No matter If your a fan of him or any hunting celebrity, the truth Is It takes cash do go out and do these out of state (country) hunts. Not anyone can do this stuff, not even close (money wise)!! If money wasn't an Issue, I'd be doing a ton more of them myself. For allot of people It's not being "lazy", It's just reality.
I hear ya Steve, I know a few guys on here would go and do this if the $$ was there, you would be one of em...but many more on here including myself would never put forth the effort to do it and that includes getting the $$ to do it.
The guy has been far from someone who has stuff handed to him, whether it be money or opportunities in life. Can anyone else TRULY answer that their NUMBER ONE priority in life is bowhunting? NOT family, NOT their career, NOT their weekend parties, NOT their harley, NOT their big fancy house, but bowhunting....well, besides maybe Will, but he is climbing the ranks on the hunter totem pole himself. :d Chuck Adams was in the exact same position as the rest of all the guys saying "if I were in his position" when he MADE it happen. Bowhunting was/is his priority in life period. You ARE in the position he was. Good Read. http://bowsite.com/bowsite/features/interviews/chuckadams/
I have met chuck adams at shows,and even though having lines of people he was willing and wanting to answer "good" questions,he is very thankful,and humble, a pleasure to speak to.Ive read life at full draw, he in a nutshell loved the outdoors and the time he spent with his family, he was a straight A student and thought of being a teacher, then he thought on how he could make a living while doing what he loved THE OUTDOORS, and wanted to then be a outdoors writer,, he didnt want to write the same articles over and over, and didnt want to write on something without first hand experience, so after research He attempted the grand slam, and accomplished most of it low key knowing the guy(cant recall his name) who did it second had tons of funds and learned of his plan,and quicky began to catch up with him. He did it with hard work and his own money, chuck has made a name for himself and was the first, so why not now continue to do what he loves and capitalize on his hard work, He still shoots fingers,still using aluminum arrows, why because it has worked for him, and figures why change,, I have enjoyed reading his articles his books, and listening to his lectures, he is a living legend! oh, fyi Chuck and jim shockey were hunting buddies and jim wished to follow in chucks footsteps, but wasnt as skillful with a bow, so looking in the record books, decided to hunt all species with a muzzleloader, jim is another legend in his own right as well!
Steve, Where there's a will there's a way. It doesn't take cash! It takes friends, it takes desire, and it takes dedication. Money is the very least of your concerns. Take Paul Schafer for example, was he a rich man...money wise? NO..but he was a rich man? Yes! Is Rob Swanson a rich man? YES!!!!! Rob saw/sees what he wanted/wants and made/makes the opportunities happen! He has established his goals...he doesn't settle. In my book, and after spending a week with him, he is a legend. He goes above and beyond what normal men do. I love being in my wife's arms, but she knows how much I love being in Mother Earth's arm as well (no harm, no foul). That is something my wife is willing to give up. She knows it's what makes me whole. She has no desire to change me and I have no desire to change her. The perfect symbotic relationship. I love kissing my children hello and goodbye-as much as I love kissing an arrow goodbye! I love my dog, I love my house(s) (built them with my own two hands), I love my job, and I love my hunting. I do my very best to blend everything-no excuses, no ifs, and no buts. I work things out-nothing more, nothing less. When My family is sleeping, I work. When were not together, I work. When we are together, I work. I define those things I want and I acheive them-it's a matter of when, not if. It takes a tremendous amount of effort! I'm sure Chuck has been here. This last hunt was very spiritual for me- I learned a lot about myself. One thing I've learned, and I'm sure Chuck Adams knows where I'm coming from when I say, "I am nothing without the friends and family around me". I push myself because I cannot let anyone down. There are people who want you to be there as much as you want to be there. And when you are there, hopefully you get a chance to enjoy it-you find peace (and you do simply because it is who you are). If you are passionate about this sport, then you must be successful. It's why we take to the woods, right? None of us hunt to be the worst we can be... You hafta want it my friend. Tell me what You want and I'll figure out a plan to get it. It's what I do...or die trying (happened to Bart and Paul)! It won't cost you a penny..that's what friends do! Take that to the bank!
