Yeah...I personally like to go at it hard. There are certainly times where it's not fun and extremely frustrating. This has been one of my toughest seasons that I can remember. My target buck gave me the slip on two different occasions during the first MO bow season and I just wasn't seeing many deer at all. More than once I've said to myself I should've went to work today or should be doing something else....ANYTHING but sitting in this treestand right now. But I kept doing it, kept grinding it out, and it finally paid off when I had my first daylight encounter with my target buck (albeit during the MO gun season). To me, the reward and the satisfaction of taking the buck you're after is so much more satisfying when I feel like I put in the hard work and effort. Maybe one day the casual hunt will be more appealing to me, but at this point, I love (and sometimes hate) the grind of the season.
I didnt gun deer hunt last year for the first time last year since started hunting at 12 years old. I had gotten bored with it and it lacked the challenge that bow hunting gives me. I dont think that my brother and father understood that but I had to follow my heart. I did end up going muzzleloader hunting last year and even though I didnt see anything I enjoyed it because it was new and different. This year my oldest son is old enough to hunt and his excitment to be able to hunt for the 1st time has reinvigorated me and I will be gun hunting again this year. If it gets to be too much work back off and do enough so that you enjoy it. Why do it if you dont enjoy it?
several years back I reached a point where it was no longer enjoyable. I made some adjustments and changed my attitude a little and am back to having fun.
Bingo! That's the key. Make changes before the burnout sets in. Guys don't get me wrong. If going at it hard makes it enjoyable then by all means hunt that way. For me a more laid back approach works out better. Oh sure some days I get pretty geeked up about a certain weather pattern or whatnot and hit it harder than normal but most days it's pretty laid back. I also know my chances are less than they could be for getting a big buck. I will say that spring turkey season is a whole different game for me. Can you say "lack of sleep"? haha I go at turkeys like a banshee. After about 3-4 solid weeks of 4 am stuff and I'm gettin pretty beat but I love it!
