With all of the talk about how hunting is changing etc., I was just curious, how have other people evolved as a hunter?
For me, I grew up in Colorado in a little town tucked near the New Mexico border. I had great hunting for deer, elk, antelope, turkey, geese, ducks, all of it, just half and hour from my house. I was always successful, but most of our hunts were on private land (lucky me) or areas that we knew real well. Most of our game was able to be drug to a truck, etc. I considered myself a pretty good hunter.
Then, wham, I move to Alaska. Soon, I find out that you really can't drive anywhere worth hunting from the road system, I learn my clothing is worthless up here, my tent is a peice of junk for a tundra hunt, and that being fat and out of shape does not cut it up here. Hell, even my down sleeping bag was wrong.
So, I learn. I research, I ask questions, I study gear reviews, I talk to people, hook up with some friends, even bought and learned how to drive a boat (still learning on that one though) and I have opened a whole new door to hunting. I upgraded and replaced my gear with the appropriate stuff, practiced calling moose, hiked miles all summer long with a backpack on my back just to get into shape.
For me, what I do up here is beyond anything I ever did in Colorado. I don't think it diminishes what I accomplished in Colorado, nor does make me superior....nothing like that. On the contrary, what I learned in my youth has helped me up here immensley, I just have grown and learned a lot about a whole different type of hunting, and I am still learning. It has been a fascinating journey. The highlight of my hunts up here so far was this year. While packing a load of moose to the landing strip, I find myself right in the middle of a pack of howling wolves. I could not see them, but they were all around me. I sat and listened for about ten minutes. What an experience it truly was. I am priveleged to have seen what I have seen.
Very well said, its intresting in exploring new terriorty, as you said I too am learning every day and thrive for the challenge. I moved from B.C. about 5 yrs ago and one learns to adapt, you just got to love a challenge. Best of luck. Bobby
I grew up hunting with a rifle in the Idaho Panhandle. I started to get board with rifle hunting.
I picked up a bow for the first time six years ago. Archery hunting is a blast. When I started archery hunting it was like starting all over again. The joy is back in hunting for me. I like to get close to eveything I hunt antelope, deer, black bear & elk.
I am evolving into a better all-around hunter since I took up archery hunting.
I have become much more patient as I have gotten older. I also don't care as much about killing game as I did 15 or so years ago. Still get a great thrill out of it, but, I have learned to enjoy the smells and sounds even more than I did earlier in my life.
That stuff is much more important to me as I am now, at 49, about to retire.
AlaskaMagnum, what part of CO are you from? I grew up in Alamosa...lots of family in northern NM.
Evolution as a Hunter
Bobby
