Do you still feel the "magic" in the woods?

I began hunting some 18 years ago. When I first started hunting I was nearly 18 years old, older than most of you guys when you first started hunting. During my first few hunts I felt this "magic" as I entered the woods, kind of like I was anticipating opening a fantastic gift on Christmas morning. As I progress as a hunter and I am working harder than ever to learn the craft, I am learning that things happen for a reason in the woods, and that things are not so random. Even with that knowledge, something inside of me senses something extremely special in the woods, almost supernatural. I can honestly say the feelings I have in the woods some 18 years after I began hunting are virtually the same as I did the day I began hunting. I believe there is some "magic" that lives in the woods......what do you think?

 

I know what you're saying. That feeling is what got me addicted to hunting. there is nothing comparable to the feeling you get when you get to watch the sun rise and notice how nature works without human disturbance. I love the sound of hearing nature wake up as the sun rises.

 

Yes I know as well what your describing. May we never lose sight of this.

 

Always. Can not wait to be in a tree in the perfect darkness and await sunrise.

 

I don't get that feeling on as many hunts as I wish I did these days. I suppose much of it is due to lack of confidence when I am ducking into certain hunting spots, just to be "hunting". It's hard to feel magic when you can hear kids playing, people mowing grass & talking.

Now put me out west or on any normal hunts where I am out actually hunting and can enjoy things, then its easy to feel it.

 

I hear you Rybo. The woods being "quiet" with only the sounds of nature surely enhances the effect.

 

I hear what you're saying. I went out to put a couple trail cameras out yesterday and as soon as I ducked on the other side of the hedge, it was like entering a different world lol. I immediately got that feeling. Kind of like an athlete I suppose. When they enter the ropes, stadium, field, etc... they are in their own little sanctuary.

 

I always get that feeling, it's like a natural high for me. What kind of action is going to occur today, all elements are coming together for a perfect hunt. You have the sign around you, you did your homework scouting, found sheds in off season, you have trail cam picks, glassed fields, now it's time to sit and wait and see what will occur?

 

The forest has been been a magical place for me whether I was hunting or not. I spent/spend a lot of time there and it always feels fresh.

 

When I'm hunting, I control my own destiny, my senses become super enhanced, and I'm at the top of the world. There are certain places that make it more magical than others...elk hunting, for example.

 

Love the feeling of being in the outdoors...the deeper and steeper the terrain - the more magical (probably because less human intrusion).

 

The magic for me is knowing that there is nothing man-made that can compare to creation, nothing even close.

 

I haven't got the itch quite yet this year. I think it has something to do with everything else that is going on in my life. I couldn't sleep last night very well and I kept reliving different scenario's of last years deer season. I was going through all the deer encounters that took place last year. With my new job, I'm not sure how much I'll get to hunt this fall. Might have something to do with my lack of excitement.

 

Well said, shed.

The woods (outdoors) is where I want to be.

C

 

I know the feeling well VS. I feel it after I get everything on in the stand and then settle in. I sit back and everything kind of flows out of me. It's what keeps me sane in my day-to-day life and what keeps me coming back. It's kind of like your first love, you can't explain it to someone that hasn't experienced it (as cheesy as that sounds).

 

Thought I felt some magic yesterday, turns out it was approximately 1,000,000 mosquitos swarming all over me. So after two extremely fast run/hikes into recover 2 trail cams I was less than happy to find on one 80 pictures of possums, raccoons, bunnies and two small bucks and the other had dead batteries and no pics.

But I can't wait to do it again and besides I stopped at a small cafe on the way home to find the special of the evening was a nice 14 oz prime rib & veggies for a very reasonable 11.99, SOLD and delicious. Made those mosquito bites itch a little less.

 

Nice comments guys. I just feel as if the whole world slows down and that I am in the "right" place when I enter the woods. It just makes sense.

 

Luckily I still do get the feeling Brett. Something changes in the Fall for me though, it gets more intense not only because of the rut or anything hunting related per say, its everything, the smell, the chill in the air, the crunch of the leaves, good stuff.

I also understand what Rybo is saying. Its funny, some hunters have to adapt to hunting urban areas, like the deer have adapted to living in urban.

 

Not that I am old, but I recently turned 50, and the older I get the more surreal the woods become and the more appreciative I become of the time I am allowed to spend their in solitude.

 

Diesel/Jack, I appreciate your posts. I think one of the reasons I love to hunt in the deep woods is the solitude and the feeling that I am a needle in a haystack...I am small and the world will continue to revolve wether I am here or not. Powerful stuff for me.