Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

Going the Distance

Sligh1

Sligh1

Administrator
Staff member
So many of my friends are like me- food plot nuts, tree planters, into trail cams, scouting, stand placement, shed hunting, native grasses, buying land, improving land AND chasing GIANT BUCKS.
Many of my buddies seem to fall into the same case EVERY YEAR, year after year: they put all their energy into all the activities around getting after that giant buck and creating a habitat for him BUT get too tired out once November hits. I think it's a combination of:
1) they are cashed out from all the work that went on through out fall starting since season ended last year
2) Early morning, day after day hunting is very hard and more than they are accustomed to.
3) Many feel guilty leaving for a couple weeks during peak rut and end up leaving when the hunting is that once a year magical prime to go back home, guilt is quite apparent (somewhat understandable as well).
4) Get a decent buck and feel they can end the season, almost feel "relieved" or something and they are done.

Whatever the reason, I make sure I don't let that happen to myself (I was in hospital last November- all of rut BUT couldn't help that one). I see this ALL THE TIME though. More big bucks for the hard-core guys BUT what do you do to not let this happen to you, any strategies? Do you see this, does this happen to you or folks you know who have the best intentions of giant buck hunting like a crazed fool during rut BUT it consistently doesn't make expectations? I have a few things I do to make sure i can give 100% to the marathon BUT would like to see what you all's perspective is!?!?!
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">hunting like a crazed fool </div></div>

Gave that up sometime ago...now I just go an enjoy myself...no worries, no pressure and I enjoy God's wonders so much more. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Yeah, I haven't given up the "hunting like a crazed fool" yet. Probably never will as long as it doesn't interfere with God and fam, I still enjoy every day and every one of God's wonders when I am hunting like a crazed fool. Sure beats sitting in an office or something!
When I personally decide to limit something (which I do - believe it or not) it's the land projects, food plots and stuff like that, I'd much rather limit that stuff than the actual relaxing yet hard-core hunting time which is by far my favorite and where it all comes together. My internet time goes WAY DOWN in November as well, you'll see, but I'll be back! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif Guess it's just a preference on how you want to do things. I do feel bad for my buddies that feel too guilty to hunt when they want to, should, could - but don't.
In a way, in my opinion, I also see it as similar to setting up a Space Shuttle Launch- they spend all the time preparing, calculating, running tests, preparing physically & mentally, practice, plan for weather and adversities, spend months and months getting ready for the event BECAUSE they want to go through for the main event they've been waiting for- launch on a space trip which would be the coolest thing and so rewarding for all the preperation that went into preparing for that event and trip. I've done the calculating, testing, preparing, training, etc and I'm ready for the full experience!!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif November 1st is my targeted launch date.
 
I have never been able to understand the mental process that puts so much pressure on a person over something they are supposed to enjoy. If you feel driven to hunt like a crazed fool how does a person enjoy that? Perhaps your buddies who don't hunt that way aren't doing it out of guilt but because other things in their lives are at least as important or maybe more important to them. I know for myself I use vacation time more for family stuff and trips rather than to indulge my self deer hunting. It is also too bad that that November rut runs right along with the best pheasant hunting. I try spread the hunting time out between bow hunting and taking my old bird dog out bird hunting so we both enjoy it. My only point is that people for their own reasons set their own priorities so don't feel bad for them or think that their actions are only guilt driven. Enjoy your hunting however is best for you and good luck in November.
 
My perspective.........

I find balance in combining 3 things important in my life. Family, friends and hunting whitetails. I don't mix hunting with either of the others as I fly solo pretty much. I spend alot of time scouting and hunting. That said, I don't take time away from work to hunt, I don't leave my family for extended periods to hunt. I hunt when I can and am not afraid to take a day off so that my wife may go golfing or so that I can play outside with my sons. Right now I'm the greatest man in the world in their eyes and that day will come to an end, I'd just as soon enjoy it while it lasts, some things you cannot get back.

So, whitetails, they're my passion, or obsession. But I don't let them cloud my vision that other things in life are more important. In the last 5 yrs I've hunted one Novemeber day for every 10 October days. Not sure if that means I can go the distance or not but if the distance means neglecting other things in life then I don't want to go that far.
 
I guess I do choose to hunt like a "crazed fool" because I love it, if it's stressful for someone OR they simply can't because of family or work, OF COURSE that's cool and the way it should be.

I did not mean hunting like a "crazed fool" as a stressed out, unpleasant thing. I meant it more as a fun, enjoyable, exaggerated comment. Of course hunting is for fun and if it's not fun, you should quit or scale it back.

I do have some friends that are just too tired and can't pull it off when November comes around though. Several that I know that live in Iowa here will tell me they'd love to hunt more but get the guilt trips. Others are just spent after a few days when November roles around and their season always seems to fizzle below their previous expectations.

Whatever the case, hunting should be FUN but I think a lot of folks need some input on how to pace themselves and pull through the November they'd always set out to accomplish.
 
I always find it amazing that so many people overlook the time frame prior to November. I can almost guarantee an article an issue of NAW about making sure to hunt the rut. Not everyone can and it's not the only time to get one down on the ground.
 