Will, I'm not knocking the man down because he may have a few extra bucks to spend on his hunts. All I'm saying Is not every average "Joe" In the hunting world can do these sort of things!! I know for a fact I can't. I'm about as hardcore as It gets with hunting. I've packed In 7 miles up In the mountains elk hunting on my own without a companion so I could hunt some elk. No one else went with me that year, money was tight for them but I couldn't stay home so I made the 18 hour trip by myself and like an Idiot I hunted by myself In some pretty nasty country for 7 days without a soul In sight. I live and breath the stuff but my checkbook doesn't allow me the pleasure that I'd like. Hunting has become a rich mans sport big time the last 10 years, you can't deny that with all the rises Is NR licenses. I haven't been to Montana elk hunting since 2004, It's killing me that I haven't been there but the reality of It Is I couldn't afford It. The next few years I'm looking to get back out elk hunting "somewhere". I had to take time off from out of state hunts because of money Issues, I wouldn't be self employed anymore If I would of went no matter how many friends and buddy's I have.
Steve, I hear ya, and I recognize "there is a time and a place", but I also fully understand "where there's a will there's a way"! If you want something bad enough, you'll get it. Your friends and buddies will kick in because that's what friends and buddies do (it's sort of the thing that seperates us from the non-friends and faceless by passers). Are you telling me none of your friends would cover your route for three days? Heck, I would have done that much, especially if it meant that much to you. I am sure some creative financing could have been arranged-we could have whittled whistles, for example, and sold them to our peers. How many of you would buy a whistle knowing the funds would be used to give Steve back his sanity? If we made 12 whistles at $50 each? That's $600! I would gladly pay $50 for a whistle! I would even buy two if I could witness, first hand, how hard you were working to achieve that which you desire. If I have it to spare, it yours. That's just me. Moreover, I willing to work/give to acheive great things. You get here and buy your tag buddy, the rest is on me!
Personally.. I don't look up to ANY single bowhunter who once lived.. or lives now. They are all just men... and many just obsessed with vanity. And.. what one man can do.. another man can do. I think the world would be ALOT better a place if we studied more and learned more about the guy who invented the cure for some disease.. or the written word of Thomas Jefferson.. the philosophy of eastern culture.. etc etc etc. Who cares about some bowhunter... really? In the great scheme of life.. what have any of them truly accomplished that isn't just almost childish? Besides.. PERHAPS.. Fred Bear.
If any of you came to visit ol peak it would cost you about $5 for a beer and a shot.:-) I have never met Chuck Adams so I would have to many folks here above him. Sure he has killed plenty fine animals but I would have to get to know the man also.
GMMAT, I didn't invent words or make insinuations it's a direct quote and a place I don't wish to be. Will, I edited my statement because perhaps your typing and your feelings didn't come acrossed exactly as you meant them. I have respect for your hunting adventures. I just don't wish to put mine, above family.
Jeff the special meaning behind your writings are what some say are memorable. This comes to mind when I hear you speak......... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.
When someone puts as much time into hunting as Chuck Adams, (great hunter by the way), he has neglected way more important things in life than I desire to.
Everyone has different priorities and lots of people are very good in the area they put their priorities.. For some it may be their career, for some it may be their wife, for others their kids, and for a few its their hobbies. For many of us, we spread our priorities over several areas and while we may be pretty good in each area, we will never excel in that area as much someone who puts all their eggs in one basket. Was Chuck a good husband? I doubt it. Could he have been a good father? I don't see how. Could he have succeeded in a career outside of hunting? Probably not.. BUT, he's a damn good hunter and IMO probably the best ever.
Nothing confrontational here either. I agree, he is a great hunter. He has some other outstanding accomplishments in life as well. Did these accomplishments make him truly happy? If so, I am glad for him. The accomplishments, whether they bring you joy or not though, are not always the most important thing(s) to strive toward in this life. I have several accomplishments in my life as well, but they are far less superior than the most important priorities in my life. I accomplished them out of want, need, and "have-to" mentality. What makes one man truly happy will not always be what is required of that one man. I would like my priorities/accomplishments in life to reflect what is required of me, not what "just makes me happy". (No Dis on Chuck. He has to be happy. I mean have you ever seen so many teeth before?):d Bobby
See, this is why Im going to read Life at Full Draw. I want to know if he neglescted his family or other things to get where he is. I don't know if he was/is married or has kids. If he neglected his family, then yes, will lose respect for the man, not his accomplishmennts. Honestly, all of us neglect our families some when hunting season is in. We choose to go hunting instead of being with our family, granted it's not for weeks on end for most of us, but we still choose hunting over our family for at least a few hrs.
