So how bad do you have the hunting bug? I was sitting at the deer classic last weekend listening to Lee and Tiffany talk about deer hunting, and something Lee said got me to thinking, not that I havent thought about it before, but he made the comment, "deer, and deer hunting is ALL that he thinks about, and it is ALWAYS on his mind". I never realized how often I think about it, but it is the first thing I think about in the morning, and the last thing I think about before I go to sleep.
Bad, my son and I were driving up from Fredericksburg VA today, and all along the back roads we take there are farms and some nice areas. Must have said I can't wait to hunt to him about 20 times. That and all my fellow bikers were out riding and I was in my cage...little guy had cub scout stuff today, so that kind of crimped a beautiful Saturday. I have to get the balls up to ask some of these folks if they would allow me to hunt...just don't have the cajones to do it.
All they can say is no. Just be as polite as possible and ask what you can do for them in return. On the subject, I have it as bad as any. I think about it 90% of my waking hours and often dream of it.
I've got it pretty bad, even more so after this last bow season. I was finally able to shoot my first buck. What was a hobby instantly became a passion.
[QUOTEI have to get the balls up to ask some of these folks if they would allow me to hunt...just don't have the cajones to do it.[/QUOTE] I am the same way, this is one of my goals before next season. I really need to get more land to hunt. I realize that all they can do i say no, but it just feels like begging to me when ask. I need to get over that.
Want to hunt REAL BADDDDDD, since I spent all of last season going thru chemotherapy AGAIN for the second time in12 years. New bow on order new part of the states for me and a new lease on life. Lets TAG'em.
Drove up with the family to St. Louis along a beautiful stretch of interstate... I was looking for deer on both sides of the road all the way up and back, and told my wife that the scenery and temps were really putting me in the mood -- problem is, it's the wrong side of summer but a snapshot in time with just those two clues and you'd have a hard time not thinking it might be hunting season.
There are many nites that the wife says "why are you not sleeping?" To many things running through my mind of what I can do to put the next advantage in my favor. Some people just dont understand and never will the way we are with our hunting! I like the saying that mossy oak has "ITS NOT A PASSION, ITS AN OBSESSION"
I have to admit, if I had Tiffany laying next to me in bed, I would occasionally "think" about other things. :D
This time of year I'm not really itching to actually hunt. My free time is still filled up with shed hunting, and soon hanging about half my stands for next year. However, the bass fishing is going to start heating up soon and that will probably become my biggest hobby until August, or until I run out of money doing it.
I don't think I have ever really had the "hunting" bug. I definitely have the whitetail bug, however. I have just always been fascinated about the whitetail deer from their anatomy, physiology, psychology, etc. So I just find ways to be around the species through food plotting, habitat management, photography, starting to get into videography, or just going into the woods to watch these critters. Anything to learn and watch deer.
I got it horribly bad...I'm constantly reading and watching hunting shows, topos, gear, the whole shi-bang. Dang I can't wait for September!!
I would say I have it fairly bad....most consider me a "one-tracker." I know I have not gone more than probably an hour or two in the last 10 years or so without thinking of something that has to do with hunting. I EAT, SLEEP, and BREATHE BOWHUNTING!
Sorry, March thru July is all fishing bug related...well plus turkeys in May. I'm always looking ahead with some light planning & stuff, but the full out consumption is not year round for me. Too many other fun thigns to do.
Its bad. Real bad. Just like a couple of you others said. I'm constantly reading, writing or watching something hunted related. If not doing that, then I'm actually scouting or shooting and videoing. It's gotten bad enough that my girlfriend has repeatedly gotten upset about my obsession with deer hunting and she's having issues with my "obsession" in February and March! Just wait til November LOL.
The more I read Ryan's posts......the more I feel I share with him (in regards to our outlooks on hunting). I've been completely eaten up with deer hunting in the past. Today......not so much. Am I burned out? No. But I can see where I easily could have been. I got really caught up in the "how big" and "how many".....as well as the technical/ideological/etc... . Who could blame a new bowhunter in today's environment? Switching gears.......gearing down (whitetails). Been there - Done that. I'll still hunt 'em....but in a different gear. Ramping up.......other critters.....but with the same mindset (a good walk.....not a full sprint). I'd like to hunt something different every year for the next few. Rybo......enjoying your posts....a lot.
Same here, deer hunting is about as far from my mind right now as possible... turkey hunting is starting to catch my attention, but fishing is what I'm focused on. I plan on fishing more streams across PA this year and doing alot more native trout fishing!
I think about hunting everyday, I look incessantly in fields for deer while travelling, I think about a trip to Colorado everyday, I think about it often enough, but I wouldn't quite call it an OBSESSION, close but not quite.
