I try to associate myself with horrible hunters so I never have to worry about this scenerio...I also offer them horrible advice and strategy.
Can only be happy for another hunter who is trying to do and succeeds in doing the exact same thing as the rest of us.
To be honest, I do suffer from some jelousy/envy. But not towards other hunters that are successful for the most part. My friends that travel to go on guided hunts and kill nice deer doesn't bother me a bit because I know I could do the same thing, and neither does the guy that works as hard or harder than me to gain success. I couldn't be happier for those guys. I do envy the people that have a lot of time during the season to hunt also but that shoe was on the other foot when I tournament fished and was very successful before I went back to work for the railroad and don't have as much time to spend outdoors as I did before and that was my personal choice. "But"! There is that one guy I have known all my life that sends me photos of every deer he kills and it burns me up! This guy just drives to SC and gets in one of his uncles box stands and hunts over feed that was put out by someone else for him and he shoots anything he see's with a rifle. I know it shouldn't bother me as I have killed a pile of deer with both guns and bows and only hunt with a bow now but just hearing him talk about being such a great hunter and how much work he puts into it makes my skin crawl while he's bragging (and he does) to others. This guy doesn't even own a freaking treestand! OK, my rants over and feel better now! LOL!
I'm happy for them. Even if it's a big buck. It's cool to see them even if it isn't me putting them down. In CO, after I tagged out, I still drove others out and picked em up so they could tag out as well. It is just as much fun to see someone else shoot something as it is if I shot it. Not as much of an adrenaline rush but it is still fun!
I am genuinely always am happy when one of my friends gets a deer, etc. sometimes its just the luck of the draw. Sometimes people have better spots. Sometimes people just hunt that much harder... Rather than letting it upset me, I use it to help me become a better hunter... what else could I be doing differently.. When that happens here, it is just generally location. makes me work harder at obtaining permission in better areas. I can honestly say I am truly happy for my true friends when they connect... and the others I still am ok with.
Honestly I'm as excited for them as if I killed one. Actually sometimes a couple of my buddies (one in particular) I'm always happy when he puts something on the ground. Guy works his butt of at it and is very passionate about hunting. Some seasons it just doesn't happen (for whatever reason). Glad when it pays off for him its well deserved. But... in general I'm happy for anyone that shoots something. I know I'll get mine every year so I don't get envious or irritated in the least.
Yeah sometimes I'll be honest, it gets to me a bit. I typically work 50 hour weeks but in late October I will start working up to 60hrs a week. I'm always happy for the hunter, but jealous of the fact that I'm trapped inside 4 walls all day and may only get 1 or 2 sits in during the best time.
Funny to see this posted as a buddy of mine and I have been talking about this and today I started a thread about our conversation. I am happy for anyone who goes out and does it the right way.
