lol SM I guess it's because I am crazier than most! I have synthetics in 30/06, 7mag, both my muzzleloaders, two of my turkey guns and of course my Warbird. All the others are wood and I find myself increasingly "drawn" too them. I guess it's more a stage than anything. I have been doing this for 20 years now and because I work in the business I guess I am just entering another phase where I am more concerned with certain aspects of the hunt (I think I've heard it called the "asthetics" of the hunt) than I am with all out hardcore pursuit. All my personal goals I have attained, I have P&Y bucks with my bows, a 150+" buck with my gun, a B&C elk, nice mulies and antelope I've taken as well. I don't say that to brag, I just mean that perhaps I have "been there done that" too the point that I am more motivated by now teaching my young kids and others the art and enjoyment of hunting than actually doing so myself. I really don't care if I kill another whitetail buck in all honesty. But the thought of the occasional trip too wherever and more importantly, doing so with my kids... THAT is what I see motivating my future. I'm more pumped about my annual gunhunt in southern MO this fall more because I am going to be using my recently deceased step-fathers 300Wby Deluxe that he left me than I am with the concern that we have taken bucks over 160" on the place and it is a great place and time for my family and friends each year!

The gun thing is partially a desire to collect em and partially a desire to "change up the scenery" every now and then with a new arm. Over half the reason I even bother gunhunting is because I like rifles so much. I would MUCH rather take the animals on "one on one" with my bow than anything in my safe. BUT I so much enjoy a rifle that I continue to use them more for an "individual" reason than because they are a tool and will get the job done. I know I am going on a few more hunts out west before I begin taking my kids out there. But the prospect of going out there with a "classic" beckons me more than taking something like my SS Stalker 7mag/VXIII which I KNOW is more than capable and would probably be the most practical rifle I have for such trips.

I don't know, like I said I guess it's just a stage I am going through. BUT one thing is for sure, it's all still FUN and THAT is the reason for doing it in the first place right?
RA