Lessons I have Learned

Not every hunt is considered a successful one. In fact, the majority of my hunts do not end with a punched tag or a trophy picture. Fred Bear once said, “If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time, then the true meaning of the chase eludes you all together.” There are countless times that I have made mistakes and ruined an opportunity to harvest an animal. Instead of giving up, or becoming discouraged, I try to figure out what went wrong and learn from it. Here are a few hunting lessons that I l have learned the hard way.

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1-Load your own gun. Make sure the gun is loaded properly with the safety on. That way when a Kansas gobbler is in your sights at 30 yards, you will hear BOOM instead of CLICK.

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2-Range multiple objects in your shooting lane. Know the general distance of an animal by ranging rocks, trees, or natural objects, so a shot opportunity is not missed. Some shots are only presented for a split second and it is important to be ready at all times. The slightest movement of binoculars or a range finder can spook a deer or turkey. By ranging objects in the field a hunter can be confident and prepared, while eliminating unnecessary movement.

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3-Never sit anything in your lap while hunting. Keep range finders, grunt calls, or binoculars attached to your body or jacket to avoid dropping it and spooking off an animal. Last fall I laid my range finder in my lap and knocked it to the ground while a doe was in the field. Dropping equipment from a tree stand can cause damage to the product and unwanted noise.

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It’s not always the successful hunts that are remembered but the unsuccessful ones too. The unsuccessful hunts or lessons learned the hard way, have taught me how to become a better hunter. Every hunt or time spent in the outdoors is an opportunity to gain experience and knowledge. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, that is part of hunting.