I covet every single minute I get in the great outdoors - but most specificly those spent with family and friends. I covet the daydreams I had about one day taking my own kids and now the reality of seeing it happen. I covet that my dad, who had $0 growing up - but did have a large family that LOVED each other - had the vision to purchase 20 acres, then 10 more, build a small cabin, then 35 more with me...we now have 65 acres plus a cabin and lake - most all of my greatest moments in life happen at "The Cabin"....it's an All Year affair out there...and every single family member and friend are welcome to have it any time they want (share with those close to you - the best thing my dad has taught me). ...makes me think of Bails-UK sig..."We're here for a good time, not a long time"...If you're not OK with a buddy coming to your hunting ground and taking a trophy instead of you - you're the one missing out!
The challenge and adventure of going out and making it happen, taking the hunt to the animal. I strongly feel that i was born in the wrong half of the US when it comes to hunting...
I would hvae to say that the most important thing would be just enjoying everything that I get to do. Have it be hunting, archery, motocross, camping or hanging out with the family or gf... hell even work. We all are given just one opportunity to enjoy this amazing world, so why would you ever waste time on being unhappy or doing things that you can't enjoy. Just cause it may not be something that you would prefer to be doing, doesn't mean that you can't enjoy it with a open mind. I feel that everything we do in life can have a positive effect on us. If I'm stuck working that just means that I might be able to afford to buy myself something nice later, or take a day off to do something I want to do. If I am stuck doing something with the gf that I may not really want to do, that just means that I get to do something with her that makes her happy. Also might give me some extra browny points that I can use to maybe take a night to do a guys night or go hunting. One of my best friends gave me one of the best quotes to live by. "Some persue happiness, others create it."
Many things....time being one of them. I know this pic has been overposted by me at this point, this is the third time, but this says it all to me, the ability to get it done and share it w/ my little girl/girls is very special, and something that will shape their futures as hunters, outdoors-women, and people in general.....
Jay, I don't think you need to quote a friend. This is a great way of life and thinking. I need to bring this particular thought process back into my life.
Thanks steve. This is one thing that is so easy to overlook. I do it all the time and don't realise it until it's too late than get mad at myself for being so dumb.
More land in addition to my parents place. More specifically, land I can live on, hunt, and manage to my heart's content. That, to me, is my ultimate goal.
What we want, have and cherish the most. I don't know. Buckeye doesn't know and he started it. The " this is an open ended question " is the give away. What a dufus !! :p Tim
I will have to go with the time I get to spend with my grandfather! He is the major reason that I am the hunter that I am today, and he brought me into hunting with the ideals that it seems are disappearing. I wasn't brought up to look at hunting as a sport, a competition, or even a challenge... it was a way to spend time with family and friends, appreciate what God created for me to use, and a way to get away from everything. My grandfather was in and out of the hospital from March with stomach problems. Everytime he would eat he would end up vommiting. Around Thanksgiving he went into the hospital and was told that he would be on a stomach pump and have to be fed through feeding tubes for the rest of his life. He was then sent to a rehab nursing home where he was being taught how to use all of the equipment needed to keep him alive. One back in Dec. we recieved a phone call that he was being rushed from the home to the hospital because he has heavy internal bleeding... things didn't look good at all and after several close calls over a 10 month period, I prepared myself for the worst. Well, the good Lord was looking over him and after and emergancy surgury he made a full recovery.... the real kicker is that he did better with his recovery than anybody could believe. He had the feeding tube and stomach drains removed and within a week he had started eatting solid foods. He was released from the rehab home not too much longer after that and just this past week he was cleared from needing visiting nurses. He has more energy, and feels better than he has for close to 10 years. He has put on close to 30lbs of weight (he is 6'2" and weighed 103 lbs at his lowest) since and he is already planning a trip this summer to Canada and he is hoping to be able to get back to Colorado this fall to chase Elk. I know that I have taken my time with him for granted in the past, and now I truly covet the fact that this year I will get another chance to go trout fishing, turkey hunting, and deer hunting with the guy who really introduced me to it.
Bowhunting for old whitetail bucks and their sheds, elk hunting with friends and bears off the ground.
