" weekend is next Weds. through Sunday. That trip is all about being with my deer buddies, who I only see a couple times a year. Hearing shots and knowing who shot, and having a beer or three at the end of the day while talking about the hanging deer, or lack thereof

Main thing, I love watching the woods wake up in the morning. You can feel it with each minute passing by. I feel sorry for the people who have never watched a lake or the woods truly wake up.

...and the bigfoot sightings...

[CANOPY SAM]

I've never had, or experienced the deer camp thing. No family land, no one else in the family that really hunts. Always wished I could be a part of something like this, but it's just never happened, and I'm in no financial position to get it started alone.

Unlike the rest of my extended family members, I have hunting in my blood. There's really something just magical about pursuing game of any kind in the woods, fields, or sloughs of this country. I love everything about it.

All my kids are now grown to an age where they enjoy hunting with me. I take more gratification out of helping them to be successful in the field then anything I might do for myself. I suppose that's what drives me now. To see my kids ushered into, and mentored on how to be safe, ethical, successful hunters/outdoors people.

I'd have a hard time putting my finger on any one specific thing that really drives me to hunt. It's all good, and I thank the good Lord everyday for the blessings and privileges He gives us in this country. A country where we can all legally own firearms. A country that cares enough about it's people to offer millions of acres of public land for us to use. A country that realizes the intrinsic value of it's resources, and supports the long-term stewardship of those resources thru fair regulation, and habitat acquisition and development.

Very few countries in the world have what we have. I hope everyone appreciates that for what it is. We are all extremely fortunate to freely participate in our hunting seasons.

Terrific post! To the OP...yes, your time out in the field gets markedly shorter while your kids are young, but take the time to usher them into the sport as well and the dividends will be immeasurable over the long haul.

[Mr Special]

Great post

Tradition and camaraderie is really what keeps me going.

our hunting party is kinda from all over and i really dont get much chances to get dwn there as often as i used to. heck most of us only see each other once a yr and thats at deer camp. we pick up rite where we left off last yr w/o missing a beat. if it wasnt for deer camp sum of us mite not get to see each other at all.

plus i cant remember if i have ever slept the nite before opener, So that early morning nap is the BEST Sleep all yr.

take care everyone and have a safe and fun season

[rkhinrichs]

I love the who process of hunting that is what drives me... seeing if i can out smart a deer on its home turf!!!! In our camp. it is ESPN Deer Center. i get expert analysis and the break down of how the "game went" from all of my little cousins! Some times it turns into First Take!!!

[rkhinrichs]

also we have a game of football kids vs dads at lunch!! on our access to the land! I wonder what people think of us, when they drive by seeing a bunch of blaze orange knuckle heads playing football!!??? Im part of the kids team though im 23. we have one play which is called code red!!! it means go deep!

[Musky Buck]

Just got brought up loving to hunt, no school books, no practice(s), no clock, we're done when we're done, deer camp, the progression from grouse to duck/geese to finally a high powered rifle in hand and really the only big game animal in MN to hunt, sure Moose/Elk bears would be the other in a sense so I like being able to hunt big game in MN once a year. I like the meat also, it really helps get a guy through winter/spring and you know where the deer came from how it was handled and what it's eaten etc. Family likes it so got to hope for a nice sized one again.

[Xplorer]

This year what drives me is to try and put my 11 year old son on his first deer. This is our third season in the stand together. At 9 he sat with me but wasnt in the stand when I took a doe the second weekend. And last year he missed a doe opening morning, shooting just low. He was so disappointed, and wanted to go home. But we talked about it and after a bit he calmed down. Unfortunately we didnt see another deer opening weekend, nor the second. I had hunted the last thursday and saw a doe with fawns and let them walk. Just on a spur of the moment I decided to take off work on that last friday and hunt. Was a bright sunny, warm day and things didnt look good. At about 1:15 i hear leaves crunching, and my perfect deer comes down the scrape trail with his head down to the ground. Shot him broadside at 20 yards with a 12 gauge slug, and he dropped 20 yards away. Was a nicely racked 8 point that went 215# dressed. After I gutted it I went to Junior's school and picked him up and said "Are you up for helping me drag a big deer outta the woods?" His face lit up, and said "for sure!". It took all we could to get that deer outta the woods and into the truck, but we did.

This year I want to see that look on his face, and have him ask me "You up for helping me to drag a deer outta the woods"

No matter what tho, we will be together up in the two man stand, and that's about the perfect place for me to be.

[NoWiser]

I have two deer camps, and each means something completely different to me. The first deer camp is where I go 3rd weekend each year. This is the camp I used to hunt exclusively. It is public land up in the Walker area. There are deer up there, but it is over run with hunters. I go there to talk, eat good, tell stories, and hang out with guys I've known since I could barely walk. I don't hunt too hard, and one year even duck hunted instead when the divers were down. It's a social hunt for me.

The second deer camp is completely different. It's where my dad and I, and maybe one other person go to hunt. And, we hunt. There is no coming in for lunch, going out late, or coming back early. I love this more than anything. We each go our separate direction in the morning and meet back and talk about the day while cooking our supper over a fire in our teepee. We are far from the nearest other hunters so it is just us, the deer, and the wolves. What drives me is the fact that it is just me vs the deer, and more specifically, a mature buck. If I eat tag soup, there is nothing or no one to blame except myself. I'm up there for 9 days, so there is plenty of time to get it done if I make good decisions and don't screw up. I love that there is no cell phone coverage and I can leave my phone back at the truck. I like not hearing cars buzzing up an down the roads. I love the flocks of chickadees that come through, perching on your hand or gun barrel. I enjoy listening to the wolf packs moving through at night, and the feeling of the hair standing up on the back of your neck while walking towards a pack in the pitch black of the morning.

Yup, it's my favorite week of the year and it's only 5 days away!!

[leech~~]

Great post

Tradition and camaraderie is really what keeps me going.

our hunting party is kinda from all over and i really dont get much chances to get dwn there as often as i used to. heck most of us only see each other once a yr and thats at deer camp. we pick up rite where we left off last yr w/o missing a beat. if it wasnt for deer camp sum of us mite not get to see each other at all.

plus i cant remember if i have ever slept the nite before opener, So that early morning nap is the BEST Sleep all yr.

take care everyone and have a safe and fun season

I would say this sums it up for me as well Mr' S. Plus all the "Great" bad-for-you food my wife doesn't know about!!