I'm in Saskguy, remember my post about Oct strategies that really work!? I remember you posted suggestions, I'm going to give it a whirl and do it harder this year, I'll you and others to thank SO if I get a big buck I am going to saw off a point and send one to everyone that responded. OR I'll just post the pics with a "thank you" for tips! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
I see God everywhere whenever i hunt, i hunt with my family, and i thoroughly enjoy the pressure, whether it be the clock or pressure i put on myself. its all apart of why i hunt, without it i wouldnt be me!

how i do it is fun and fullfilling for me, my style isnt for everyone, it works for me and i dont expect anyone to do things my way. but for me it works and i love every minute if it!
 
One of my friends always gets so pumped up for the bow opener that he goes in the mornings all the time for like the first week. He gets tired of that fast, and by the time the rut kicks in, he's sleepin' in. The magical time for me has always been 8 to 9:30 am.. I see 90% of my shooters during that time. I also see a lot of deer throughout the rest of the day and assure my friend that he needs to stay out all day. He has never pulled the 11 hour shift because he gets burned out fast.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Many feel guilty leaving for a couple weeks during peak rut and end up leaving when the hunting is that once a year magical prime to go back home, guilt is quite apparent (somewhat understandable as well </div></div>

This part is something that has nothing to do with getting burned out.

I'm fortunate not to have to be away from my home and family. Like Saskguy I can balance hunting and family.

For those with families then they have to take care to also balance being away from perhaps a wife and children who need them. Neither a spouse or a child should have live each day knowing that a deer (of any size) is more important then they are.

"Guilt" shouldn't be the reason they go home...it should be love for thier families.

Single folks with no commitments...hey...hunt all day and go the distance or whatever is fun. Deer hunting shouldn't be a competition, it should be enjoyable.

What if I hunt like a "Crazed fool" every year and kill a B&C buck every year...will that make me a "winner"????

What if I go as much as I can, kill some does, take some pics, enjoy the sunups and sundowns, take my wife to dinner some nites, go with my son to check his traps, go to church on Sunday morning and never kill a buck will that make me a "loser"???

What is the "distance"??

That's something every person has to decide for themselves... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm fortunate not to have to be away from my home and family. Like Saskguy I can balance hunting and family.

For those with families then they have to take care to also balance being away from perhaps a wife and children who need them. Neither a spouse or a child should have live each day knowing that a deer (of any size) is more important then they are.

"Guilt" shouldn't be the reason they go home...it should be love for thier families.

Single folks with no commitments...hey...hunt all day and go the distance or whatever is fun. Deer hunting shouldn't be a competition, it should be enjoyable.

What if I hunt like a "Crazed fool" every year and kill a B&C buck every year...will that make me a "winner"????

What if I go as much as I can, kill some does, take some pics, enjoy the sunups and sundowns, take my wife to dinner some nites, go with my son to check his traps, go to church on Sunday morning and never kill a buck will that make me a "loser"???

What is the "distance"??

That's something every person has to decide for themselves... </div></div>

Great Post.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Saskguy</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm fortunate not to have to be away from my home and family. Like Saskguy I can balance hunting and family.

For those with families then they have to take care to also balance being away from perhaps a wife and children who need them. Neither a spouse or a child should have live each day knowing that a deer (of any size) is more important then they are.

"Guilt" shouldn't be the reason they go home...it should be love for thier families.

Single folks with no commitments...hey...hunt all day and go the distance or whatever is fun. Deer hunting shouldn't be a competition, it should be enjoyable.

What if I hunt like a "Crazed fool" every year and kill a B&C buck every year...will that make me a "winner"????

What if I go as much as I can, kill some does, take some pics, enjoy the sunups and sundowns, take my wife to dinner some nites, go with my son to check his traps, go to church on Sunday morning and never kill a buck will that make me a "loser"???

What is the "distance"??

That's something every person has to decide for themselves... </div></div>

Great Post.</div></div>

You figure that out sooner or later... Great post Paul. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dbltree</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Many feel guilty leaving for a couple weeks during peak rut and end up leaving when the hunting is that once a year magical prime to go back home, guilt is quite apparent (somewhat understandable as well </div></div>

This part is something that has nothing to do with getting burned out.

I'm fortunate not to have to be away from my home and family. Like Saskguy I can balance hunting and family.

For those with families then they have to take care to also balance being away from perhaps a wife and children who need them. Neither a spouse or a child should have live each day knowing that a deer (of any size) is more important then they are.

"Guilt" shouldn't be the reason they go home...it should be love for thier families.

Single folks with no commitments...hey...hunt all day and go the distance or whatever is fun. Deer hunting shouldn't be a competition, it should be enjoyable.

What if I hunt like a "Crazed fool" every year and kill a B&C buck every year...will that make me a "winner"????

What if I go as much as I can, kill some does, take some pics, enjoy the sunups and sundowns, take my wife to dinner some nites, go with my son to check his traps, go to church on Sunday morning and never kill a buck will that make me a "loser"???

What is the "distance"??

That's something every person has to decide for themselves... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif </div></div>


This post is spot on!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
You decide what makes you a winner or loser, not anyone else. What I am talking about is some of the folks that have an expectation to hunt hard during November, "plan" on it BUT it always falls short of what they were hoping for.

If someone enjoys going out- shooting some does, taking pictures and relaxing- AWESOME!!! But, if your goal is to try and hunt hard for a MATURE buck & you burn yourself out, I think that's something to step back and look at "WHY????".

The guilt is something some of my buddies here in IA have trouble with. Some of them have wives that are fully supportive of 1-2 weeks off in November and others have situations where they get in hot water and painful phone calls when they are out for a week. I feel bad for a couple select IA buddies that get un-deserved grief for a week or two to dedicate to what they love.

No winners or losers if you're happy and accomplish your "goals" whatever they are. If you consistently don't meet your goals or fall short, IN MY OPINION, you should identify how to meet your goals or how to change your goals.

Everyone has a different perspective on what's important and what makes themselves happy- more power to you- my point is meeting your goals, expectations and reaching your potential in the hunting world, whatever that is.

*I am learning some things from your perspectives and posts, I appreciate this and this is really an important discussion to me and I am sure others /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

**"What is the Distance??"- The distance is reaching your hunting goals WHATEVER they are. I would say for some it's hard-core November hunting and for some it's relaxing and getting enough time outdoors. Whatever their true desires, goals and expectations are.
***There is also a healthy balance of family and hunting, I would say MOST love their family and spend vast amounts of time with them and should- IMO, a person should be allowed a "healthy" and appropriate time to spend doing something they love.
 
I think mine change some as the season goes. I try to get up early but usually doesn't work because I work night so I'm not used to getting up at 5am or whatever. So after a week or two I'm content with being in my stand by 7am. Which seems to work pretty good. I see allot of deer between 8:30 and 11 and I'm not falling asleep in a tree because I only got 3-4 hours of sleep.
I'm lucky because I only have about a 5-10 minute drive to anyplace I hunt. So I don't have to leave the family for a week or so. I'm home every evening. Plus the girlfriend is very understandable.
I usually aim for a nice buck and to fill the doe tags I get. Last year was the first good buck that I was willing to put on a wall. But I was more excited when I took a doe on the ground at about 15 yards then my buck. So this year I'll probably try it a again.
This year will be the first year my son will be hunting the youth season so hopefully he can take a deer over the food plot he helped plant. Plus I have another son due pritty much anytime.
So no matter how the deer seasons pans out It'll be a great year.

As far as getting burnt out and stuff I used to do that go out as much as possible from opening day. Then after a couple weeks of seeing very little you get tired and you start going out less and less. I guess I just stared going out a little less in the early season or I go to some public land now and then so I get some different senery and see what the deer are doing elsewhere.
I think trail cam and food plots have changed this allot though due to the fact that you can set a camera out and find out what and when deer are moving instead of having to spend hours in a stand to figure it out like we used to.
I guess I just pace myself a little bit and set reasonable goals for the season. This years goal is to have a great time with the boy and hopefully shoot some deer. Anything more is a bounus.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sligh1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You decide what makes you a winner or loser, not anyone else. What I am talking about is some of the folks that have an expectation to hunt hard during November, "plan" on it BUT it always falls short of what they were hoping for.

If someone enjoys going out- shooting some does, taking pictures and relaxing- AWESOME!!! But, if your goal is to try and hunt hard for a MATURE buck & you burn yourself out, I think that's something to step back and look at "WHY????".

The guilt is something some of my buddies here in IA have trouble with. Some of them have wives that are fully supportive of 1-2 weeks off in November and others have situations where they get in hot water and painful phone calls when they are out for a week. I feel bad for a couple select IA buddies that get un-deserved grief for a week or two to dedicate to what they love.

No winners or losers if you're happy and accomplish your "goals" whatever they are. If you consistently don't meet your goals or fall short, IN MY OPINION, you should identify how to meet your goals or how to change your goals.

Everyone has a different perspective on what's important and what makes themselves happy- more power to you- my point is meeting your goals, expectations and reaching your potential in the hunting world, whatever that is.

*I am learning some things from your perspectives and posts, I appreciate this and this is really an important discussion to me and I am sure others /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

**"What is the Distance??"- The distance is reaching your hunting goals WHATEVER they are. I would say for some it's hard-core November hunting and for some it's relaxing and getting enough time outdoors. Whatever their true desires, goals and expectations are.
***There is also a healthy balance of family and hunting, I would say MOST love their family and spend vast amounts of time with them and should- IMO, a person should be allowed a "healthy" and appropriate time to spend doing something they love. </div></div>

Im pickin' up what you're puttin' down

/forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
The only thing that discourages me is hunting my ass off and 1.) either not getting the ideal shot so I don't take it, 2.) Not seeing any bucks cruising or 3.) Getting busted by the deer.

Whenever that happens I need to get my confidence up with some success, so I usually head to the switchgrass or duck blind, shoot a few birds, then everything is better! After all, everything else is EASY compared to bowhunting whitetails.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom